Agility competitions are becoming more and more popular at dog shows, and are even beginning to replace many of the traditional shows. These competitions involve owners leading their dogs around an obstacle course as quickly as possible. A lot of training takes place before these events, and many people spend months preparing for even a single competition. However, because the obstacles used in agility competitions are not exactly everyday objects, many people find it difficult to train their dogs on a regular basis.

In order to get around this problem, many people have turned to building their own dog training equipment. There are some obstacles faced by the dogs which are fairly simple to build, such as weave poles and small jumps, and some objects which require a great deal more skill, such as the teeter-totter and the chute, but regardless, it is possible to construct them from things lying around your home.

Jumps can be constructed of anything that is tall enough to be jumped over. Traditional heights for dog agility competitions range from 9″ to 16″ depending on the height of your dog, which makes it very easy to simply use a 2×4 turned on it’s end, or some other simple object as the jump. Weave poles, which are basically just long stakes sticking out of the ground, can be constructed using just about anything tall and skinny. Fallen branches, old skiing poles, or even dowel rods can be used in a pinch.

For the more complicated equipment, you’re probably better off buying than constructing it, unless you’re very handy, or you have an excellent blueprint.

Teeter-totters can be found at your local park, but unfortunately, many parks have banned dogs from being in the children’s play area, making it difficult, if not impossible to use playground equipment. If you can use it, take advantage, but be sure to train your dog when there are very few children around. The noise and the distraction will be a detriment to the quality of the training, and may be very problematic for you. In general, agility training is best done without a leash, as the majority of competitions will be done this way, and if you have little control over your dog, he or she may run off to chase a child and leave you behind. Dogs are social creatures, and they enjoy the attention that the children will give them much more than repeatedly running over a teeter-totter, no matter how fun it may be.

In general, it’s likely that you’ll be better off with a combination of handmade and professional equipment rather than relying solely on one or the other. While purchasing dog agility training equipment is expensive, it’s often much better than spending days or weeks creating a rickety structure that could be dangerous for your dog. Thus, unless you’re very crafty, it is usually best to leave the bigger projects to the professionals.

Dog agility competitions are very popular events since they first started sometime in the 1970s. These events are modeled after equestrian events, where horses run and jump around various obstacles. Dog agility competitions are very similar, but because of the greater mobility and constitution of dogs, there are far more obstacles to navigate.

The most common obstacle, directly borrowed from agility training’s like to equestrian events is the jump. These obstacles come in a variety of styles, from a single bar to multiple, and even the tire jump, which requires dogs to jump through the center of a suspended tire. In most competitions involving a variety of breeds and ages, the tire will be omitted, as larger dogs may be physically unable to fit through, and taking too big a chance is detrimental to the health and safety of the dogs involved. Smaller jumps are present in almost every competition, however, and are designed with safety in mind. If a dog misjudges a jump and hits the bar, it will fall away harmlessly.

The second major type of obstacle is called the contact obstacles. These are generally larger contructs, like a the A Frame or see-saw (sometimes called a teeter-totter), which require dogs to jump on and off the object from two contact points. As long as they do this, they are able to move on to the next obstacle, but if they jump on or off from another point, they must re-do the obstacle.

An A Frame is constructed of two boards held on an angle which meet at a single point. A see-saw is a replica of the playground equipment, and requires the dog to show patience and balance in waiting for the board to switch position. Another type of contact object is the dog-walk, which is a thin suspended plank that the dog must move across.

Some dog breeds, such as terriers, are particularly attracted to the burrowing obstacles, such as the chute. This is a large round structure similar to a pipe that the dog must make their way through. They vary in size and shape, just like many of the obstacles, but are almost always large enough for medium sized dogs to stand upright inside of them. Collapsed chutes are similar to regular ones, but end with a plastic or nylon piece which does not maintain it’s structure. It is up to the dog to burrow their way out of it.

Weave poles come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and layouts, and require the dog to weave in and out of them, just like a skier would do for a slalom. This is traditionally one of the most difficult obstacles for dogs to train on, and there is a variety of tools which will aid you in training your dog to make the complex movement through the poles. Some competitions will place poles in a straight line, minimizing the amount of movement back and forth, while other competitions will offset the poles to force the dogs to move farther to get around them.

The final agility obstacle that commonly appears in competitions is called the pause table. This is simply a table, often covered with astroturf, which the dog must stand on, without moving, for a period of one to three seconds. This is a test of the trainer’s control over the dog more than the dog’s agility, as it is fairly simple to jump up onto the table.

There are some other forms of training equipment, but these cover the basics that you are likely to run into at a traditional dog training event. While they may be of different size or shape, it is generally accepted that dogs can adapt to these minor changes. What you may find most difficult is the dogs ability to adapt to a completely new object without having trained on it beforehand.

Agility training events are becoming quite popular events, both for owners and for the dogs involved. These competitions involve an owner guiding their canine companion through a series of different obstacles in an order defined by the judges. Because the objects used in agility events are not common, everyday objects, it is necessary to expose your dog to these different obstacles well in advance of your event.

