how to make a homemade obstacle course for your dog

How to Make a DIY Dog Agility Course at Home

• Jump Obstacle. Get your dog used to jumping over a bar by creating a simple hurdle. Balance a broomstick across two buckets (or flower pots or piles of books).
• Tunnel. Crawling through a tunnel takes a bit of practice, but setting one up couldn't be easier. ...
• Weave Poles. Now that your dog is a pro at jumps and tunnels, it's time to move up to weave poles. ...

Full Answer

How to build a backyard obstacle course for your dog?

Weave Poles

• Cut the PVC pipe into pieces 36” long. You’ll need 6 pieces.
• Layout the poles in a straight line and mark off every 24”. Most governing competition bodies use 24” as the standard spacing.
• Insert them into the ground with a mallet or hammer.

How to build dog agility obstacles?

Materials

• wood glue
• plywood
• 1-1/2" galvanized roofing nails
• PVC pipes and fittings
• 2x4s
• CPVC primer and cement
• 1x4 boards

How to design a dog agility course?

Part 1 of 3: Planning Your Agility Course Download Article

1. Evaluate your dog’s capability. As you start thinking about what obstacles you want to set up in your course, consider your dog’s capability.
2. Build contact obstacles. Contact obstacles typically include A-frames and see-saws. ...
3. Plan a tire jump. ...
4. Plan your weave poles. ...
5. Lay out tunnels. ...
6. Create a few layouts. ...

How to agility train dog?

Agility training requires that your canine companion is ready to listen and follow commands. Therefore, taking them to a basic dog obedience class as soon as they’re old enough is good preparation. The other consideration around their age is whether their body has finished growing.

How do you make a dog obstacle course?

You can also create a tunnel obstacle using a large, pop-up hamper with the bottom cut out. If your dog gets claustrophobic by even the shortest of tunnels, try more of a simple hoop like an old tire or hula-hoop to hold upright and try to coax your dog through.

How can I make a dog course at home?

0:495:32How To: DIY Agility Dog Walk | TheDogBlog - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCut at 30 centimeters. You're going to need eight pieces of PVC. Cut at 15 centimeters you're goingMoreCut at 30 centimeters. You're going to need eight pieces of PVC. Cut at 15 centimeters you're going to need four elbow joints. And eight t pieces. Okay.

How do you make a dog agility course out of household items?

1:1610:50MAKING AN AGILITY COURSE FOR MY DOG WITH HOUSEHOLD ITEMSYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUsing whatever you have in your household. Also side note do you guys like stella's bandana this isMoreUsing whatever you have in your household. Also side note do you guys like stella's bandana this is the latest release from my pet shop hazelhound petler.

How do I build a cheap obstacle course?

0:292:13DIY Dollar Store Backyard Obstacle Course - HGTV Handmade - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCourse you're going to need a few solar garden lights a couple of pole noodles. And duct tape thisMoreCourse you're going to need a few solar garden lights a couple of pole noodles. And duct tape this way we'll be able to make a tunnel for your little one to army crawl through.

How do you make a dog jump?

1:064:24How To Teach A Dog To Jump - Professional Dog Training TipsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd we need to lure our dog over the jump. So that they got accustomed to going over it now I'mMoreAnd we need to lure our dog over the jump. So that they got accustomed to going over it now I'm gonna use a toy with Deegan you can use food with your dog. And food would also work for Deagan.

How do you make a dog seesaw?

3:018:59How To: DIY Agility See-Saw | TheDogBlog - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou're going to need two pieces of PVC. Cut into 20 centimeter length. And last but not least fromMoreYou're going to need two pieces of PVC. Cut into 20 centimeter length. And last but not least from uprights you're going to need 2 PVC pieces. Cut into 35 centimeter length. So all those materials.

How can I make my dog athletic?

Exercise and conditioning are important for all dogs, but especially so for canine athletes. Walking, running, stretching, and trick training are all ways to keep your dog well-conditioned. The AKC Fit Dog program is an excellent motivator to help keep you and your pup in shape.

How do you make obstacles on scratch?

0:3710:03Scratch - Obstacle Tutorial - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBelow. Now we are going to hit the choose a sprite button here and go to upload sprite. And we'reMoreBelow. Now we are going to hit the choose a sprite button here and go to upload sprite. And we're going to select the media from our accounts.

How do you set up a simple obstacle course?

0:372:28How to Set Up an Obstacle Course in Your Backyard - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPlace a wooden ladder flat on the ground participants run the length of the ladder as fast as theyMorePlace a wooden ladder flat on the ground participants run the length of the ladder as fast as they can by stepping between each of the rungs. Step 3 lay eight hula hoops in a row. And this segment.

What can you use to make an obstacle course?

10 things you can use to create a DIY obstacle coursePool noodles. ... Scrap lumber. ... Tunnels. ... Stumps. ... Any kind of ball. ... Ninja quintuple steps. ... Bean bags. ... Skipping rope.More items...•

Keeping Your Dog Safe on the Obstacle Course

The most critical and basic component of any agility obstacle course is your dog’s safety.

