Skyhoundz Features

The Story Behind X-Flash Anti-Glare Technology

The latest Hyperflite innovation, known as X-Flash™ technology, was the product of several years of hard work and experimentation. But, it might not have happened at all were it not for a happy coincidence. In essence, the discovery of the "sunflash" phenomenon (more about that later), which ultimately resulted in the development of X-Flash™ technology, was a bit like the proverbial Newton's apple. But before Sir Isaac Newton was bonked on his noggin by a "Granny Smith," thousands before him were likely similarly thumped. They just didn't put two and two together.  Fortunately, when the apple finally fell on Hyperflite Co-founder, Jeff Perry, he, like Newton, knew what to do with it. continued

Hyperflite Announces X-Flash™ Anti-Glare Technology

When it comes to advancing canine disc sports, Hyperflite has no equal. Innovation isn't merely part of our DNA, it's at the very core of our existence. From Hyperflite's inception, we have set the standard to which all other canine disc manufacturers aspire. Now, a decade after our founding, we are taking canine discs to the next level with the introduction of our new patent-pending X-Flash™ technology. X-Flash™ is the latest Hyperflite innovation and it's designed to eliminate canine misses caused by the sunflash phenomenon. Never heard of sunflash? Well, that's only because your canine can't talk! continued

Five Holiday Pet Dangers

With the holidays approaching fast, it's time to take some common sense precautions to make sure that all of your family members have a joyeux Noel. continued

The Future of Disc Dogging

We old time disc doggers tend to spend a lot of time looking back, yearning for a time when all was right with the world. Although our memories, like our brains, are a bit altered by the passage of time, our imaginations are largely intact. continued

Coo Coo for Cocoa Mulch and other Fido No-No's

When it comes to eating, "finicky" is not a word that is often used to describe the culinary desires of our four-legged friends. Most dogs will eat virtually anything with little prompting. It is this canine gastronomical "joie de vie" that sometimes gets our furry brethren into trouble. continued

Disc Repurposing

The classic Frisbee-style discs used by some competitors are not known for their longevity. All-too-often, these lightweight discs are quickly "killed" by canines in the course of a few minutes play. Despite the availability of longer-lasting canine discs like Hyperflite's Jawz, some competitors still prefer the extra hang time afforded by discs with short-lived lifespans. When "Plasticus Mortis" occurs to a disposable disc, disc dog enthusiasts come up with some interesting ways to give their retired dog toys a second life. continued

Dog Toy Dilemma – What Fido really wants.

What makes the perfect canine toy? Has the jury has reached a verdict? "We have your honor," comes the reply from the entirety of the canine species. But, before I tell you their verdict, let's venture back in time a bit to root out what objects of affection are most likely to speak to the hearts and minds of our canines. continued

A Primer on Pet Health Insurance

Owning a pet is very affordable…until it isn't. An injury or illness can quickly put a severe strain on your financial wellbeing. In fact, many owners of multiple pets are forced to ration care among their furry friends because of the skyrocketing cost of veterinary care. Needed treatments and procedures are often delayed and that's never a good result for your canine companions. To be sure, there's no worse feeling than not being able to give your pet the quality care that he or she needs and deserves. continued

Ahoy, ye Disc Lubbers, There's Disc Piracy Afoot by Aye C. Aparrot

Arghh Matey, there's Pirates about, and we're not talking about the nautical variety either. I suppose that we shouldn't be surprised that some unscrupulous types would manufacture flying discs and attempt to pass them off as genuine Hyperflite discs. Afterall, Hyperflite makes the best canine discs in the world and imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? continued

Dog Titling Comes to the Skyhoundz Series!

For years, titling regimes have existed for canines. "Challenging" might be the operative word to describe the myriad canine training tasks in which a canine can title. However, for canines, the word "drudgery" might be a bit more on point. After all, how interesting can sitting still for a whole minute, walking in figure eights on a short leash, carrying a metal object in your mouth, or heeling, be for an athletic and intelligent canine? Has anyone ever seen a canine "smile" when performing any of the aforementioned tasks? We checked with our 8-ball prognosticator on the matter and it responded with a hearty "my sources say no." continued

Tip Drill: Why Can't My Canine Catch?

