Flying Doggy Treats Frisbee Catching Contest Draws Graceful And, Well, Regular Dogs

When it comes to playing catch with a Frisbee, Lisa Kauffman’s dog won’t be remembered for lightning-quick legs, fantastic leaps or miraculous catches.

But give Kauffman and Alpine a break. It was their first time competing, and they only planned to watch.

When they showed up in Spokane after driving from Missoula, organizers of the Canine Frisbee Championships talked Kauffman into joining the competition.

Since Thursday night’s contest at Shadle Park was free, Kauffman decided, why not?

“You have nothing to lose, but your pride and ego,” she said.

Alpine, a border collie-Australian shepherd mix, earned a lowly four points.

In the first round, the long-haired white-and-black dog missed the swirling Frisbee several times. The disc sailed over the dog’s head. When Alpine brought the disc back to Kauffman, the playful dog wouldn’t give it up without a struggle.

Polite applause rippled from the crowd when Alpine snagged a Frisbee with all four paws off the ground - his one shining moment.

In the second and final round, the 1-1/2-year-old dog caught only the practice throw.

Other dogs were pictures of grace, sprinting and jumping high into the air to catch the flying discs.

One dog twice strayed off the course and away from the disc his owner had thrown. Another dog couldn’t wait until his turn ended, and wound up making a mess on the field, which his master had to shovel.

Sandy Reeves, a 46-year-old Coeur d’Alene woman, won first place with her border collie, Panda, racking up 67 points.

Another one of her dogs, Copper, took third place.

Reeves said she loves border collies because they’re very smart and love to play with people.

“They’re very, very energetic,” she said. “They need a lot of exercise.”

Zulu, a border collie-blue heeler mix, took second place Thursday. The 10-year-old, a former two-time Frisbee-catching champ, lovingly jumped into his master’s arms after the first round.

Kauffman was a Chicago lawyer a few years ago.

But she got fed up with the job - and her big city lifestyle - and decided one day to pack her bags and head West.

She sold her law practice, bought camping gear and traveled for a year.

Kauffman ended up in Missoula, where she practices criminal-defense law. In her new life, she rafts, hikes and camps.

She’d always wanted a dog but never lived where she could have one.

In Missoula, that changed, and Kauffman found a four-legged partner for her outdoor adventures by searching newspaper ads.

She quickly learned Alpine liked catching Frisbees by watching the dog run toward people playing with the discs in Missoula parks.

So Kauffman played along. She’s still trying to be a better supporting act for her pet.

“The biggest problem is I can’t throw.”

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