how to set up a dog agility course in your backyard for a great dane

by Shanie Heidenreich MD 6 min read

Start with two flower pots, bricks, or concrete blocks of equal height and place a long length of PVC

Polyvinyl chloride

Polyvinyl chloride is the world's third-most widely produced synthetic plastic polymer, after polyethylene and polypropylene. About 40 million tonnes are produced per year.

pipe (or a broom handle) across the top of them. Start with a low height that your dog can easily jump over and increase as your dog becomes more confident and skilled.

Full Answer

Can you make a DIY dog agility course?

Apr 21, 2020 · If you want to set up a DIY agility course inexpensively, here are some ideas. DIY agility weave poles. Weave poles are an essential piece of any backyard agility course work. Weaving back and forth through the row of six upright …

Can I build my own agility course obstacles?

Dec 14, 2020 · Making your own makeshift course at home can be a great way to work your dog, but you can even build a course with real materials that’s just for them. An agility course can easily be made for cheap using PVC. You only need the upright poles to be about 40 inches, and you can connect each upright using a T connection.

What is backyard agility for dogs?

May 10, 2021 · Dog Agility Equipment: Set Up Your Dog Obstacle Course. Dogs love to play, and if you’ve been searching for an exciting source of exercise for your furry companion, dog agility might be the perfect option. You can set up a dog obstacle course in your backyard and either train for fun or train to compete in agility competitions.

What equipment do you need for backyard agility?

Sep 01, 2021 · Dog Agility Equipment Package. Although this set doesn’t have everything you need, you and your dog will get a good start with a single bar jump, hoop jump and weave poles. The equipment is easy ...

How do I make an agility course for my dog?

0:355:32How 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.

What obstacles are in a dog agility course?

The only obstacles allowed at the start and finish of a standard agility or jumping course are: hurdle, wall, spread jump, brush jump, long jump, tyre, wishing well, pipe tunnel.

How do you make a dog tunnel?

0:145:56Rescue Rebuild DIY Projects | Making Tire Tunnels - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's best to get a tire with a rim size of at least 17 inches. We're also going to need a drill withMoreIt's best to get a tire with a rim size of at least 17 inches. We're also going to need a drill with a hole saw the size isn't really important but just something big enough to drain water.

What does a dog agility course look like?

It's a timed obstacle course for a team that consists of a handler and a dog. The handler directs the dog through a predetermined pattern of obstacles. A course usually has 12-18 obstacles, like tunnels, jumps, tire jumps, weave poles, and the big “ramp” obstacles collectively known as the contacts.

Is Dog Agility cruel?

The quick answer is that no – dog agility is not cruel at all. Of course, training should only be done with positive reinforcement and the dog's natural ability and athleticism needs to be considered at every step of the training process. If agility training becomes too stressful for a dog, he can in fact “burn out”.Mar 24, 2021

How can I make my own agility equipment?

3. DIY Dog Agility A-Frame from InstructablesEight 8-foot-long 2x4s.Two 3'x 8' pieces of 15/32-inch plywood.42 feet of 3/8″ x 1 1/4″ molding.Two door hinges.Four hook bolts.Two 8-foot-long chains.Wood glue.One box of 2 ½- inch screws.More items...

How do you build a dog agility tunnel?

Homemade Collapsed Agility TunnelOpen up one pop-up laundry hamper. Using the scissors, cut out the bottom circle, ensuring there are no sharp edges. ... Thread the needle with the heavy-duty thread. ... Secure the tunnel to your lawn in the desired position by placing fabric stakes through the hampers and into the ground.

How do you keep a dog from jumping on wood?

2:117:48How to make Agility jumps | DIY Dog Agility Course - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo the uprights both need to be 36 inches. So we're going to make those and cut those first. AllMoreSo the uprights both need to be 36 inches. So we're going to make those and cut those first. All right so now we're cutting the legs. We're going to cut these both into two 9 inch pieces.

Are Huskies good at agility?

Ample Agility Huskies are quite athletic and possess great agility. The sure-footed and graceful dogs have more than enough coordination, intelligence and skill for agility trials -- if they learn to work well off-leash.

What commands are used in dog agility?

The main Directional Commands we teach are “Come”, “Go” and “Back”. Come means approaching and moving to you. Go means you and the dog are facing and moving in the same direction and the dog moves out ahead of you and keeps going until other wise directed. Back means the dog turns away from you.Mar 8, 2013

What age can dogs do agility?