"Butterlips," "The Drops," "In-and-Out Syndrome," "Brick Jaws," "Rejectus Mouthus," whatever you may call it, missed discs are the scourge of disc dog enthusiasts. For many disc doggers, the onset of "The Drops" is gradual, while for others, it may seem to happen overnight. Most canine disc enthusiasts experience it at some point in the lives of their canines in varying degrees. If you are one of those folks with a disc dog that misses often, and you've tried everything in the book to fix the problem, to no avail, your salvation may be closer than you think. continued

Finding the Perfect Disc Dog

Getting started in canine disc sports means finding the perfect dog. If you already have a dog, then congratulations are in order. Your family pet is a perfect companion for canine disc play. That may seem like a surprising statement. But, if you are like most dog owners then right at your feet sits a loving companion that wants to please you and likely prefers your company to just about anything with notable exceptions reserved for food, water and an occasional romantic inkling toward the opposite sex. continued

Surviving the Big Chill — by Jeff Perry

Now is the winter of our discontent — surely Shakespeare must have been a disc dogger. The approach of cold weather is a sad thing indeed for those who desire to bond with their canines via a well-thrown flying disc. You may think that it's pretty much the same with all disc sports, but disc doggers actually have a more difficult time of it when old-man winter squats on the playing field. Why? Let me paint a picture for you. Imagine that it's midwinter in Chicago and there's a breeze blowing off the lake. continued

Disc Dogging! America's New National Pastime

A national pastime is a sport or game that is considered to be an intrinsic part of the culture of a nation — so says that vast storehouse of collective knowledge called Wikipedia. Almost every country has a national pastime even if they don't always officially declare one. continued

Vote for Maty!

Maty, the amazing three-legged wonder dog, belonging to Troy Kerstetter and Lynne Ouchida, of Bend, Oregon, is coming to a theater near you… that is, if you vote for her! The two-time Skyhoundz World Finalist, and animal shelter spokescanine from Bend, Oregon is lobbying for a role in a movie called Lucky and Rich. If successful, Maty will play the role of Scrap in a cinema treat directed by Geoff Talbot. Do your part and help Maty make it to the silver screen. To see images of Maty in action, click here. Click here and select Maty as your favorite. But hurry, voting ends on July 31, 2009. continued

Good Friends Remembered by Jeff Perry

There is nothing like a little scare to pull your head out of the clouds and make you focus on more important things. And so it was just a few days after the Hyperflite Skyhoundz World Championship that we learned that one of the canine disc competitors who competed in the 2010 Worlds, Mark Muir (the 2009 Skyhoundz World Champion in both the Open and Sport Divisions) had suffered a mini-stroke, known as a TIA. Fortunately, Mark, a firefighter, fell ill at work and was immediately attended to by folks who deal with such situations for a living. continued

There's a storm brewing — break out the Thundershirts!

What in heck is a Thundershirt? No, it's not the preferred garment of the latest cinema superhero, or a body builder's lifting uniform. What it is might surprise you…especially if you have a dog that is terrified of thunderstorms, fireworks, and other loud noises. In fact, if the Thundershirt performs as advertised, it might just make life with your "canine coward," a bit more tolerable when nature rumbles. continued

Top 10 Myths About Canine Disc Sports

Myth 1: Food treats are the only way to teach a dog to play with the disc. Truth: Food treats are almost never used to teach a canine to catch and retrieve a flying disc. The only reward your dog will need…is another throw from you! continued

Walter Frederick "Fred" Morrison (January 23, 1920 – February 9, 2010)

Walter Frederick Morrison, 90, inventor of the plastic version of the flying disc, passed away on February 9, 2010. He was 90-years old — or 19 in dog years. Every kid who has ever thrown a disc in a park owes a debt of gratitude to Mr. Morrison for his foresight. But many dogs owe him much more. You see, the ubiquitous flying disc — known to many as the Frisbee — is much more than a toy to millions of eager canines. It is, a profound source of joy, an object of desire, and the glue that has cemented the bond between canine and human for decades. Morrison may not have realized, as he hawked his plastic discs on California beaches, that canines would come to revere the plastic flying disc even more than humans. Today, no person of reasonable intelligence would deny this truism. continued

Release date April 1, 2009 Hyperflite Announces The Jawz STK™

Hyperflite is pleased to announce the new Jawz STK. Each Jawz STK incorporates a patented substance called SlobberGlue™ into the plastic polymer formulation. When a dog bites the Jawz STK, the SlobberGlue temporarily bonds to the wet teeth and gums of the canine resulting in a what goes in, never comes out perfect catch ratio. Each Jawz STK comes with a can of SlobberGlue Disc Removal Spray™ and a proprietary SlobberGlue-resistant throwing glove called a StickySlicky.™ The Jawz STK retails for $99.95 and is not recommended for wet climates. For external use only. Use with adult supervision. Light fuse, get away! continued

Hyperflite Skyhoundz World Finalists Paul West and Tucker move on to Las Vegas in the America's Got Talent TV show.

