Beginners Guide To Dog Agility Training Equipment

October 17, 2008 by Richard Cross

Dog agility training requires the right equipment if you want you and your dog to be a success. It can be difficult to know where to start with training equipment though as there is so much to choose from. This article will take you through some of the most important types of dog agility training equipment.

Weave Poles
Weave poles are standard in most agility courses, and are probably one of the training items you’ll want to pick up. The dog is expected to weave in and out of the poles which are set up in a line without making mistakes.

Agility Jumps
These are like horse jumps, although obviously a lot smaller! They are also sometimes called hurdles. You can get many different types, so it’s probably best to start with the more basic ones that have a single bar and then work your way up to the multiple bar jumps. These are fantastic for training your dog in agility.

A Dog Seesaw
The name is self explanatory and these can be a fun addition to your dogs agility training. Your dog must get used to the seesaw if it is going to be entered in competitions, so it’s vital to have one of these at home to practice on. If you have a smaller dog then they might have to learn the difficult technique of “riding down” the seesaw, which definitely requires a lot of practice!

Tunnels and Chutes
These are often included in dog agility courses so practicing with them is a good idea. Sometimes dogs don’t take to these straight away, but most of the time they love it once they get used to it.

There are other more complicated types dog agility training equipment, but these are the ones you’ll have to practice with if you want your dog to do well in competitions. I don’t suggest buying them all at once though, as this can add up to quite a sum of money. Unless you’re absolutely sure you and your dog will be training in agility for a long time to come you could try making your own weave poles and jumps to start with. Once you have gained some confidence and know it is a hobby you want to pursue then purchasing the real thing would be a good idea. Just make sure that any homemade obstacles are safe for you and the dog!

Dog agility training can be a wonderful way to bond with your pet as well as keeping both you and the dog fit and healthy. If you haven’t started already, I highly recommend starting agility training today. It’s a lot of fun!