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 A common obstacle in all levels of agility, the challenge of this strange looking jump is for your dog to jump over the boards, in between the 4 marker poles (not run on top of it or side ways through the poles). The boards on this practice set are constructed of vinyl plastic (never needs painting...
$85.00
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 This fun and simple practice tire jump will make a wonderful addition to your obstacle course. A special lightweight design makes it very easy to move around, and when not in use, it comes apart in only 4 pieces. The tire is made of 3" thick foam sections that connect to form a hoop with a 24" diame...
$49.00
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 trainers all say the same thing. Because the weaves are the hardest for your dog to master, it is essential to have a set at home! And if you get a set that can be used both outside and inside, all the better! Here is a set that is lightweight, portable, and also very versatile. The poles can be u...
$49.95
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 The perfect solution for an affordable, yet durable tunnel for backyard practice!Featuring a steel coil that is sewn inside the lining (nothing will catch on the dog), and like a big slinky it condenses up for easy lightweight storage. The material has the weight and feel of lightweight canvas. It i...
$79.00
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 You won't be up and down about this choice! One of the best designs available in a practice base, you'll be quite pleased with the uv-resistant plastic piping that never needs painting, and the rolling, pull-out DETACHABLE fulcrum which allows you to quickly remove the board from the base. It also f...
$75.00
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 One of the newest methods to training the weavepoles that is gaining in popularity is the "channel method", in which two parallel rows of weave poles are put side by side, but offset in such a way that the dog has a center "channel" to run down. At first your dog is not weaving (just getting a tre...
$59.95
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 Perfectfor backyard practice. This no-nonsense jump is a scaled-down "economy" version of ourcompetitionjumps, utilizing a smaller pipe size and a SINGLE pair of snap-on "cups" to holdup the top bar.Like our competition jumps, the top bar displaces (falls off) if the dog hits it, and the bottom bar ...
$31.00
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 Allagility trainers say the same thing. Because the weaves are the hardest for yourdog to master, it is essential to have your own set at home. You can't getsimpler than this set - just push the spiked poles into the groundapproximately 19"-21" apart in a straight line. The poles are 36"tall. Includ...
$32.00
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Can my dog do agility? Age, Breed and Obedience Issues. Age. Two common questions people have is "Can I start training my puppy?" and "Can my older dog do agility?". The answer is yes to both questions, within reason. To compete in agility your dog needs to be at least a year old, but you can start to train your puppy earlier than that. Keep in mind, however, that your dog's joints are still forming, so jump heights should be about elbow height for the first year. Puppies will also be more awkward and their attention span shorter. So be very patient and keep the lessons brief. The same principles apply to older dogs. Their joints are weaker, and they will tire more easily, so lessons should be shorter. The jump heights might have to be lowered. Many of the organizations now have special classes for older dogs. AKC calls these "preferred" classes, which is a class that feature lowered jump heights. But be careful that you do not get so caught up into competing that you are not sensitive to your dogs aging needs. Dogs are so anxious to please that they may push themselves one day, and pay for it the next. Breed. You will see all shapes and sizes of dogs (and people) doing agility.... this is one of the wonderful things about the sport! You may think to yourself, "my dog can never do that, he's too small", but in agility classes and trials, your tiny little guy will have lowered jumps, a lower table, and will be competing against other dogs his size. For example, he might be running in the 6" or 8" jump height division, and that class will have lower time limits (because it takes longer for small dogs to run a course than big dogs). Large breeds also can do agility, but their bulkier size requires negotiating some of the obstacles more carefully. Also be aware that some breeds take more patience than others. Even a bull dog can do those obstacles, providing you find the special treat or toy that really motivates him. Some dogs are highly motivated simply with praise. Obedience. Can crazy out-of-control dogs do agility? Yes, as long as you make your training sessions more exciting than the other things around your dog that typically makes him go crazy! See the article on "Problem Dogs" for tips on how to do this. It is not necessary that your dog has formal obedience training if you want to do agility just for fun. If you want to be more successful at it, however, your dog must know some basic obedience commands such as stay, sit, and lie down. Heeling is helpful. While taking a class is invaluable, you can (at home) train obedience and agility at the same time. Some people train their dogs to sit for the first time using the pause table obstacle, for example. | |