Hyperflite Skyhoundz World Finalists Paul West and Tucker have qualified to compete in Las Vegas for NBC's America's Got Talent show. Tucker and West wowed the judges and the roaring crowd with an excellent indoor routine performed on a 20′ x 40′ foot carpeted area on the main stage. West threw Hyperflite Jawz discs to Tucker who performed flips, vaults, and other amazing tricks to advance to the next round in Las Vegas. continued

Hungary for Canine Disc Play

It's not a typo…it's a country. And, if there is anything you can say about Hungarian disc doggers it is that they love their sport. Disc dogging got its start in Hungary about a year and a half ago when Fly Dogs Hungary, a group organized by Jozseph Arkosi arranged to have clinics taught by World Champion Peter Bloeme. The clinics were a great success and in only a short time, the level of play dramatically improved. It improved so much, in fact, that Arkosi approached Skyhoundz about staging an International Qualifier the following year. To support its newest International Qualifier, Hyperflite's Jeff Perry flew to Budapest to teach more clinics for the growing population of eager Hungarian disc doggers as well as to help judge the Qualifier. continued

Going the Extra Mile

Marjorie Perry, wife of Hyperflite co-founder Greg Perry, has been recognized by Georgia Magazine for her work on behalf of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. The Perry's met while playing Ultimate Frisbee in the late 1980′s. When they aren't fundraising or shepherding their kids to various and sundry sporting events, they occasionally find time to fling the plastic to their shelter mutt, Glory. For the details on Marjorie's amazing efforts, please click here. continued

Hyperflite Delivers Emergency Stimulus Package to White House

Hyperflite, today, delivered an emergency stimulus package to our nation's capital targeted at preserving and defending the irreplaceable historic relics kept in the White House. continued

The Dog Days of Summer

They don't call them the Dog Days of Summer for nothing. Man's, and woman's, best friend, aka, those four-legged phenoms that we call canines have a long list of summer-time exploits. One of the most noteworthy Dog Days of Summer (especially if you are a disc dogger) was August 5, 1974, when Alex Stein and Ashley Whippet raced into the outfield at Dodger stadium during a nationally-televised baseball game. Heck, even the patent for the first disc designed for canine competition was filed during the Dog Days. continued

Doberman Rescue Through Pilots N Paws

Hyperflite co-founder, Jeff Perry, recently put his flying skills to good use when he flew his small two-seat aircraft on a mission for the Pilots N Paws organization. Pilots N Paws is a coalition of pilots that provides transportation for shelter and rescue canines that are being moved long distances between shelters or to their forever homes. continued

Disc Dog Deduction

Could your pets earn you a hefty tax deduction? Shrewd disc dog professionals who turn their passion into a side business have known for years that the ordinary and necessary expenses of maintaining and caring for their canine athletes can be tax deductible. But what about the rest of us non-pros? Let's face it, pet ownership isn't cheap and it's not likely to get much cheaper. Not to worry, one forward thinking congressman has your back. Representative Thadeus G. McCotter of the 11th District of Michigan, with the support of 2 co-sponsors, has introduced legislation, known as the "Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act" (Oh, and don't worry, it's real, we checked SNOPES). The Happy Act would allow the 63% of families that own pets to take a tax deduction of up to $3,500.00 per year, for care (including veterinary care) for their legally-owned domestic live animals. Presumably, this would also include the lesser animals like, for example…cats. continued

Hyperflite Announces the Phrid's V

Hyperflite is proud to introduce a revolutionary canine disc designed to be all things to all people. Designed by world-renowned aerodynamicist Dr. Jacob Phrid, even average throwers can make 200-yard plus throws with this new disc. Using the five V-Principles of New Age Aerodynamics (also known as Verner's Law) that include velocity, viscosity, verbosity, varicosity, venereology, and ventriloquism, Dr. Phrid knocked one out of the park with this new canine disc. continued

Kathy Miller — In Memory

On Saturday, January 31, 2009, a ceremony was held in La Mirada, California, to honor and remember Kathy Miller, who passed away recently. Many disc doggers knew Kathy well. Her husband Mike recently sent some photos of Kathy, to us, and we created a short video slide presentation for our extended disc dog family. Hopefully, this will enable those who were not able to attend her memorial to enjoy a brief glimpse of her life with Mike, her dogs, and of course, many of you. continued