In order to do that, you need to either build, or buy your own agility equipment. While you will save some money in building the necessary equipment, it requires a great deal of skill, as well as some rather unique materials, and a viable blueprint for the construction. The option that more and more agility trainers are turning to is to simply buy equipment from the manufacturer who supplies the events in question. Thanks to the growing popularity of dog agility training events, the obstacles and equipment needed are getting easier to find.

Buying dog agility training equipment is beneficial in other ways as well. If you are buying directly from a major distributor or a manufacturer, then there is a good chance that the dog agility competition will be using the exact same supplies you trained your dog on. Building the equipment at home means that you may build things on a different scale, and your dog may become scared or confused at the event itself.

Professional agility training requires that you train your dog on a wide variety of objects, but one thing to remember in dog agility training is that there are well over thirty major types of obstacles that your dog will face in a competition. That can add up to a lot of money and space spent on training equipment. Instead of buying one of everything, buy just the major components, like teeter-totters and tire jumps, and make the most of what you have lying around the house. A 2×4 stood on it’s side makes a great low jump, and you can collect fallen branches to act as weave poles.

One of the most difficult pieces to consider is the chute, which is not only expensive, but it takes up a lot of room in your home as well. This is notoriously one of the most difficult obstacles in agility competitions, however, so you would be well advised to either purchase one, or make your own. Your dog will need experience with this particular object in order to be successful, because the vast majority of dogs wouldn’t even know where to begin.

No matter what you do, remember that dog agility training was introduced because of the fun atmosphere, and it is not meant to be a stressful competition. If you want your dog to excel in this environment, however, it is essential to have the right training tools to practice with.

Because of the high cost of getting involved with a sport like dog agility training, it is essential to save money whenever possible. One of the best methods of doing so is by purchasing used equipment and obstacles. If you choose to go with this option, however, keep in mind that you should still be spending your money on quality products, and that an obstacle in too poor of condition may be dangerous for your dog.

Some used agility equipment, especially larger pieces like the A frame and the see-saw has been stored outdoors by their owners. The sheer size of these obstacles makes it difficult or impossible for many owners to store. While this is not a bad thing, in and of itself, the equipment is likely to be rusted or rickety in places, and will probably need a new paint job. Keep in mind, however, that some equipment, especially seesaws, are typically coated with a special sealant which helps dogs keep their traction. This safety measure should not be ignored, and you should always check on the condition of this seal before purchasing.

Another concern to check for is the flexibility and the construction of the pieces. Some equipment which is being sold is low quality or broken in some manner. If the crossbars for jumps are stuck in place, then this too is a safety concern. If they do not stay put, or if they come free under very slight pressure, then they are practically useless. The same can be said of tunnels and chutes with rips or tears in the fabric, or tire jumps which have been chewed to death. By examining the flexibility and construction of each piece of equipment, you can be positive that you are getting quality goods.

In addition, keep in mind that you may have some equipment sitting around in your home. A pause table is simply a short table that the dog can jump on. While it may not be “professional quality”, an old coffee table or even a sturdy box can suffice for this object. Skiing poles make decent weave poles, and can be constructed into jumps as well. You can create other pieces from materials around your house as well, so keep that in mind before going shopping. Most of the major equipment will still need to be purchased, but if you can cut down on your shopping list, you can afford to purchase new equipment.

One thing that you must remember when buying used dog agility training equipment is that it is generally being sold for a reason. Because of the expense of the sport, it is not something that trainers get involved in lightly, and if the trainer is purchasing quality goods, they tend to stick with them as long as they are still in decent shape. However, buying used equipment is a decent way to get involved in the sport on a budget, as long as you realize that the obstacles and equipment you are purchasing will probably have to be replaced sooner rather than later.

Starter kits will not have the larger objects, like see-saws or A frames, but they will contain a few weave poles which can be transformed into jumps or double jumps. These are considered some of the most difficult obstacles in dog agility competitions, and can help you determine if your dog is ready for larger obstacles. Some dogs lack the coordination or maturity to be able to do well with the larger, and potentially more dangerous objects.

In general, starter kits are a good idea because they will often come with trainer tools as well, and often a short introduction to the sport, as well as guide to getting started on obstacle training. Typical tools would include ribbons, wands, and other training tools which can get you started. These may not always be available outside of a starter kit.

If you were to simply dive right in and attempt to create your own obstacles, you will likely run into trouble without the correct training tools and the knowledge of how to get started, and in addition, you run the risk of injuring your pet. Most professional agility training equipment is built with the animal in mind, and are built to fall apart easily on contact to be reassembled. This ensures that your animal is not injured when running these basic obstacles. These advanced designs are difficult, if not impossible to replicate at home.

You must also consider the cost of the larger objects. While they certainly may look more impressive and be more difficult to train for, these objects are costly, and difficult to store. Sometimes you can take advantage of local parks and playgrounds for some of these obstacles, but remember to check with local ordinances before you do. Some playgrounds may disallow dogs from the playground area and fine you if your dog is seen working on the equipment.

Even if you felt confident in that, you would still have to invest in a training manual and some tools. If you purchase all of these separately, then you’re still spending a majority of the money that you would spend on a starter kit anyways.