Purina® Pro Plan® is proud to be the official sponsor of the Skyhoundz International Disc Dog Face-Off. To discover why champion trainers, handlers, and competitors from all across the world trust Pro Plan to fuel their canine athletes, visit ProPlanSport.com

Skyhoundz International Disc Dog Face-Off sponsored by Purina® Pro Plan®

People’s Choice Voting – Monday, August 31, 2020-Sunday, September 6, 2020

Overview

There’s nothing like a global pandemic to inspire canine sports enthusiasts to spend even more time with their canine companions. At Skyhoundz, we’re prepared to help you take that investment of time to an entirely new level through a fun event open to everyone.

Thanks to the generous support of Purina Pro Plan, Skyhoundz is providing the Virtual venue for the most talented canine disc teams in the world to participate in a unique competition.

Whether you live in “Tinsel Town,” Timbuktu, or Taipei, you can participate in this free Virtual canine disc competition! All you have to do is video your “dynamic” disc dog Freestyle routine, upload the video to our website, and we’ll take it from there. And by that, we mean that we will bend over backward to highlight the most entertaining and dynamic Freestyle performances of canine disc teams from around the globe. Every country (or US Territory) represented will have a National People’s Choice Winner…and then the competition will cumulate with an International People’s Choice Winner!

The Skyhoundz International Disc Dog Face-Off will be the most ambitious multi-country Virtual competition ever staged, and we want you to take up the challenge and show us what you and your canine can do. So, if you’re ready to shake off the “COVID cobwebs” and go paw-to-paw with the best disc dogs in the world, come join us in this adventure!

Overview

lt is free to register and compete (one person/one dog). Competitors are only allowed to compete with one dog, so pick your best dog to complete your team. You may video as many rounds as you like but only send us your favorite. The first 100 teams from each country [or US Territory] (where you reside) will be accepted. Maybe your country will only have one entry, and you will be its winner! (Winners will be subject to providing proof of residency.)

Registration: Competitors must register in order to be eligible to compete in the Skyhoundz International Disc Dog Face-Off. Registration will open Monday, July 27, 2020-Sunday, August 16, 2020. Please go here to register.

Field Set-Up: None. A typical Freestyle field is 20 yards x 50 yards with no lines or boundaries. But, if you want your field to be more compact that’s fine too! Just make sure it’s a safe space for your canine.

Discs: Competitors are required to use five Hyperflite brand discs (any model/either size). If you need to order some, you can get them through Skyhoundz.

Music: Playing music during your Freestyle routine is up to you, but not required. All music of the top teams will be replaced when posted online.

Clothing: As an official Skyhoundz event, and since the top performances will be posted on the worldwide web, while you compete, we request that you wear a Hyperflite or Skyhoundz shirt, but if you do not have one available, you may wear anything you like (shirt/cap) as long as it does not include the logo of a competing disc, dog food or treat manufacturer. And, no competing disc, dog food, or treat manufacturer’s signage (signs/tents) should appear in the background.

Judging: Your video will first be judged by Skyhoundz judges, based on the Skyhoundz PAWS scoring system, to narrow the field down to the top five teams from each country [or US Territory] (though scores will not be posted until the competition is completed in order to not sway the People’s Choice vote tally). If you make it to the top five teams, your National finish will be entirely up to you, your friends, and most importantly, the public through People’s Choice votes! Then, the top five National teams (based on the Skyhoundz judges’ scores), move on to the International People’s Choice vote to determine the overall winner. If necessary, all ties will be broken by Skyhoundz judges.

Freestyle Rules: Skyhoundz International Disc Dog Face-Off will be judged based on Skyhoundz Freestyle official rules as seen here.

Video: Competitor’s rounds must be filmed with a mobile phone or tablet from a fixed position (camera may be panned as necessary to keep the action in frame). To be accepted, the video must be made in one complete shot, raw, no video stoppages, effects, or editing of the video will be accepted. The video needs to have been recorded no earlier than July 24, 2020. Editing of the video is an automatic disqualification.We recommend uploading your video as soon as possible once video submission is open in case there are any issues with the uploading of your video. And, of course, we can only judge videos that are received in a viewable quality. Please note, while pre-routines are permitted, they are not judged, and will contribute to increased upload times. Therefore, we recommend minimizing any delays in getting started with your routine.