Animal Wellness Magazine

In the April/May issue of Animal Wellness Magazine, there was a nice write up on the 2006 Hyperflite Skyhoundz World Canine Disc Championship. View full size cover: [here], article here: [1], [2], [3]. continued

Holiday "Feastivities"

The Holidays are upon us and we would be remiss if we neglected to include our four-legged friends in all of the "feastivities." The Atlanta Journal Constitution recently reviewed a book of recipes formulated specifically for canines. The book, which is entitled "Real Food for Dogs: 50 Vet-Approved Recipes to Please the Canine Gastronome, includes such recipes as Great Gravy Cookies and Pup-Cakes. continued

Operation Migration

Hyperflite Co-founder Jeff Perry took a few days off of work this week to assist with a very important project that has absolutely nothing to do with disc dogs. Always fond of anything capable of flight (which naturally includes our four-legged friends!), Perry was delighted to help Operation Migration in its mission to help re-establish the endangered wild Whooping Crane population. Each year, Operation Migration raises hatchling Whooping Cranes and teaches them to fly in formation with an ultralight "mother bird" aircraft. This year, 18 birds are making the thousand-plus mile flight from Wisconsin to Florida to learn the migratory route that they will follow for the rest of their lives. Once the birds have been shown their migratory route, they can make the trip independently. continued

Disc Dog Competitions: Too big for their own britches?

In recent years, canine disc competitions have been spreading like wildfire. Increasingly, dog and disc clubs are getting into the competition organization business by staging competitions for the various contest organizers as well as their own club events. There have never been more choices and opportunities for disc dog enthusiasts than there are right now. continued

For Dog's Sake, Don't Use the F-word!

Think your dog is a great Frisbee catcher? There is only a small chance that you are right…and it has nothing to do with his catching ability. Look down at that flying disc that Fido has in his mouth. You may call it a Frisbee, but, more likely than not, it isn't. If it says Hyperflite on the bottom then it is most definitely not a Frisbee disc. Frisbee, is a registered trademark of Wham-O, Inc. The ubiquitous flying disc, is known to the masses as a "Frisbee" because that was the clever name given to it by its inventor just after it was first patented. While the original patent for the Frisbee-brand flying disc has long since lapsed, the Frisbee trademark lives on. continued

2006 Hyperflite Skyhoundz World Championship Recap

Words are simply not adequate to describe the drama and excitement of the 2006 Hyperflite Skyhoundz World Canine Disc Championship. But since words are all I have, I will get right to it. For 72 hours in Atlanta, disc dogs most definitely ruled. continued

2006 Hyperflite Skyhoundz World Championship

As the countdown timer on the Hyperflite website slowly winds down, most of our dogs don't need much of a reminder that the World's are just around the corner. The fanatics among us have suddenly gone from one practice session every other day to morning and evening sessions every day…and three or more sessions on each weekend day, rain or shine. continued

Have Dog Will Travel

It wasn't that long ago that traveling with your pet was a monumental inconvenience. Stories abound of pet owners sneaking their canines into hotels or sleeping in rest areas because pet friendly hotels were few and far between. Times have certainly changed. Even upscale hotels are getting into the act with special pet perks and programs. Some hotel chains permit pets at all of their properties with no security deposit required. For the scoop on "who let's the dogs inn" click here. continued

The American Red Cross – Your Dog's Best Friend

Many people know that the Red Cross is often first on the scene of natural disasters that impact human beings. What you may not know is that the Red Cross also cares about our four-legged friends. The Red Cross has prepared a 111 page Pet First Aid Book (complete with more than 100 illustrations) to help you when your pet becomes injured or sick. The Red Cross also offers Pet First Aid Courses at select Red Cross chapters. continued

Important Federal Pet Legislation Under Consideration

After numerous reports of pet owners refusing rescue after Hurricane Katrina because their pets were not allowed to accompany them, the House of Representatives introduced legislation (H.R. 3858) that would require state and local authorities to address issues associated with evacuating people and their pets. Although it is too early to say how the legislation will ultimately fair, it is encouraging that the importance of pets in the lives of people is gaining attention. Another important pet-related legislative effort is in the works, with bipartisan support…Click here to check the legislative status of the Antifreeze Bittering Act. continued