The earliest that a dog should complete a full agility course is at an age of 1 year, and this is only for small dogs. Small dogs mature faster than medium and large dogs and will be finished growing at 1 year old. Large dogs may have to wait until they are 18 months old to do a full agility course.Mar 24, 2021

Keep Your Dog Safe

When working on your dog’s obstacle course, be sure to keep safety in mind. Yes, you want to work your dog hard to stimulate the body and mind, but you should always remember that there is a possibility of harm when using an obstacle course.

How to Set Up a Backyard Dog Agility Course

There are a number of different obstacles for you and your dog to work on. We’re going to give you some ideas of how you can make your own course below.

Make Your Own Course

Making your own makeshift course at home can be a great way to work your dog, but you can even build a course with real materials that’s just for them. An agility course can easily be made for cheap using PVC. You only need the upright poles to be about 40 inches, and you can connect each upright using a T connection.

What is agility training?

In agility, a dog and handler complete an obstacle course as accurately as possible and in as short a time as they can . It’s a highly athletic event that requires training, teamwork, and concentration. But you don’t have to compete to enjoy it; backyard agility courses are a great way to provide exercise and stimulation ...

What equipment do dogs use for agility?

Agility Equipment for Dogs. The common pieces of agility gear are jumps, weave courses, and tunnels. You can go all-out and use every piece of competition equipment or stick to a few basics.

Where does a dog go on a pole?

A dog enters to the right of the first pole at top speed. While focused straight ahead, he weaves through each pole as quickly as he can, staying as close to the center line a possible. For example:

What is a dog leaping over a board?

A dog leaps over the panel, bar, or triple jump from a proper distance and from any angle, without displacing the board or bar. You’ll want something portable, that’s lightweight enough for you to move around in case you want to rearrange the course. For example:

Is agility equipment good for dogs?

It’s a good starting point if you and your dog are trying out agility for fun. Even if you never intend to compete, having some basic pieces of agility equipment can provide your dog (and you) with endless hours of exercise, entertainment, and bonding time. AKC is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means ...

What is agility training?

Agility courses provide dogs and their owners with a fun and healthy way to bond while getting some exercise. You can even sign your dog up to compete in organized activities, called agility trials, if you’d like! If you want to start teaching your dog to do agility work, you’ll need a few obstacles. You can buy commercially manufactured obstacles ...

How to keep a dog from boredom?

Learning to negotiate obstacles while following you around an agility course will help keep your dog’s brain humming. This will help prevent boredom, provide a number of emotional benefits, and generally help keep your dog healthier and happier.

Where does Ben from K9 of Mine live?

Ben is the senior content editor for K9 of Mine and has spent most of his adult life working as a wildlife educator and animal-care professional. Ben’s had the chance to work with hundreds of different species, but his favorite animals have always been dogs. He currently lives in Atlanta, GA with his spoiled-rotten Rottweiler named J.B. Chances are, she’s currently giving him the eyes and begging to go to the park.

Do dogs need to be obedient to do agility?

Your dog will need to be minimally obedient to begin agility trial work, but once you begin training, you’ll surely notice that your dog’s obedience becomes much sharper. It may even help improve your training and leadership skills at the same time!

What is a dog tunnel?

Tunnel – A flexible tunnel your dog must run through. Collapsed Tunnel – A collapsed tunnel is like a normal tunnel, except that the frame is removed from the far end. So, your dog will have to run in the open side of the tunnel and then push her way through the opposite side which is caved in.

Can mixed breed dogs compete in agility?

Additionally, mixed breed dogs with a suitable build and temperament can also excel at agility trials. However, this may limit the number of organizations who’ll allow your dog to compete, as some are only open to registered dogs of a few given breeds. As you can see, agility obstacles are pretty easy to build, and they’re great fun for many dogs. ...

What is the Animal College Behavior Blog?

The Animal College Behavior Blog provides tips for making a few agility obstacles that are very easy to create. Specifically, it provides plans for constructing jumps and ladders. However, this blog recommends buying tunnels, rather than making them yourself, as commercial models typically last longer.

How to make a dog board?

Use two weights to slow the descent of the board when a dog is on it. To make them, fill 12-inch lengths of pipes with gravel and cap both ends. Attach the weights as close to the end of the entry side as you can without raising the board off the ground. Secure the weights with metal strapping and 3/4-inch sheet-metal screws.

How to make a weave poll?

Tap the pipes tight into the tees using a block and a hammer. Drill a hole through the tee into the pipe using a drill/driver fitted with a 1/16-inch bit. Connect the two with a 1-inch set screw.

How to make a teeter totter?

Make the teeter-totter base by creating two box-shaped sides connected by crosspieces. To build the bottom of the first side, push together an elbow, a 19-inch pipe, a tee, another 19-inch pipe, and another elbow. Repeat to build the top.

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