How to Build Dog Agility Practice Weave Poles

Many trainers use weave poles to enhance their dogs' agility. To train your dog at home, you can make a set of stick-in-the-ground weaves that are portable, easy to store and highly functional.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 12 pieces of 3/4-inch PVC pipe, each 36-inches long
• 24 PVC end caps for 3/4-inch PVC
• 12 6-inch screws or bolts with lock nuts and washers
• Drill
• PVC glue
• Colored plastic tape
• Metal retractable measuring tape

1. Gather all of the equipment and supplies. PVC pipe usually comes in 10- foot lengths and is available at hardware and home improvement stores. Ask the staff if they can cut it into 36-inch pieces for you.

2. Drill holes large enough for your screws or bolts in the center of 12 of the PVC end caps.

3. Place the screws or bolts through the holes so that they are pointing out the top of the cap. Slip on the washers and screw on the lock nuts so that the bolts or screws are firmly in place.

4. Smear a small amount of PVC glue around the end of one of the lengths of PVC pipe. Place an end cap with the affixed screw or bolt on the glued end of the pipe and allow glue to dry. Repeat with all 12 pipe lengths and the 12 caps with the screws or bolts.

5. Place the remaining 12 end caps on the open ends of the 12 PVC pipe lengths. These are your 12 weave poles.

6. Decorate the poles with stripes using the colored plastic tape. The stripes make the poles easier for the dog to see, and will make them look more like competition poles.

7. Carry your 12 poles along with the measuring tape outside. On a flat patch of ground lay out the measuring tape to about 25 feet. Walk along the tape sticking a pole in the ground every 18 to 25 inches. You now have a set of 12 weave poles ready for your agility dog.

Tips & Warnings

• Set your poles the correct distance apart for the venue in which you want to compete. The distance between the poles varies, depending upon the organization sponsoring the trial.
• Offset your poles from the center to either side of the measuring tape line if you want to use the channel weave method to train a dog in the weaves.