Using a comprehensive line of dog agility equipment combines advanced off-leash obedience and obstacle familiarization that you can impose to your dog. A complete line of dog agility equipment includes the jumps, pause table, panel hurdles, see-saw, tunnels and chutes, single to triple pole hurdles as well as weave poles and dog agility equipment starter kit that is great for starting pet owners.
Basically, the dog agility equipment is done to test your dog’s ability to finish an obstacle course or simply to make a fun-filled and quality playing time with your dog and family. It also helps them in strengthening their endurance and capacity to go through each equipment challenges with their own strategies. Constant playing and supervision will enable your dog to practice obedience and confidence.
You can start your very own course in your yard or in other spacious place within your home with the help of our featured basic equipment. More often than not, a simple training and fun in your own backyard leads to joining some dog agility equipment competition within your vicinity. Aside from widening your circle of friends with other pet owners, your dog can also gain confidence and freedom to socialize with other dogs which is essential to the development of his attitude.
As we have said, you need the help of different dog agility equipment to develop their performance and strength. If you plan to join your dog in a competition in the future or just want to have some fun with him, then it is time to start completing your course obstacle now. Below is the list of basic equipment with their use and importance in your dog’s agility development.
A-Frame. This two-platform equipment is normally 3 feet (1 m) wide by 8 to 9 feet (3 m) long and formed an A shape. It can increase your dog’s endurance and test his balancing capacity.
See-Saw (Teeter-Tote). This dog agility equipment is much like a child’s see-saw and is 10 to 12 foot-size plank with pivot as support. The see-saw is constructed slightly off-balance so that the same end always returns to the ground. This is done either by placing the support slightly off-center or else weighting one end of the board.
Tunnels. This dog agility equipment is one of the newest additions to an agility course. It is an obstacle that consists of interconnected tunnels. Available in open-ended and collapsed end.
Jumps. There are actually different types of jumps in an obstacle course. These include the panel, hurdle and tire jump.
º Tire Jump. A tire or tire-shape is suspended in a frame that is usually wrapped with tape so that there are no openings or uneven places in which the dog could catch. The dog must jump through the opening of the tire and its height is adjusted for dogs of different sizes.
º Hurdle Jump (Single, Double,Triple). Two or three sets of uprights, each with horizontal poles. The Double can have parallel or ascending horizontal bars; the triple always has ascending bars. The spread between the horizontal bars is sometimes adjusted based on the height of the dog.
º Panel Jump. Instead of horizontal bars, the jump is a solid panel from the ground up to the jump height, constructed of several short panels that can be removed to adjust the height for different dog heights.
Pause Table (Pause Box). This is like a simple table square marked off on the ground, usually with plastic pipe or construction tape, where the dog must perform the "pause" behavior (in either a sit or a down) just as he would on the elevated table.
Weave Poles. This equipment is a series of upright poles, each about 3 feet (1 m) tall and spaced about 20 inches (50 cm) apart, through which the dog weaves. Considered to be one of the most difficult obstacles for a dog to master, the weave poles also vary from 5 to 12 poles at one time. The dog must always enter with the first pole to his left and must not skip poles.