1) Each round should begin with the cameraperson starting the video, panning to the disc(s) that the competitor is holding. They must be clearly identifiable as Hyperflite canine discs.
2) The competitor must then be shown in the video stating his or her name and the name of the competing canine, followed by the team walking onto the field and competing until the round is completed.
3) The cameraperson shooting the video should be positioned on the side of the field that is opposite the sun (sun at their back).
4) Any helpers must do so while complying with Federal, State and Local laws, ordinances, guidelines, etc., as the same pertain to the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing/mask wearing, as appropriate, should be observed by all.

Timing: For timing, please download the official Skyhoundz Freestyle countdown timer from our website here. The countdown timer should begin with the competitor’s first throw and be clearly heard throughout the video.

Submission: On Monday, August 17, 2020-Sunday, August 23, 2020 when video submission is open, please go here to upload your video. Upload speeds are generally faster directly through your phone/tablet to our website link than through a desktop computer. Any videos uploaded by competitors who are not registered are not eligible for this competition.

Assistance Required:1) Cameraperson
2) Person to play Skyhoundz countdown timer
3) Person to play music if desired. Music is not required and will be replaced when posted online. Timing/Freestyle music should be handled by an additional helper so as not to interrupt the cameraperson.

All dates are based on US Eastern Daylight Time. Skyhoundz reserves the right to modify the rules, but only to the extent necessary to safely, efficiently, and fairly run a Skyhoundz event.

Timeline

July 27, 2020

Registration Opens

Registration for the Skyhoundz International Disc Dog Face-Off opens, Monday, July 27, 2020-August 16, 2020.

July 27, 2020
August 16, 2020

Registration Closes

Registration Closes, 11:59 pm, Sunday, August 16, 2020.

August 16, 2020
August 17, 2020

Video Submission Opens

Video Submission Opens, Monday, August 17, 2020-Sunday, August 23, 2020.

August 17, 2020
August 23, 2020

Video Submission Closes

Video Submission Closes. All video submissions must be completed by 11:59 pm, Sunday, August 23, 2020.

August 23, 2020
August 24, 2020

Skyhoundz Judging Begins

Skyhoundz judging begins to cut the entries down to a maximum of five teams per country. Monday, August 24, 2020-Sunday, August 30, 2020.

August 24, 2020
August 30, 2020

Skyhoundz Judging Complete

Skyhoundz judging finishes determining the top five teams from each country. Sunday, August 30, 2020.

August 30, 2020
August 31, 2020

National People’s Choice Judging Begins

National People’s Choice Voting begins to determine national winners. Monday, August 31, 2020-Sunday, September 6, 2020.

August 31, 2020
September 6, 2020

National People’s Choice Judging Ends

National People’s Choice Voting Ends, 11:59 pm, Sunday, September 6, 2020.

September 6, 2020
September 7, 2020

National People’s Choice Winners Announced

National winners of the Skyhoundz International Disc Dog Face-Off announced, Monday, September 7, 2020.

September 7, 2020
September 13, 2020

International People’s Choice Judging Ends

This is Timeline description, you can change me anytime click here

September 13, 2020
September 13, 2020

Timeline Heading

People’s Choice Vote to determine the International winner ends.

September 13, 2020
September 14, 2020

International People’s Choice Winner Announced

International winner of the Skyhoundz International Disc Dog Face-Off announced, Monday, September 14, 2020.

September 14, 2020

Video Requirements

Video: Competitor’s rounds must be filmed with a mobile phone or tablet from a fixed position (camera may be panned as necessary to keep the action in frame). To be accepted, the video must be made in one complete shot, raw, no video stoppages, effects, or editing of the video will be accepted. The video needs to have been recorded no earlier than July 24, 2020. Editing of the video is an automatic disqualification. We recommend uploading your video as soon as possible once video submission is open in case there are any issues with the uploading of your video. And, of course, we can only judge videos that are received in a viewable quality. Please note, while pre-routines are permitted, they are not judged, and will contribute to increased upload times. Therefore, we recommend minimizing any delays in getting started with your routine.

