how to make homemade agility course for dogs

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. ...
• 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 do I make a dog agility course?

How to Design a Dog Agility CourseConsider the ability level of the dogs that will be using the course. ... Choose the obstacles you want to include in the course. ... Plan for the fluidity of the course, so that a dog and handler team negotiating the obstacles can move smoothly from one task to the next.More items...•

How do you make PVC dog agility equipment?

0:001:37PVC Dog Hurdle Jump - DIY Guide - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCut for 12 inch sections to 35 inch sections and to 45 inch sections. Next dry fit the structure ofMoreCut for 12 inch sections to 35 inch sections and to 45 inch sections. Next dry fit the structure of the hurdle jump place the 12 inch sections in the 4 way to use facing opposite directions.

How do I make an indoor obstacle course for my dog?

Start by creating a course that works in your home safely — for example, you could have your pup: tunnel through a cardboard box, jump around pillows, and then jump through a hula hoop. It's important to start slowly, adding one obstacle at a time, until you can safely build up to five or six steps.

How much space do you need for a dog agility course?

Their guidelines state that a competition-sized ring needs to have at least 5,000 square feet of usable space for Novice courses, 6,500 square feet for Open and 8,000 square feet for Masters. These however are minimum requirements. The ideal AKC ring size is 100 x 120 feet.

How do you make a dog jump DIY?

0:467:48How to make Agility jumps | DIY Dog Agility Course - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd then this this is the clip. And go agility this is for measuring your bar.MoreAnd then this this is the clip. And go agility this is for measuring your bar.

How do you build a tire jump for dog agility?

0:595:23How To: DIY Agility Tyre Jump | TheDogBlog - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo to start building your tire jump you're going to grab one of the horizontal bars that you'veMoreSo to start building your tire jump you're going to grab one of the horizontal bars that you've already cut and through t pieces. So this part is pretty easy basically what you do is you grab one TPS.

How do you make a small dog obstacle course?

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.

How do you make a dog platform?

0:333:37How to Make a Custom Training Platform for Your Dog. - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clip4 1 by 3 8 foot white wood boards. For them cut into 34 inches. And for them cut into 36 inchesMore4 1 by 3 8 foot white wood boards. For them cut into 34 inches. And for them cut into 36 inches standard plywood cut into 2 3 feet by 3 feet sheets.

What are some agility exercises for dogs?

Teaching your dog agility at homeJumps. First, be sure to ask your vet whether jumping is suitable for your dog. ... Tire Jump. An old bike tire or hula hoop ring can work well for the tire jump. ... Dog Walk. The dog walk is a raised walkway with ramps at either end. ... Tunnel. ... Weave Poles. ... Teeter Board.

What are faults in dog agility?

Many actions can result in a fault such as entering the Weave Poles incorrectly or missing a pole altogether, failing to place a foot in the “contact zone” while performing an obstacle like the Seesaw, or performing the obstacles out of order.

How do you make an 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 big is an obedience ring?

about 40 by 50 feetChapter 1, Section 32 of the Obedience Regulations outlines RING CONDITIONS. An indoor ring should be rectangular and about 40 by 50 feet for all classes. The Utility ring should never be less than 35 by 50 feet, and the Novice or Open ring should not be less than 30 by 40 feet.

How do you make a hurdle out of PVC pipe?

2:339:22DIY PVC Adjustable Hurdle for Under $15 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBecause of the elbows ended up giving it a little bit of height. So 28 inches is where I cut it soMoreBecause of the elbows ended up giving it a little bit of height. So 28 inches is where I cut it so that the hurdle height would be 30 inches. And then on top of that I have the two inch pipes.

How wide are dog agility jumps?

While there are several different types of jumps, all jumps are 4 to 5 feet wide and the height of the jump varies with the height class of the dog. Bar jumps are formed from 1-inch wide PVC pipe, panel jumps from 3- to 5-inch wide cross-boards, and the tire jump from a 2-foot in diameter object.

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.

The Right Gear

When planning our backyard agility course, we researched the AKC regulation equipment along with expert training guidelines.

More Cost-Cutting Tips

The cost estimates for the agility course projects detailed are based on buying all materials at retail. Additional savings may be realized by:

Help and Instructions

The American Kennel Club website is a great source of information to consider when planning agility courses and training for your dog. I also found that Caninecrib.com provided an excellent, easy DIY manual for assembling each piece of agility equipment. That online guide comes complete with step-by-step instructions and pictures.

How Does Agility Training Help Your Dog?

Agility courses can help your dog learn valuable obedience skills in a fun environment. Not to mention dogs are very smart and agility training can help keep their minds sharp. It’s also a great cure for boredom and any trouble they might get themselves into. (who are we kidding, might? lol. If they are like my boys they purposely look for it 😉 ).

What is an Agility Course for Dogs?

A true agility course has more than just pole jumps — there are tunnels, teeters, and platforms, and more. And the good news is that DIY dog agility equipment plans are a lot easier to put together than it sounds. (Trust me if I can do this so can you!)

DIY Dog Agility Equipment

With all of the different types of dog agility items here, you’ll be able to make your own dog agility equipment with just a little elbow grease, patience and time.

DIY Weave Pole Design

One of my favorites to watch when they have the dog agility competitions on t.v. The dogs always look like they are having so much fun zipping through these.

What Goes Into a Dog Agility Course?

