Dog Agility Equipment Regulations

Dog agility is a fast growing sport. It is kept fair by a set of regulations that govern exactly what can and cannot be used for course equipment, as well as additional rules governing the size and length of the equipment.

Types of Equipment

The equipment, which includes the A-frame, dog walk, seesaw, crossover, tunnels, jumps and weave poles, tests the dog's ability to run, move and navigate the obstacles.

Starting the Course

It is against the rules to start the dog agility course with the dog walk or any type of jump.

Angle of Attack

The angle the dog enters the obstacle also has rules. As a good rule of thumb, don't exceed a 90-degree angle when arranging the course.

Size Requirements

For most of the obstacle types, there are strict size requirements. For example, an A-frame should be eight to nine feet, while a dog walk is four feet off the ground and has to have contact points.

Tunnel Regulations

There are five types of tunnels that may be used in dog agility: chute tunnel, collapsed tunnel, crawl tunnel and hoop tunnel. These cannot be more than 20 feet, and are typically two feet across.