DIY: Dog Agility Equipment

Be resourceful and make your own agility equipment.

Extend your pet's training beyond mere obedience and explore dog agility sports. According to the United States Dog Agility Association, competitive dog agility garners international attention, with its major events televised nationally in the U.S., where over 25,000 competitors are registered. Begin your agility training of this popular sport with household items before investing in competitive equipment.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• 10 Cones (or plastic tubing)
• Hula hoop
• 3 zip ties
• Limbo set
• Stick or small baton
• 2 lawn flags

Instructions

1. 

   Measure to make sure you leave enough distance between competitive areas.

   Choose an area of your yard to make the course, using the tape measure to make sure the event stations are at least 15 feet apart. The ground should be level and smooth. If the ground is especially hard or dry, take this into consideration, setting only short jumps and long turns to avoid stress on your dog's joints from the terrain.

2. Set up weaves with traffic cones or plastic tubing, driving them deep into flat ground in a straight line. Leave only enough room between the slalom stakes for a dog of your's size to maneuver in and out of them. Be sure that the tubing or cones are flexible and not so firm as to injure your dog if it should run in to one of the obstacles.

3. Hold the hula hoop at different levels for your dog to practice jumping through it, or use zip ties to attach one side of the hoop to a fence. Start a couple of inches above ground level and increase the height of the jump gradually.

4. Place a child's limbo set on even ground with plenty of space for your dog to work up a run in approach. Set the bar on its lowest notches for beginners and raise it slightly as your dog advances.

5. Use a stick or a piece of hollow plastic tubing for your dogs to use as a relay baton. Mark the start and finish lines with inexpensive lawn flags. Keep the running course shorter for younger dogs.

Tips & Warnings

• Some dogs, particularly collies, may become overly enthusiastic during agility training and injure themselves. Progress slowly with your pet and supervise it closely at all times.

References

• USDAA: About Us
• Agility