Different Types Of Dog Agility Equipment

By Cheng Bernhardt


There are many reasons why agility training is an excellent idea for your furry friend. Not only is it an excellent source of exercise, it also strengthens the bond between you and your animal and increases the overall level of obedience. There are many pieces of equipment used on agility courses, and the following is a short explanation of the most common items that you might consider buying for your animal companion.

A dog jump is an excellent piece of starter equipment. These are typically made out of PVC and can be adjusted to suit your dog's level of experience or ability level. Once they have learned how to complete one jump, you can add a second jump and then a third. Eventually they can complete a series of jumps in a row, or you can intersperse the jumps with other pieces of equipment just as would happen at a real agility competition.

The adjustable jumps are just one kind of jump, there are also tire jumps to consider. These jumps include a sturdy stand made from PVC with a tire attached by sturdy ropes which are tethered to each corner of the stand. You could also create a version of this by hanging a tire from a tree in your yard, but if you eventually set up a course, it can be more convenient to have a stand that can be moved anywhere you want. If your dog is quite small, don't worry, there are mini jumps, both tire and regular, that have been created just for them.

While it's amazing to watch a dog run up and down a teeter totter, this obstacle can be frightening for animals to navigate at first, so you definitely need to ease into this piece of equipment. Begin by simply letting your dog sniff the plank while it rests flat off the stand. Then the dog can learn to walk across the plank while off the stand. After that, then you can place it on the stand and entice your dog across with a little treat, careful to hold on to the animal as it goes up and down. Eventually, your dog will be confident enough to go up and down and at higher positions.

While weaves are not scary obstacles, they are one of the most difficult to master. It takes time, praise and patience to help your dog do the weave. But once they have it, it sure is exciting to watch a dog zip through these poles. You can start out slow with a six-pole weave and then work up to a 12-pole weave. You also can opt to mount the poles in the ground or opt for a weave that rests on a stand; the latter option is easier to move around as you adjust your obstacle course.

Purchasing each piece of equipment separately can be costly, and you can save a bit of money by purchasing a start kit instead. These might include weaves and adjustable jumps or perhaps the addition of a teeter totter. You can also find starter kits with a teeter, tire jump and weaves. There are companies that specialize in selling this type of equipment, such as Agility by Carlson. They offer all types of apparatus as well as great tips on how to use each piece.




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