The year 2013 marks the 39th consecutive year of competitive canine disc sports. Hyperflite's sponsorship of the Skyhoundz Classic World Canine Disc Championship Series — the largest disc-dog series in the world — ensures that disc dog competitors worldwide will have exciting venues in which to compete. The Skyhoundz Series consists of Skyhoundz Classic Championships, Skyhoundz DiscDogathon Championships, and Skyhoundz Xtreme Distance Championships.

Skyhoundz Classic Championships

Skyhoundz Classic Championships consist of Local Championships, State Championships, U.S. Qualifiers, International Qualifiers, a European Championship, and the World Championship.

Skyhoundz Classic Championships include Distance/Accuracy, Freestyle, and/or Distance/Accuracy and Freestyle.

Skyhoundz DiscDogathon Championships

Skyhoundz DiscDogathon Championships consist of a series of Qualifiers and a World Championship.

Skyhoundz DiscDogathon Championships consist of five competitive events: Bullseye, Freestyle, Spot Landing, Pairs Distance/Accuracy, and TimeTrial.

Skyhoundz Xtreme Distance Championships

Skyhoundz's Xtreme Distance Championships consist of a series of Qualifiers and a World Championship.

Skyhoundz's Xtreme Distance Championships give canines exactly what they want — insanely long throws (Xtreme Distance)! Teams compete in two divisions (Men's and Women's) and in four distinct classes (MicroDog, Light Plastic, Classic Plastic, and Unlimited Plastic).

Skyhoundz Competition Titling

In addition to the normal awards given at Skyhoundz Canine Disc Competitions, competitors can now earn a variety of competition titles. Effective immediately, the Hyperflite Skyhoundz Canine Disc Competition Series will now offer Skyhoundz Competition Titling at all Skyhoundz events including Local Championships, State Championships, DiscDogathon Qualifiers, DiscDogathon World Championship, Xtreme Distance Qualifiers, Xtreme Distance World Championship, Regional Qualifiers, Open Qualifiers, International Qualifiers, the European Championship, and the World Championship.

Skyhoundz Club Cup

The Skyhoundz Club Cup will be awarded to the Dog and Disc Club that records the highest combined score at the Skyhoundz Qualifier in which the Club is geographically situated.

A combined score for each club will be determined by adding the top five Sport Division Distance/Accuracy (Expert Class) scores (from any round), and the top five Open Division Freestyle (Expert Class) scores (from any round), of individual club members to determine a Club grand total. A Skyhoundz Club Regional Championship plaque will be presented to the winning Club. At the conclusion of the final Skyhoundz geographic Regional of the season, the Club with the highest Club grand total for the year will be deemed to be the winner of the Skyhoundz Club Cup.

A representative of the winning Club will be invited to the World Championship Awards Banquet to receive the Skyhoundz Club Cup on behalf of the winning Club. The Skyhoundz Club Cup will remain in the possession of the winning Club until the following year (unless the Club repeats as Champion) when a new Club champion is named.

There will be no additional fees to competitors to qualify for this honor. A participating Club must have a minimum of five club members entered to compete for the Skyhoundz Club Cup. Competitors who wish to have their scores considered for the Skyhoundz Club Cup must designate a Club affiliation on their Hyperflite Skyhoundz Regional Scoresheet. Only one Club affiliation may be designated by each competitor.

Competition Discs

Skyhoundz has selected Hyperflite flying discs as the official flying discs of Skyhoundz World Canine Disc Championship Series. At all Skyhoundz Championships, Skyhoundz DiscDogathon Championships, and Skyhoundz Xtreme Distance Championships competitors may, in their sole discretion, elect to use Hyperflite discs of any size or weight or any solid plastic disc that was designed specifically for canine use (with the exceptions shown below). Discs from different manufacturers and of different sizes and weights may also be mixed and matched at the discretion of each competitor.

*MicroDog Division

Competitors entering the MicroDog Division at any Skyhoundz Championships, must use the K-10 Pup, (Competition Standard Pup, FrostBite Pup, Jawz Pup, or SofFlite Pup disc) or a similar or smaller-sized solid plastic disc that was designed specifically for canine use.

