How to Build an Indoor Obstacle Course for a Dog

Recreating an outdoor obstacle course indoors keeps dogs healthy and active.

Maintaining optimal health for your dog involves routine veterinary care, good food, fresh water and plenty of exercise. Dogs benefit from an assortment of exercise routines to help maintain an active lifestyle. Though obstacle courses can be set up outdoors, utilizing a makeshift indoor version will help keep your dog entertained and active while indoors during inclement weather or when outdoor free space is not readily available.

Things You'll Need

• Two chairs
• Plywood boards
• Medicine ball
• Fabric play tunnel (available in children's section of toy stores)
• Dog treats

Instructions

1. Choose the largest space in the house or apartment to use for the obstacle course. The larger the room, the more obstacles you will be able to set up throughout the area to create a challenging and lengthy course for the dog. Opt for a room such as recreational or living room which has large furniture which is easier to push out of the way.

2. Move all furniture toward the perimeter walls of the room. Remove all small tables, baskets and chairs to create an empty space in the center of the room.

3. Place two chairs, two to three feet apart, at one end of the room. Place a board across the chairs to create the first jumping obstacle. Place weights on both ends of the board to weigh down in the event the dog bumps in to the board while jumping. If the chairs are too high, use child-size chairs which are shorter and more suitable for smaller dogs.

4. Place a medicine ball a few feet in front of the first jumping obstacle. Use a weighted medicine ball which will not roll. Place a wide wooden plank across the top of the medicine ball, making sure the side closest to the first obstacle is resting on the floor. Use two-inch-thick plywood cut to a length of four feet. Position the plank on top of the medicine ball to create a seesaw which the dog will walk across to reach the other side.

5. Set up a tunnel for the dog to crawl through. Use a child size pop up tunnel made from fabric for a tunnel which is easy to set up, take down and store. Place a bowl of dog treats at the far end of the tunnel as the reward for the dog successfully completing the obstacle course.

Tips & Warnings

• Change out components of the obstacle course based on available space. Add extra obstacles if you have the space. Ideas for additional obstacles include having a dog dog crawl under a bench that does not have rungs underneath, positioning orange construction cones in a zigzag pattern to have the dog weave between the cones and changing the height of the jumping board to create a higher and lower height to change the obstacle on occasion.

• Do not push an older dog to complete an obstacle course if the animal shows signs of pain or is beginning to struggle while attempting to complete the course.

References

• Dog Time: 11 Ways to Get Moving With Your Pet
• Canine Crib: Build Your Own Agility Course