How to Build a Dog Agility Slalom

Teaching a dog to run an agility course improves their obedience and listening skills in addition to keeping them physically fit. The agility slalom is a great way for any dog to improve on eye and body coordination and speed. The agility slalom is also simple enough that you can build your own. Follow these steps to build a dog agility slalom.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Build on flat, straight land with no hills or curves to ensure that the dog is trained properly. The slalom is set up in a straight line to teach the dog to stay in a straight line and maintain eye contact with their owner or trainer while weaving in and out of the poles. Even land helps prevent your dog from falling or being injured while they are learning to run the slalom. Build the slalom in a wide-open space that gives the dog plenty of space at each end to gain momentum when starting and then slow down at the end.
2. Consider the size of your dog. The poles of the slalom must be just far enough apart that the dog has room to dodge between them but not enough room for them to have a lot of maneuverability. This trains the dog to turn sharply while running and improves their footwork. The breed and size of your dog is important because building a slalom for a small or medium-sized dog obviously takes up less space than one built for a large breed. Remember the size that your dog will be as an adult when deciding the amount of space you need for your slalom.
3. Use lightweight poles. The slalom poles should be lightweight, hollow plastic that are bendable so they will "give" if your dog accidentally runs into them and not injure the dog. A typical slalom course contains anywhere from ten to twenty poles. Use brightly colored poles; though your dog is color blind, bright solid colors make them stand out against foliage.
4. Anchor the poles deep in the ground to keep them from coming dislodged if the dog makes contact with them. Make sure that they are tall enough that your dog will not injure his eyes or face if he runs into a pole by accident. If you cut longer poles in half, sand down sharp edges to prevent injury.
5. Space poles evenly, usually about a foot and a half apart. Use a tape measure to accurately space the poles out before sinking them into the ground; guessing or estimating distances could result in inaccurate judgment by your dog that could lead to injury.
6. Keep other supplies close at hand. A canine first aid kit makes sure that you are prepared if the dog becomes injured during training. If you are training your dog to run the slalom during the summer months, keep a bowl of water nearby for them but keep it out of sight to prevent it from becoming a distraction.