*Skyhoundz Xtreme Distance Championship

Competitors may, in the Skyhoundz Xtreme Distance Championship, choose to throw any solid plastic disc that was designed specificially for canine use (no golf discs) as long as the chosen disc also meets the weight requirements of the Class in which the team is competing.
Light — (Less than 85 grams)
Classic — (85 grams to 110 grams)
Unlimited — (more than 110 grams)

Canine Welfare

Competitors are responsible for the safety and welfare of their dogs. Competing canines must be supervised and under the care and control of their throwers/owners at all times. Only the competing dog, thrower, and contest officials are allowed on the field during competition. Dogs must be leashed at all times, except when competing.

There are presently no limitations as to the number of events you or your dog may enter, or in which divisions. However, the same thrower/dog combination may only compete once per division/class. It is the owner/trainer’s responsibility to ensure that competing canines do not compete in more events than would be advisable given the prevailing weather conditions, with specific consideration given to the fitness and general health of the competing canine. At all Skyhoundz Championships, the Chief Judge will have final authority on the issue of whether a dog is fit to compete.

Abusive treatment of a canine, or any conduct of a competitor which might be perceived by spectators as such, will not be tolerated. Contest officials may disqualify any competitor who engages in this type of behavior. The wearing of electronic or chemical training aids, of any sort (active or inactive), will not be permitted during competition.

Competitors with overly aggressive dogs may not be permitted to compete if such canines are believed to pose a danger to people or other canines.

Freestyle vaults, utilizing the trainer’s body as a launch pad, should be minimized or excluded from routines altogether. If attempted, vaults should be performed in a controlled and safe manner. Excessive height, or frequent repetitions of vaults, will not increase the likelihood of a higher score.

Sportsmanship

Although not every team can finish in the top positions at a Skyhoundz competition, you are all winners in the eyes of your canines. So, when you're out on the field competing, don't forget to have fun with your best friend. Skyhoundz will not tolerate displays of unsportsmanlike conduct at any level of competition in the Skyhoundz Series.

We urge you to familiarize yourself with our rules regarding unsportsmanlike behavior and understand that we will have a zero tolerance policy for unseemly displays of poor sportsmanship at our series of family-friendly competitions.

Whether or not you agree with your scores, you will be well served to treat the judges, officials, and organizers with respect and interact with them as you would want others to interact with you.

Finally, please review the section on Sportsmanship at the beginning of the Competition Section of Disc Dogs! The Complete Guide .

General Competition Rules

Each contestant must read and sign, without modification, the Hyperflite Skyhoundz Registration Form, which contains a liability waiver and publicity release. Competitors are responsible for reading and understanding the competition rules before they compete.

Because of time constraints, no practice throws will be permitted at any Hyperflite Skyhoundz events.

No props of any kind, including capes, vests or other adornments worn by canines, are permitted in competition.

Female dogs in any stage of heat will not be permitted to compete and must not be brought to the competition site.

Dog owners/trainers are required to clean up after their dog’s nature breaks. If a nature break takes place during any event, time will be suspended until the break has concluded. During a nature break, a thrower should maintain his or her position on the field and should not attempt to gather discs or move closer to the competing canine while time is suspended. Time will resume at the conclusion of the nature break. Any clean-up necessary must be done by the thrower upon completion of the round.

Where required by local ordinance, all participating dogs must have proof of Rabies inoculation and license. Parvo and Kennel Cough vaccinations are strongly recommended.

If a spectator’s dog runs onto the field during a competitor’s round, time will be suspended. Once the spectator’s dog is leashed and has been removed from the field, time will resume from the point of interruption. Officials will use every effort to allow the interrupted team to be returned to their status on the field, including physical field location and time remaining, at the point of the interruption.

The Hyperflite Skyhoundz Championship Series represents family entertainment at its finest. Accordingly, competitors should avoid confrontations with other competitors or challenges of contest officials. Abusive language or other inappropriate or unsportsmanlike behavior may result in a contestant’s disqualification from competition.