1) Each round should begin with the cameraperson starting the video, panning to the disc(s) that the competitor is holding. They must be clearly identifiable as Hyperflite canine discs.
2) The competitor must then be shown in the video stating his or her name and the name of the competing canine, followed by the team walking onto the field and competing until the round is completed.
3) The cameraperson shooting the video should be positioned on the side of the field that is opposite the sun (sun at their back).
4) Any helpers must do so while complying with Federal, State, and Local laws, ordinances, guidelines, etc., as the same pertain to the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing/mask-wearing, as appropriate, should be observed by all.

Timing: For timing, please download the official Skyhoundz Freestyle countdown timer from our website here. The countdown timer should begin with the competitor’s first throw and be clearly heard throughout the video.

Submission: On Monday, August 17, 2020-Sunday, August 23, 2020 when video submission is open, please go here to upload your video. Upload speeds are generally faster directly through your phone/tablet to our website link than through a desktop computer. Any videos uploaded by competitors who are not registered are not eligible for this competition.

Assistance Required:
1) Cameraperson
2) Person to play Skyhoundz countdown timer
3) Person to play music if desired. Music is not required and will be replaced when posted online. Timing/Freestyle music should be handled by an additional helper so as not to interrupt the cameraperson.

Correct Orientation

Incorrect Orientation

Example Video: Video filmed in one take, competitor and dog name spoken on camera, five Hyperflite discs displayed, video filmed horizontally, countdown timer heard throughout in background.

Video Position: The cameraperson shooting the video should be positioned on the side of the field that is opposite the sun (sun at their back), at the approximate location as shown in the diagram.

Field Set-Up

None. A typical Freestyle field is 20 yards x 50 yards with no lines or boundaries. But, if you want your field to be more compact that’s fine too! Just make sure it’s a safe space for your canine.

Cost / Prizes

Cost: lt is free to register and compete (one person/one dog). Competitors are only allowed to compete with one dog, so pick your best dog to complete your team. You may video as many rounds as you like but only send us your favorite. The first 100 teams from each country (where you reside) will be accepted.

Prizes: In addition to some cool swag to help you celebrate your accomplishment which will be shipped to your homes, National and International winning teams will be celebrated on the Skyhoundz website, Facebook page, YouTube channel, and Purina’s website/social media channels!

FAQs

There is no cost to enter and compete.

No, sorry. To provide everyone an equal opportunity, and audiences a diverse choice, we have limited competing teams to one person and one dog. So, you need to pick the one dog you feel you will do the best with in one round of Freestyle.

Your video will first be judged by Skyhoundz judges based on the Skyhoundz PAWS scoring system to narrow the field down to the top five teams from each country [or US Territory] (though scores will not be posted until the competition is completed in order to not sway the People’s Choice vote tally). If you make it to the top five teams, your National finish will be entirely up to you, your friends, and most importantly, the public through People’s Choice voting! Then, the top five National teams (based on the Skyhoundz judges’ scores) move on to the International People’s Choice vote to determine the overall winner. If necessary, all ties will be broken by Skyhoundz judges.

Stage 1-Skyhoundz judges will score all the teams and narrow the field down to five teams per country.

Stage 2-A National People’s Choice Vote will determine the National winners

Stage 3-The top five teams from all the National winners (based on their Skyhoundz scores) move on to Stage 4.

Stage 4-International winner will be determined by a People’s Choice Vote.

No. When we first contemplated a Virtual event, we attempted to transfer our tried and true real life events to the virtual format. The overwhelming reaction was that it was too ambitious, too much work for the competitors, too difficult to set up, too expensive, impossible to prevent people from cheating, etc.

So, we took all of that to heart and distilled the Virtual concept down to the one event where all competitors can compete in on an equal footing. Freestyle is the only disc dog event where standard-size dogs have no inherent advantage over small dogs. In fact, small dogs are quicker, more agile, and obviously weigh less, so there is potentially much more you can accomplish with them than with big dogs. We fondly remember Bill Watters and Air Major (a terrier mix) who nearly won the (Open Division) World Championship and that was Freestyle and Mini-Distance combined. And, as a more recent example, if you look at last year’s World Championship, Key and Spice (MicroDogs) had some of the top scores in the Freestyle portion of the Open Division. In Freestyle, it’s not the size that matters, but the combined skill level of the team and their performance on the field that day.

That said, obviously, since we created them, when time and resources allow, we love to offer competitors MicroDog, Youth, and Pairs options.