Rescue Pup Wows the Crowds with Disc Tricks
Bonnie Scott adopted Mars as a puppy from a shelter to be a companion. She quickly realized Mars was athletic and smart and needed a job. The two discovered disc and have excelled at UpDog Challenge competitions. AKC began recognizing UpDog titles last year. Read how to get started in the fun sport of disc in this issue’s Training Tip and read more about Mars here:
Mars loves to play ball. She vigilantly scouts for any signs of balls – especially those about to be thrown.
So, when a bystander at the dog park took something out of his pocket and lifted it, Mars did not hesitate. She leaped in the air about 6 feet – and slapped the gentleman’s Smartphone to the ground. The man looked shocked, and Mars looked very disappointed.
After her owner Bonnie Scott finished apologizing for Mars’ error, collected her dog, and exited the park, she had an idea.
The next day, she bought a Frisbee for Mars, and they embarked on a new adventure – disc dog competitions. Mars’ speed and natural jumping ability make her a natural for disc events, and she has excelled at the sport.
“We really began our disc odyssey through the UpDog Challenge, after hearing about it from a friendly handler in line ahead of us for a demo at the World Dog Expo in New Jersey,” Scott said. “I was able to enter Mars in a competition within a month of my initial visit to the UpDog website — and we actually walked away with a blue ribbon our very first time on the playing field.”
UpDog is a fun, user-friendly series of disc dog games played year-round all over the country. Last year, AKC formed a relationship with UpDog and now recognizes the organization’s titles.
Mars has earned UpDog’s Disc Dog Gold Elite and Disc Dog Platinum titles.
Scott and Mars excel at Freestyle – a disc class in which the handler-dog team performs a routine to music that includes tricks along with disc catching. They wowed the crowd at the 2020 AKC Meet the Breeds in New York and will begin appearing with the Marvelous Mutts performance team later this year, showing off tricks, agility and freestyle flying disc at Northeast events.
Three-year-old Mars is a rescue dog, and Scott knows little about her background. She became interested in helping a homeless dog while on a trip to another country.
“The winter before adopting Mars, my partner Horace and I did some traveling in Costa Rica. Everywhere we went in that country, we encountered friendly strays that we wanted to pop in our car and take away with us,” Scott said. “We both got so much joy out of seeing and meeting these dogs; I made adopting one of our own my number-one priority once we got home to New York City. “
Finding the right puppy was not an easy task. Puppies are in high demand in New York, and there were often lines of people waiting on puppy arrival days at the shelters.
“Baby Mars kind of appeared out of nowhere as we were leaving on our last visit, thinking we weren’t going to find who we were looking for that day. She was playing by herself in a crate and tearing up some newspaper. When I slipped my fingers in to say ‘Hi,’ she came right over and started nipping them,” Scott said. “An attendant put her in my arms while she continued chewing on various parts of my face and hair. She let me hold her on her back in my lap and play with her paws, ears and face. She was perfect; I couldn’t believe myself when I finally got to turn to Horace and say, ‘I think we found the one.’“
Scott was not familiar with dog sports but discovered Mars had lots of energy and intelligence and could use a job. While taking her to puppy class, the instructors recommended agility. It was difficult to find agility training in the city, but she located Port Chester Obedience Training Club while visiting the AKC Meet the Breeds event and now is an active club member.
“Joining Port Chester Obedience Training Club really opened doors and connected us to people who wanted to see us succeed in the sport,” she said. “I found a teacher, Grace Heck, who was able to walk me through my fist AKC trial experiences early last spring. I don’t know if or when I would have taken the plunge without her.”
Today, Mars not only competes in disc and agility, but also has titles in dock diving, loves FAST CAT, and has earned her AKC Canine Good Citizen title.
“Mars learns very fast. While it can take us a long time to perfect a trick, she understands her role with few repetitions,” Scott said. “However, when she’s confused, she lets you know–by BARKING. Many loud barks. It’s best to give her very clear instructions or you’re going to get an earful.”
While Scott said she wanted to help a dog in need through rescue, she never expected how much Mars would help her too.
’What I found out was this: experiencing day-to-day life with the right dog can change the way you think about the world. When Mars steps out the door or onto the competition field, her only thought is that she is going to have the best possible time and do the best possible job–and that I will be the best possible handler,” Scott said. “She doesn’t second-guess, she doesn’t think about failure. She looks at me and her face says ‘Hey, we’re about to go have the greatest time. I love you.’ It took a while, but I’ve started to believe in me the way she does.“