As a dog sport, an agility course combines your pet's agility with good training and communication. In a competition, a handler leads the animal through a series of obstacles, such as tunnels, tires, sticks and seesaws, with the dog virtually not allowed to touch this equipment. Using only voice and hand signals, the dog owner quickly guides his candidate through the agility course with as few mistakes as possible.
While certain dog breeds and sporting dogs are characterized by agility, especially Aussies and Border Collies, dog sports can be practiced by any dog. Even if you have no intention of ever competing, the benefits of agility courses for your pet are numerous. Through such training you can significantly improve his mental and physical abilities.
This is how you can build an obstacle course in the garden
Increased trustbetween you and your dogis another big plus. As the animal masters certain jumps and movements and refines its athletic skills, its self-confidence grows. The agility course also strengthens the bond between dog and human. As you train and play together, you will learn to know each other on a unique and deeply satisfying level. For this reason, in this guide we have some ideas for a DIY dog course that you can create in your own homeBuild your own gardencan, put together. Build an easy-to-assemble agility course for your dog in just a few steps and watch him grow up happier, healthier and smarter.
So if you've already provided your own media room and a playground for your kids in the backyard, maybe it's time to put together something for your four-legged friend.This very important family memberalso deserves a special relaxation area in your home. Active dogs also tend to keep their joints flexible longer, reducing the effects of aging. Watching your pup fly over hurdles, whip around sticks and balance on a seesaw provides more family entertainment than TV or video games.
There is a large selection of agility courses that you can either buy or build yourself. Many variations are possible, such as a parallel or crossed hurdle, a wall or viaduct, a holding zone, a tube tunnel or blind tunnel, an inclined wall, slalom, catwalk, seesaw, hoop, long jump or contact zone devices. In this post we will introduce you to some of them with detailed building instructions.
You can use PVC pipe for the dog course by first marking each pipe section accordingly. Cut all sections with a pull saw and write down the length of each at the end of the pipe. You will later cover the markings with connectors or end caps.
Jump bars
A jumping stick can help your dog build up his hindquarters and develop a better sense of boundaries. It also helps breeds prone to hip problems (such as Labradors and German Shepherds) improve their strength and agility. First, cut off the scraps to create the pockets that you will attach the ends of the jump sticks to.
Mark four tees at the center on one side of the center line and insert a piece of pipe into one end of the tee to hold it in place. Clamp the other end of the pipe to a work surface and cut it again with the pull saw. Then rotate the part and cut parallel to it to remove the larger side of the center outlet. What's left will hold the jump bar in place while allowing it to come off easily so your dog can't hurt himself in the process.
Assemble one side of the jump in this order: T-piece, an approximately 14 cm long pipe, cut T-piece, an approximately 17 cm long pipe, cut T-piece, a 40 cm long PVC tube and finally the end cap. Using a rubber mallet, compress each connection until the pipe rests against the shoulder in the connectors. The center of each bag should be 20 and 40 cm off the ground, respectively.
To keep the sides upright, insert a 12-inch pipe into each outlet of the bottom tee and fit one with an end cap and one with another tee. Slide two 12-inch pipes with end caps into the base tee to stabilize the assembly. Continue with the second side by positioning a 120 cm long tube between the two. Wrap four strips of red tape around each jump bar and several around each side to increase visibility for the agility course.
Slalom bars as Agility Parcour
A series of six slalom poles can give your dog plenty of exercise by snaking through their joints and muscles. Start with three and then add more as your pooch progresses. First, connect the pieces for the base.
To be sure that the base for the slalom will not rotate, first connect each approximately 45 cm long piece to the side of a T-piece. Hammer the pipes again with a rubber mallet and drill a hole through the T-piece into the pipe. Connect the two with a 1-inch-long set screw.
Align the slalom poles by attaching the T-pieces in front of them to form a long line. Insert a 12-inch-long tube into the tees at either end of the barrel and fit each with an elbow, a 2-foot-long tube, and an end cap. Then insert an approximately 1 meter long pipe with an end cap into each of the six T-pieces.
Lay the entire row on a flat surface in the garden to keep all of the slalom poles parallel. Mark a line that runs between each tee and pipe on the posts so that you can keep them aligned as you insert the screw. Use a drill to drill a hole at each joint, making sure to keep the mark aligned. Again, secure these connections with 2.5-length set screws.
Align the poles vertically as you slide the legs at each end to opposite sides of the poles. This should allow you to create a large Z shape. With the slalom poles straight up and down, drill and countersink a setscrew through both ends of each elbow. Wrap two strips of blue tape at the top and bottom of each slalom pole and one strip in the middle.
Build a seesaw yourself
A balancing act on a seesaw canMake dogs more confident and confident in following your commands. These include the commands “Come!” and “Stop!” and “Stop!” to be carried out particularly appropriately. To do this, use a wooden board and first find the balance point.
Mark the tipping point of the rocker along a 20 cm long shelf, for example. If this pivot point is removed from the entrance side of the seesaw, the swing will slow as the dog crosses it. Mark two 5cm lines from either side of the tipping point and outer lines extending at 7 to 20cm from the edge. The bridge will later be created there using a rotary tube process.
Fix the holes of an old leather belt on the crosshairs to make room for the head of the bolt. This will then be flush with the top of the board. To do this, remove the strap and drill a quarter of the depth of each hole using a drill/driver fitted with a 1.5cm drill bit.
Drill the rest of each hole with a 1cm set. Insert 30cm lengths of a 2cm-thick PVC element as a twist tube into the strap aligned with the holes in the wood panel. Attach the whole thing to the shelf with 1.5cm flat head screws. Place the strap with four washers on each screw. Tighten a locknut onto each screw using a flathead screwdriver and an adjustable wrench.
Paint and attach balancing weights
You can paint the seesaw for the agility course with white primer paint. When the primer is dry, outline a 30 cm wide area above the pivot point with paper tape and paint the contact zones on each side of the wooden board with yellow paint that you can mix with an anti-slip coating.
Use two weights to slow the descent of the board when a dog is on it. You can make these elements for the dog course yourself by filling a 30 cm long tube with gravel and closing it at both ends. Attach the weights as close to the end of the entrance side as possible without lifting the board off the ground. Secure the balance weights with metal straps and sheet metal screws.
Assemble the base of the rocker
Make this agility course bounce by creating two box-shaped supports that you connect with a bridge. To build the bottom of the first side, squeeze together an elbow, a 50 cm long pipe, a tee, another pipe of the same length, and another elbow.
Repeat the process to create the top. Connect the top and bottom by inserting two 8cm pipes and a tee between the elbows at each end. Build a second side and install 14-inch-long pipes between the tees at the center of the floor and on the sides of the frames.
Adjust the fittings with a hammer, but do not tighten the top cross member and corner. Wrap strips of yellow ribbon around the base again so that your dog can clearly see the agility course. Position the plank on the pre-constructed support legs and slide the 5cm tube on the rocker over the bridge. Connect the bridge and the last corner. Tap all connection points to ensure the structure is securely attached.
If you have never trained your dog for agility, please seek training from a professional. Improper training can harm your dog and you can develop bad habits in your own movements. Agility can be a safe and fun sport for both you and your dog, but some guidance is required to ensure your team's longevity!