Stray Rescue – Hurricane Katrina Update

Stray Rescue – Hurricane Katrina Update Those of you fortunate enough to be present at the 2005 Hyperflite Skyhoundz World Championship Awards Banquet got to hear a wonderful talk given by Randy Grim, founder of Stray Rescue, a no-kill animal shelter in St. Louis. Grim became a celebrity when he rescued "Miracle Dog" Quentin from St. Louis Animal Control after Quentin survived euthanasia in a gas chamber. In the days before and after the awards banquet, Randy and his Stray Rescue organization were hard at work saving many of the canine victims of Hurricane Katrina. For an update on Stray Rescue's efforts, click here. continued

Making the Wind Your Friend

Most likely in your competitive endeavors, you have experienced conditions in which the wind appears to change direction and velocity with rabidity and in seemingly unpredictable ways. I remember one particularly awful performance of mine that happened about a million years ago in San Francisco's Candlestick Park. During a 49r's half time show, strong gusty winds mixed with rain caused me to take drastic and ultimately futile measures. Rather than use the Fastback discs to which I was accustomed, I elected to use golf discs (years before discs like the Jawz became available). I reasoned that golf discs would be the only way to penetrate the swirling 30-40 mph gusts. The end result was an ugly personal spectacle that I vowed never to repeat. The four of us who performed that day had a tough time of it for sure, but one individual rose above the conditions … by staying under them. The individual that I am referring to, who performed with a small dog, kept his throws low to the ground, and close in. Whether by luck, or by design, this team found the only safe zone in the stadium … the area not more than two feet above the ground. The lesson that I learned that day, was to be prepared to make extreme (but not extremely stupid) adjustments when the conditions are extreme. continued

Chew on This! Your Dog's Destructive Behavior Can be Ancient History

Most dogs, and especially athletic canines like Vizslas, require vigorous exercise. Shortchange an energetic canine in the exercise department and you just might bid farewell to anything from sheetrock to sofas. Being highly intelligent creatures, dogs have a knack for "communicating" to you via your most valuable or cherished possessions. A chewed up pair of shoes says, "hey, you haven't walked me in two days." Damage that escalates to a large piece of furniture or family heirloom might signal even more desperate attempts at communication. Pay attention, because your canine is telling you that even angry attention from you is better than no attention at all. Once more for emphasis – a bored dog is a destructive dog. continued

A Primer on Skyhoundz Freestyle Judging Criteria by Jud G. Maximus

Okay, so canine disc competition is your new favorite activity. And, imagine that, your dog digs it too. To add to your growing karma cache, a Hyperflite Skyhoundz competition is coming to a park near you. The plan is for you and your dog "JJ" (short for Jumping Jehosaphats) to show up, win everything and carry home all your awards in the wheelbarrow that you happened to bring with you…just in case. And you wouldn't be the first person to think, based on your backyard exploits, that competition success is a foregone conclusion. continued

Deadly Aflatoxin: Is your pet food safe?

Aflatoxin is certainly not a household word. But if you are a pet owner, it is one that you should resolve to become familiar with. Your pet's health may be at stake. O.K., here's the science. Aflatoxins are mycotoxins that, in addition to being extremely toxic, are also carcinogenic and immunosuppressive in nature. Alflatoxins may cause injury or disease even when ingested in small amounts. Aflatoxins are produced as secondary metabolites by many species of Aspergillus fungi (most notably Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus). Many agricultural crops including corn, rice, wheat, nuts, soybeans, sunflowers and even milk, are vulnerable to attack by the fungi that produce aflatoxin. continued

Pampered pets pig out in Pompano Beach

For just a moment let's take a trip to dreamland. Imagine that you and your beloved canine companion have just competed in the Hyperflite Skyhoundz Southeast Regional Championship held in Florida. It was a tough competition but you managed to score an invitation to the Hyperflite Skyhoundz World Championship. Let the party begin! continued

Former Hyperflite Skyhoundz Canine Disc World Finalists "Sniff Out" Fame

Michael McKenzie, of Tacoma Washington and his beloved pooch Good Boy Blue have a chance of a lifetime—to become the new face of Milk-Bone Original Dog Biscuits! Good Boy Blue, and his pet parent, Michael McKenzie are finalists in the Milk-Bone Make You & Your Dog Famous Search. They are hoping to dig up some votes from their fellow competitors on the disc dog competition circuit and beat out the other four finalists for face time on the Milk-Bone box! continued