In response, the International Disc Dog Handlers Association (IDDHA) introduced a 21+ mph Keju waiver in 2025. Any team attempting a speed-checked catch over 21 mph in the "Speed Round" must sign a digital liability waiver and post a pre-run vet check.
Why the specific emphasis on "21+"?
You stop throwing the disc entirely. Instead, you use a whip-and-dummy system. The handler cracks a 6-foot lunge whip with a fleece tug at the end, moving at 21+ mph horizontally. The dog chases and catches the tug while a radar gun (like a Bushnell Velocity) records the run. Only when the dog naturally executes the "Keju Curl" chasing the tug do you put the actual disc back in your hand. Why the 21+ mph Keju Matters in Competition In the 2024 UpDog International Championships, a statistical anomaly occurred. Of the 450 Freestyle runs, exactly zero dogs scored in the top 10 without at least two 21+ mph keju maneuvers per round. 21+mph+keju
And on that perfect throw—when the disc leaves your hand at the exact trajectory, when your dog’s hips rotate 180 degrees in mid-air, and the radar gun screams —you will finally understand why the keju matters. In response, the International Disc Dog Handlers Association
You introduce the "21+ mph Keju Trainer"—a foam disc with an embedded accelerometer (brands like SpeedFetch sell them for $199). You start by throwing flat 12 mph rollers. Every week, you increase velocity by 0.5 mph. The critical moment occurs when the dog breaks its plodding gallop into a transverse gallop (all four feet off the ground at once). That gait switch happens at exactly 18.3 mph for most herding breeds. You stop throwing the disc entirely