What is Quadruped and how to get started with this discipline?
On our blog, we have already written about dogfrisbee, a sport where dogs catch flying discs. Its advantage is that both the dog and the owner play sports together. Dogfrisbee is also a great sport for its diversity – it includes various disciplines that differ in content and difficulty. Thanks to that, everyone can choose their favourite. The first discipline that competitors can experience in Dogfrisbee is Quadruped, as introduced to us by the competitor Martina Bolehovská.
What is the main goal of Quadruped?
The main goal of this discipline is to throw the disc as far as possible so that the dog can catch it. If the dog does not catch the disc, the throw does not count.
Is it a mixed competition or are there separate categories for women and men?
In Quadruped, the categories are separate. Men and women race separately because men have more strength and throw farther than women. What’s interesting, though, is that in the Czech Republic, the opposite is true: many women throw farther than men.
How does a race take place? Is it preceded by a participant qualification?
In each race, there is a qualifying round where the competitor has one attempt without a dog. Only throws that land on the marked field count. Competitors whose disc landed outside the marked area are given 0 meters in the qualification. Based on the qualification performances, teams are divided into groups and the order of competitors with dogs is determined. The final number of groups is announced by the organizer before the start of the competition. Depending on the number of starting competitors, it is possible to create three to five groups. Grouping is done starting with teams with the shortest attempts in qualifying. The team with the shortest throw in the qualification starts first in the 1st group, the team with the second shortest throw starts first in the 2nd group, etc. The best teams then start in groups last. One finalist from each semi-final group will advance. All teams that did not advance from the semi-final groups directly to the final have a chance to compete in the “last chance” round for one final place.
How does it go from there?
Each team has one regular round (three throws) in the reverse order of the qualification. Last chance throws count towards the longest throws of the individual teams as well as records. Depending on the number of semi-final groups, four to six teams take part in the final, and this takes place in the same way as the semi-final group. The final ranking of the finalists is determined by their performance in the final. The rest of the competitors is then ranked according to the longest valid attempt of each team during the entire competition (qualifying round does not count).
Who assesses the performances?
The discipline described above is judged by one main judge. There are also two helpers on the field. One watches over foot faults and the other assists the referee in determining the distance.
Are there any special rules for this discipline?
Yes. One of the main ones is, for example, that each competitor may participate with only one dog. On the other hand, two different competitors can share one dog. The dog may cross the starting line before the disc is thrown, this step is called free start, but the dog must continue to move forward until the disc is thrown. It is not allowed to send the dog to the field to wait for the disc. So if the dog stops or starts moving back before the disc is thrown, the attempt is invalid. However, the rules are relatively extensive and all can be found on the website of the Czech Discdog Club.
Can newcomers also enter the race?
Definitely. Many races also host the FUN category, where newcomers or players who throw shorter distances compete.
What are the levels of these races?
Quadruped has no levels. It is only divided into women, men, FUN women and FUN men.
Does the dog have to meet any special requirements before entering the race?
The dog must be fit to run such long distances.
Is there a pre-race qualification or can anyone take part in it?
You only need to qualify for the Czech Championship. To participate in the Czech Quadruped Championship, you need to demonstrate a valid attempt at any qualifying competition of at least 45 meters for women and 50 meters for men.
Choosing the right dog food is a beginning and the end of caring for your pet dog. We, as dog lovers, also know that quality dog food is not only positive for the health but also for the overall well-being of the animal. When choosing the dog food,...
Do you have any favourite books you would recommend your friends to read? Are any books about pets among those? Today, I will share with you the names of six books about dogs any animal lover shouldn’t miss in my opinion.
Who didn’t want an animal companion as a child? Keeping pets can be valuable experience for children. An animal companion also brings a lot of joy to the household. But taking care of a pet also brings many duties and responsibility. How to choose...
“You look so sad, you’re definitely hungry, here you are.” This is the sentence I often hear when my dog shows one of its dog faces. And he deserves “little something to eat” doing it before I even manage to do anything against that. To feed a dog...
Do you like travelling? And do you like travelling by plane? You don’t have to leave your dog or cat at home during your holidays. Some airlines allow small pets on the board if they are in a crate. What other conditions you have to meet?
Miniature dog breeds have specific requirements for nutrition and care in general. Their physical development is much faster. Besides from their subtle composition of body and jaws, it is therefore also necessary to take into account their fast...
It would probably entirely unnecessary to describe the appearance of the German Shepherd. Probably everyone, even non-dog-lovers, have seen the German series Inspector Rex.
Getting a cat doesn’t mean only buying a cat toilet, bowls, a bed and a couple of toys. You also have to realise that the animal will also need certain care and count with this already before getting it. Each breed has its own specifics. While some are...
The Persian longhairs have most likely descended from the Turkish Angoras, were bred in England at the end of the 19th century. Since then, they have undergone great changes, and today they have a much more compact body in comparison to the original...
The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is a dog, with which you will definitely won’t get bored. The owners say that it’s often a great adventure with them. They are mesmerising animals and they definitely can’t deny their wolf ancestors. What is typical for all...
Do you take your dog or cat regularly on trips and holidays across the Czech Republic? Is travelling with your dog or cat fun for you and not a horror? Have you got a destination in mind, where you’d like to stay for longer or you’re even planning a...