Choosing the Right Equipment for Your Obstacle Course

The exact equipment that you use for your obstacle course may vary depending on the breed of dog you have. Some dogs love jumping, while others are naturally gifted at weaving back and forth. Keep your dog’s instincts and talents in mind before you make any significant purchases or start to DIY.

Tunnels

Tunnel obstacles are a great way to activate depth perception and spatial awareness centers in the brain while getting your pup’s heart pumping, too.

Jumps

Jumps are a fun obstacle to keep your dog agile and work on obedience, too. As your dog gets older, their joints can lose mobility. Frequent jumping exercises can help prevent that from happening. On the flip side, keep in mind that an older pup might not have the same spring in his or her step, and be prepared to adjust jumps to their ability.

See-Saws and A-Frame Ramps

Going up and down a ramp or see-saw obstacle takes balance, focus, and stability -- all important skills for your pup to develop.

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5 crafty indoor obstacles for dogs

Building an indoor dog obstacle course doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Check out these simple tips to turn your house into a fun play space for your dog.

Put it all together

Now that you have a few basic obstacle ideas, it’s time to put it all together into a full indoor dog obstacle course. The possibilities are endless, so get creative! Remember to change up the obstacle course occasionally to keep your dog from getting bored of it.

Jumping Obstacles

Jumping is a great first activity to teach your dog if you're both new to obstacle training. And if you have a laundry basket and a curtain rod, you have all the tools you need to make short, beginner jumps for your buddy.

Weaving Obstacles

Do you have small orange cones from when your children played soccer? These would make a perfect weaving course for your dog obstacle course. Set the cones up the way you'd arrange them for a pickup football or soccer game.

Tunnel Obstacles

There are many options for creating a tunnel with household items. Do your children have play tunnels they've since outgrown? These lightweight collapsible corridors are perfect for dog training. Plus, when you aren't using them they can be stored easily and take up very little room.

Ramps

Ramps can be another fun addition to your dog obstacle course. Some large plywood and cinder blocks can make a simple ramp for him to race up and down, but be certain that they are secure and will withstand your dog running up or down them without shifting to help keep him safe.

Change Things Up

As your pooch starts to get a hang of things and makes it through each obstacle simply following your verbal commands or hand gestures, change up the order of the obstacles. This will help him better understand that each obstacle has its own commands, rather than simply following the same path he learned on.

Jumping Obstacles

Jumping is a great first activity to teach your dog if you're both new to obstacle training. And if you have a laundry basket and a curtain rod, you have all the tools you need to make short, beginner jumps for your buddy.

Weaving Obstacles

Do you have small orange cones from when your children played soccer? These would make a perfect weaving course for your dog obstacle course. Set the cones up the way you'd arrange them for a pickup football or soccer game.

Tunnel Obstacles

There are many options for creating a tunnel with household items. Do your children have play tunnels they've since outgrown? These lightweight collapsible corridors are perfect for dog training. Plus, when you aren't using them they can be stored easily and take up very little room.

Ramps

Ramps can be another fun addition to your dog obstacle course. Some large plywood and cinder blocks can make a simple ramp for him to race up and down, but be certain that they are secure and will withstand your dog running up or down them without shifting to help keep him safe.

Change Things Up

As your pooch starts to get a hang of things and makes it through each obstacle simply following your verbal commands or hand gestures, change up the order of the obstacles. This will help him better understand that each obstacle has its own commands, rather than simply following the same path he learned on.

Common Dog Agility Course Obstacles

Although agility courses can be laid out in an infinite number of ways, most courses use the same basic obstacles.

How Much Space Do You Need For a Dog Agility Course?

One of the cool things about dog agility courses is that they don’t require vast amounts of space.

Why Build Your Dog an Agility Course?

Dog agility courses can be incredibly beneficial for many dogs. Some of the most notable benefits they provide include:

9 Awesome DIY Dog Agility Courses

We’ve put together nine of the best DIY agility course obstacles we could find below.

Helpful DIY Canine Agility Course Instructional Videos

For some reason, DIY dog agility course designers rarely make videos explaining how to build the obstacles detailed in their plans. But we always want to help our readers as much as possible, so we’ve gathered a few of the best videos we could find below.

Dog Agility Course Safety

Before you break out the tools and start fashioning a set of obstacles, you’ll want to make sure you review a few important safety tips.

Breeds That Excel at Canine Agility Trials

Any dog can learn to perform agility trials (provided that your vet gives you the green light). However, some breeds are clearly better-suited for the activity than others.

Jumps

When you’re building or buying a jump obstacle, ensure the bar can easily be knocked down so your dog doesn’t hit something solid and injure himself if he doesn’t jump high enough.

Tunnels

Going through an enclosed dark space can be scary for your dog the first few times, and you need to make the experience as positive as possible. The tunnel you set up should be wide enough for your dog to comfortably pass through and sturdy enough that it won’t collapse while your dog is inside it.

Weave poles

As with your bar jump, avoid hard and immovable materials that could injure your dog if he misjudges the distance between poles. However, you’ll also want to secure your poles so they don’t fall over every time your dog runs through them.

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