During the obstacle course, your pup will be jumping over some obstacles, climbing up and over others, and running between slalom poles, all of which could lead to serious injury. Before getting started, there are a couple of things you should know.
You can either train him by walking him on a leash through each of the cones rewarding him when he completes the task, or you can hold out a treat and have him follow it through the cones. Be sure to use consistent verbal or hand commands when training so that he will associate your commands with the actions you are asking of him.
Weave Poles — Comprised of six to 12 upright poles, a dog must enter to the right of the first one and weave through each of the others quickly without missing a pole. It is considered one of the trickiest obstacles to master. 4. Tire Jump — A dog must jump quickly and cleanly through the opening of the tire.
“Weave poles” are obstacle course elements that challenge your dog mentally as he or she weaves back and forth on a narrow path between them. You can use holiday lawn decor, like candy canes, or PVC pipes placed firmly in the ground to create weave poles.
24 inches apartAll agility organizations have very specific guidelines for the weave poles. There are always 12 poles, spaced 24 inches apart. The dog of course has to navigate them in a zig-zag pattern. However, not just how to wiggles through the poles is crucial, but also how he enters them.
Table of ContentsDog Agility Equipment.A-Frame.Chute.Dog Walk.Pause Table.See Saw (or Teeter)Standard Jumps.Tire Jump.More items...
Courses typically have between 14-20 obstacles, which can include tunnels, weave poles, tire jumps, seesaws, and pause tables where the dog must stop for a set amount of time. At each trial you and your dog will race around the unique courses designed for that day.
Layering is a technique where the handler is positioned so that there is an obstacle, that the dog shouldn't perform, between themselves and the dog.
It is the same concept as the table, except the dog has to go into the square, sit or lie down, without any part of his feet going out of the square! The same size square (36") is used for all size dogs. This is an excellent, yet inexpensive way to introduce the idea of "pausing" to your dog.
10 to 20 feet longMinimum standards for competition tunnels are 10 to 20 feet long, with an entrance 22-26 inches in diameter (usually 24").
Overview. 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.
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.
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.
The 3 layers of dog training: Showing/teaching, Reinforcening, Proofing.
For me, left/right means jump and turn 90 degrees, whereas cik and wrap (corresponding to your check and dig) means collect and jump close to the standard to turn back about 180 degrees.
Double Q ribbons will be awarded to all dogs qualifying in both Master STD. and Master JWW in the same trial. A Triple Q ribbon will be awarded for all dogs qualifying in Master STD, Master JWW and either Master FAST or T2B or Premier in the same trial.
Two uprights supporting a horizontal bar over which the dog jumps. The height is adjusted for dogs of different heights. The uprights can be simple stanchions or can have wings of various shapes, sizes, and colors.
The dog begins behind a starting line and, when instructed by their handler, proceeds around the course. The handler typically runs near the dog, directing the dog with spoken commands and with body language (the position of arms, shoulders, and feet).
Dog agility. A hairless Chinese Crested taking part in an agility competition. Dog agility is a dog sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. Dogs run off leash with no food or toys as incentives, and the handler can touch neither dog nor obstacles.
As each course is different, handlers are allowed a short walk-through (ranging from 5 to 25 minutes on average) before the competition starts. During this time, all handlers competing in a particular class can walk around the course without their dogs, determining how they can best position themselves and guide their dogs to get the most accurate and rapid path around the numbered obstacles. The handler tends to run a path much different from the dog's path, so the handler can sometimes spend quite a bit of time planning for what is usually a quick run.
The Cynosport World Games, officially named in 2003, as the consolidated venue for USDAA's three tournament series - Grand Prix of Dog Agility, $10,000 Dog Agility Steeplechase and Dog Agility Masters Three-Dog Team Championship — and exhibitions and competitions in other popular canine sports.
The International Mix & Breed Championship in Agility (IMCA), first held in Italy in 2000 as a response to the FCI pedigree-only championships.
The dog walk is an elevated plank with ascending and descending ramps at each end, the ramps vary between 8 and 12 feet (2.4 and 3.7 m) in length and 36 and 50 inches (91 and 127 cm) in height above the ground.
Setting up an obstacle course for your dog provides exercise, enjoyment, mental stimulation, and agility practice all in one. As an added bonus, completing a series of activities gives your dog -- and you -- a feeling of achievement. Obstacle course “kits” available for purchase can get expensive. Fortunately, you can DIY your own outdoor obstacle ...
Weave poles. “Weave poles” are obstacle course elements that challenge your dog mentally as he or she weaves back and forth on a narrow path between them. You can use holiday lawn decor, like candy canes, or PVC pipes placed firmly in the ground to create weave poles.
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 .
Keeping Your Dog Safe on the Obstacle Course. The most critical and basic component of any agility obstacle course is your dog’s safety. Don’t try to challenge your dog beyond their ability -- start with small jumps and simple obstacles to build your dog’s confidence and prevent accidents. Don’t build an obstacle course without taking your dog’s ...
For example, if your dog is two feet tall from shoulder to paw (24 inches), start with a jump that’s about 3 inches off the ground and work up from there.
You can use children’s play tunnels as doggie tunnels, too, as long as they are the right size and adequately stabilized. Long tunnels aren’t the way to go with a beginner’s DIY obstacle course for your pup-- play tunnels of 2 feet long or less are a good place to start.
All elements should be breathable, lightweight, and collapsible. Don’t leave your obstacle course accessible to your dog during times that it’s not in use. Your dog should be supervised whenever they are playing on the course. Anything that would rust or decay should be picked up and put away safely between training sessions.
Weave Poles — Comprised of six to 12 up right poles, a dog must enter to the right of the first one and weave through each of the others quickly without missing a pole. It is considered one of the trickiest obstacles to master. 4. Tire Jump — A dog must jump quickly and cleanly through the opening of the tire.
In Novice or Open Standard and Jumpers With Weaves courses, if a dog gets a Refusal (R) — meaning he turned away from or stopped in front of the obstacle — he can still qualify since it is just five points off, but in Excellent and Masters [courses] a dog has to have perfect runs.”. 2.
An Intro to Dog Agility Scoring. To earn a qualifying score, a dog must complete the course with the minimum defined standards for time, faults, and points and without receiving any non-qualifying deductions.
“In Standard and Jumpers With Weaves, the courses are measured by the judges [with a measuring wheel], ” DeYoung says. “In Time 2 Beat, FAST, and Premier classes, there is a set time in the regulations. The jump height ultimately determines times in all classes.”
Agility Course Obstacles. Courses typically have between 14-20 obstacles. Here are several you’ll run into: 1. Jumps — These vary from course to course, but a dog must leap over the bar without displacing it. The height of the dog determines the heights of each jump. FYI: Dogs are measured before the competition.
Dog Walk — A dog must run up the ramp on one side, scamper across the top horizontal plank, then run down the ramp on the other side, being sure to touch the “contact zone” (usually painted a bright yellow) at the bottom of the board as they exit . 3.
Open Tunnel — The objective is simple: A dog must enter from one side and exit through the other. Although the tunnel is often curved so the dog can’t see the exit from the entrance, given how straightforward it is, the Open Tunnel is often considered a great place to start when training. 6.
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:
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:
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 ...
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.
A dog runs at full speed to the entrance of the tunnel, approaching from any angle, runs through it and then exits quickly. This is a good starting point because it’s one of the easiest obstacles to master. For example: This shape-shifting tunnel is regulation-size, 18-feet long, with a 24-inch openings.
The durable equipment can be easily assembled without tools. 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.