Agility Equipment Options For Dogs

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.

You can also purchase a cool PVC tire jump, which is something you definitely see at dog competitions. These are PVC stands with a tire mounted in the middle using strong ropes. The jumps can be adjusted easily and are lightweight, unlike an actual tire, which is heavy and hard to tote around. While you can adjust the tire jump, if you have a particularly small dog, there are mini jumps especially for them, which can make agility training easier and safer for these small breeds.

The teeter totter is an obstacle that is fun to watch your dog navigate, but it can be a bit intimidating for your animal at first simply because this obstacle moves and that can be a bit scary. You can begin by having them walk across the teeter while it is level and flat on the ground and then after they seem comfortable with the teeter, put it on the frame at the lowest level and practice until your dog can navigate the equipment comfortably. Then you can continue to make adjustments until your dog can complete the teeter totter at full height.

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.

Some companies, such as Carson-Agility.com, offer special starter kits for their customers. One starter kit might include several jumps and a weave. Another kit might include the jumps, the weave and a teeter. Still another kit might sub out the jumps for a fun tire jump. No matter what selection you make, you dog is sure to enjoy this new form of exercise.




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