eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.

How to Build a Backyard Agility Course

Video Preview

Summary: Agility is a great activity for dogs. Unfortunately, it is difficult for dog owners to find an agility course to practice on. The basic agility course is made up of jumps, weave poles, tire jump, tunnel, seesaw, catwalk and pause table. In this article we will focus on jumps, weave poles, pause table and a short catwalk. I will show you how to build a low-cost agility course in your own backyard using stuff you can find in your own garage and at yard sales or flea markets.

Views:
2,521
Presenter
By Eric Letendre
eHow Presenter

Eric Letendre, author of the book "The Amazing Dog Training Man," has been professionally training dogs for the past 20 years and has helped literally thousands of dog owners learn...read more

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Construct the jumps with cinder blocks and pieces of plywood. The plywood can be cut to different heights and propped up using the cinder blocks.

  2. Step 2

    Look for old ski poles at yard sales or flea markets to stand up and use as your weave poles.

  3. Step 3

    Use the cinder blocks for the catwalk (or dogwalk, whichever you prefer to call it). Cut a strip of plywood 12 feet long to place on the cinder blocks. It won't be very high, but your dog can practice walking across it.

  4. Step 4

    Find a good, sturdy, wooden coffee table at a yard sale. Look for one that is fairly low to the ground so that you can use it as a pause table.

  5. Step 5

    Purchase a tunnel from Wal-Mart or Target. They sell inexpensive, plastic kids' tunnels that will work great for your agilty course.

  6. Step 6

    Hang an old bike tire from a tree and use it for the tire jump. Make sure you hold the tire as you teach your dog to go through it.

  7. Step 7

    Now you have some jumps, weave poles, dogwalk, pause table, tire jump and tunnel. Set them up in your backyard and you and your dog are ready for some agility.

Post a Comment

Post a Comment

eHow Article: How to Build a Backyard Agility Course

Related Ads

  • Have you done this? Click here to let us know.
Get Free Pets Newsletters

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.   en-US Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.

eHow Pets
eHow_eHow Pets