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The Equipment Used On Canine Agility Courses

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.

If you are looking for a good place to start, purchasing a jump or creating your own jump can be an excellent idea. Sturdy bricks can be stacked or you can use some other small item and begin training your dog. Pre-made PVC jumps, just like the ones used at dog agility contests, can be purchased as well. These are very lightweight which means they are easier to move around than bricks or some other type of homemade jump. They also can be easily adjusted, and once your dog masters a single jump, you can add several more at varying heights.

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.

Weaves are another exciting obstacle that your dog will enjoy, but these are perhaps the most complicated obstacle for dogs to learn. However, once they master this skill, it is quite impressive to watch them go in and out of the weaves. These can be placed directly into the ground at carefully spaced intervals or you can purchase a weave with a base. Weaves typically either have six weaves or 12 weaves for your dog to navigate.

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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