A dog agility course can consist of many different obstacles. There are a total of 15 various obstacles recognized by the AKC that can be used in competitions, but we’re only going to discuss a few of the easier ones that you can build at home.

Why Build Your Dog an Agility Course?

If you’re still unsure about constructing your own dog agility course, remember that it’s not just for fun or competition. Taking the time to do agility training with your pet is an excellent way for both you and your dog to get exercise, as well as bond together.

Are Agility Classes Right for Your Dog?

Not every dog is built for agility training. Even with practice, some dogs may prefer going on a walk or lying on the couch to following your commands. And that’s okay! You have to do what’s best for both you and your pet in the long run.

DIY Dog Agility Course That You Can Make At Home!

Dog Agility training is an amazing sport that is great for the dogs mental and physical health no matter the difficulty of the course. This is why it is gaining popularity once more as an effective tool to train dogs to listen while also getting their energy out.

A Tunnel

No dog agility course is complete without its own tunnel where the dog can crawl right through. Luckily this obstacle can often be found already made anywhere where children's toys can be found. A collapsible tunnel is a common children's toy that is near identical to a dog agility course and can be found for around $20 at a local store.

Weave Poles

The next part of the dog agility course we will cover are weave poles which are anywhere from 6-12 poles that sick up out of the ground taller than your dog and spaced evenly and far enough to where your dog is able to weave. These can be made out of many things from PVC pipe to yardstick rulers depending on what you have available to you.

Tire Jump

A tire jump can be whatever you need it to be if you want to use a real tire we recommend a bike tire as they are approximately the right size similar to the background of the photo above. There are two methods for this obstacle the first being tying it to a tree branch to a rope and the other making one.

Hurdles

A hurdle is simply the obstacles where your dog will jump over a horizontal pole of some sort. These can again be made out of whatever you need to make an effective hurdle but we found success in creating a PVC structure about jump height for our dogs. Just make two “T”s and place a PVC pole in between them to where it stands on its own.

Dog Walk

The dog walk is the structure that can either be two ramps put together, two ramps with a flat walking area on the top, or simply one flat walking platform similar to a wide balance beam. These are made for your dog to quickly run the dog walk while keeping their balance.

Pause Table

The next obstacle in our DIY dog agility course is the pause table which is meant as a place for your dog to jump up and stay for a moment before they proceed. This is basically a short table which is why we simply used our old coffee table for this step.

1. DIY Dog Agility Course, From This Old House

Using PVC pipes, This Old House provides detailed DIY dog agility course plans with helpful pictures to make three key obstacles for your backyard dog agility course. You’ll be able to make an agility jump, weave poles, and a teeter totter. These plans result in sturdy, durable builds.

2. Dog Agility Course at Home, by Natural Dog Owner

You’ll be able to set up your DIY dog agility course using the suggestions and plans supplied by Natural Dog Owner. Every obstacle you’ll need for a complete course is covered in this article.

3. Clean and Dirty Jumps, by Helix Fairweather

Learn how to build dog agility equipment with hurdles with a few simple materials. Helix Fairweather has straightforward plans, including a clever way to use office supply clips as a crossbar hold. You can jump for joy too, because it’s easy on your budget and won’t take you long to construct.

4. Tire Jump, by Camp Bandy Pet Resort

If you want to challenge your dog with a brightly colored and exciting tire jump obstacle, these plans by Camp Bandy Pet Resort offer all the measurements and detailed instructions you’ll need. Also, you won’t need an old tire because a drainage pipe is used to make the ring.

5. DIY Dog Agility A-Frame, by Instructables

An A-Frame is a must-have for any dog agility course worth its weight in dog treats. With a certain amount of woodworking knowledge, you can save money by making your own contact obstacle. Instructibles provides step-by-step instructions, along with plenty of useful pictures.

6. Dog Agility Tunnel, by Cuteness

Every fun or competitive agility course needs a tunnel. It might be easier to purchase a child-size tunnel, but for money-saving purposes, you can DIY a bigger, wider tunnel. Cuteness provides clever plans for a serious tunnel.

7. DIY Agility Dog Walk, From The Dog Blog

If you prefer DIY plans in video form, The Dog Blog offers an excellent “how to build dog agility equpiment” video for making a cute yet sturdy dog walk. The video is easy to follow and full of helpful tips.

Can You Make Agility Equipment at Home?

Yes, you can, and we even have a full guide on beginner dog agility training as well to get you started.

What is A Dog Agility Tunnel?

An agility tunnel is a fundamental obstacle in a dog agility course. They are usually made of vinyl material and have wire bands covering them to help the tunnel keep its shape.

Agility Tunnel Dimensions

Agility tunnels usually measure between 10 ft and 20 ft and are 24 inches in diameter. If you are starting your dog in agility training, you will need smaller tunnels, to begin with. The easier they can see the other side, the more confident they’ll be in tackling the tunnel.

Making a DIY Agility Tunnel

Making your own dog agility tunnel is actually very easy. You can create one out of general objects you may already have or buy a few extra cheap items such as a parachute tube or bungee cord.

Training Your Pup to Go Through an Agility Tunnel

For beginners it can take some time and will take a lot of patience, but the process is really rewarding. We have lots of tips and tricks on this page to help you get started.

Conclusion

Now you know a bit more about how to make a dog agility tunnel, it’s time to put your creative skills to the test.