Making Agility Equipment

[petmezz]

hi all

i'm interested in agility and i'm planing on making the equipment my self, dose any one have sejestions on how to do this, is their any realy important things i should know???

thanks

[Staranais]

I've made weave polls with garden stakes. And made jumps with bricks and garden stakes. (Notice a theme here?)

I'd love hints on how to make a cheap tunnel though - anyone done this?

[Erny]

Hi Amhailte - I prefer dogs jumping over a piece of PVC pipe rather than garden stakes. The garden stakes, if the thicker wooden ones) can hurt the dog if he crashes through, or, if too thin, can break and splinter (maybe not likely, but possible). IMO, best to colour them using violet, blue or indigo, as I presume they'd be placed out on your back lawn (green, assuming it's not died off like mine has!). Dogs can see green, red and yellow at one end of the colour spectrum and violet, blue or indigo at the other. But they can't differentiate between red, green or yellow, or between violet, blue and indigo. Hence, violet will show up to a dog more clearly against a green background. (With all of this in mind, makes you wonder why dog toy manufacturers make so many red toys/balls .... perhaps because they sell better to the humans, who, after all, are the ones paying the bill?)

Are you talking about a flexible tunnel? If so, not so sure I can help you, other than to perhaps look at some ducted heating type off cuts. Check them out - I'm not sure what they're made of and whether they'd be safe.

If you're talking about a fixed tunnel .... these are usually old 44 gallon drums (they used to be a dime a dozen, but I don't see that many of them around these days, not to say impossible to get though).

[chezzyr]

Can anyone tell me how far apart weave poles are placed? I am thinking about putting some in my backyard. Beginner dog here. Is it true that the weave poles are placed in a zig zag type formation when starting out?

[Pippi]

I am also about to embark on the building of agility equipment. I agree with Erny that the best material seems to be PVC tubing - safe and simple to put together as well as readily available at the plumbing store. IMO jumps should be made so as the bars will fall off if the dog crashes into them, rather than the fixed variety (especially when the dog is learning). Light and easy to move is important.

Do a google search for "agility equipment" and you will find lots of ideas and plans on the web. Good luck

BTW excellent about the colours

Edited August 1, 2005 by Pippi

[Erny]

Can anyone tell me how far apart weave poles are placed? I am thinking about putting some in my backyard. Beginner dog here. Is it true that the weave poles are placed in a zig zag type formation when starting out?

Without looking it up, I'm not sure about the distance between the weavers. If no one else on Dol can help (I'm sure there are some that can), let me know and I'll check up for you.

In regards to placement of the poles when starting out, some do it that way. Others claim more success by creating a barrier with lightweight plastic trellace type stuff (avail from bunnings) so the dog has no choice other than to weave through. Of course, motivation is a must in training and the dog is highly rewarded for completing the exercise, even though it had no opportunity to make a mistake. The dog is then weaned off using the barriers.

Another way, although I don't think it's most people's favourite, is to have the poles off set, one on an angle like \ and the next on the opposite angle like /. Kind of like a V shape. Bit by bit the poles are straightened (so the principle goes) as the dog gets better and better at it.

[Poppy's mum]

I was recently told on here that weave poles are at 50-60cm apart. Yes you can stagger - there are Toilet Duck tips in the training hints section I think.

For tunnels I have used (no laughing please!!!):

the continuous roll of bubble plastic - I laid it between some chairs in my loungeroom and wound it over the top and weighted it on the tops of the chairs and the coffee table ie it was a squarish tunnel but it worked just fine!!!! imagine the valley made of bubble plastic lying along the floor in sections of bubble plastic and then laying it across the top for a lid. OK so needs to be a small dog for this to work :D And lots of bubble plastic! - I did return it to work when I had finished with it :D several strips about a metre or so in length...

now we're on to advance tunnel building ;) -a very large long cardboard box (so once again it's squarish but it doesn't seem to make any difference to the dog. I inserted a smaller cardboard box at one end to give it a bit more length. When we got really advanced ;) ;) I draped a teatowel over the smaller end to simulate the cloth tunnel extension. Worked for us

Sorry for poor explanations but you can use whatever comes to hand or pick up some boxes from Franklins or wherever - only limit is your imagination :D My sister in law begged me to take the large cardboard box away with me because my bro is a hoarder, the kid's cubby had come in it she used Ginger's agility needs as an excuse! Also, some kid's toy stores have tunnel type extensions for kids tents but they might cost. Also, if you want to spend, there is a website www.airdogs.com (I think, maybe .au or not, it's australian.

[Staranais]

Thanks for the tunnel ideas, people. Airdogs looks great, but it's a little out of my budget at the moment. I'll check out the duct heating - any idea where I'd get this from Erny? And if all else fails, I'll invest in a cardboard box.

The garden stakes, if the thicker wooden ones) can hurt the dog if he crashes through, or, if too thin, can break and splinter (maybe not likely, but possible).

I was careful to secure them so if Monsta fell the sticks would fall too, and he shouldn't injure himself. Though to be frank, I doubt he'd care - he half punctured his eyeball once, and just wanted to keep playing retrieve. My super staff sometimes makes me wonder where "game" ends and "stoooopid" begins...

[hopenfox]

Weaving poles are approx. 60 cm apart.

At an early agility trial my dog was confounded by orange weaving poles after having only ever weaved through white, so I bought some second-hand pvc electrical conduit (orange!) and we practice on them now. I set them up by pushing thin bamboo stakes into the ground first, and then threading the poles over them.

A friend uses a length of ducted heating/cooling as a flexible tunnel and though it is a little delicate, it's lasted a long time and bends just like the real ones.

Tyre jumps are easy to make. Find an old motorcycle tyre (usually free at mot. repair places). Pull the edges together with plastic 'ratchet' ties, build a wooden frame and stand and screw or wedge the tyre in.

Recycle yards are full of posabilities for tables and you can make an A-frame by hingeing two wooden doors together.

Edited August 1, 2005 by hopenfox

[Poppy's mum]

And for tables, there's always the coffee table I am embarrassed to admit she was an established coffee table jumper onner even before class. She certainly hasn't improved since

[petmezz]

hi all

thanks for the reply.

i have just finished building my first bar jump and have placed it in the yard and got the dogs to jump it. it was a lot of fun watching them run straight throu it, or placing their paws on the bar to push it off.

i made it using pvc piping and the bar will come off easily it they hit it

next is the bord walk and A frame.

for tunneles call your local child care center and see if they have one that their replacing if not they often have fundrasing toy sales wher you can buy the heavy duty ones for a smaler price then agility shops.

[Erny]

I'll check out the duct heating - any idea where I'd get this from Erny? 

Though to be frank, I doubt he'd care - he half punctured his eyeball once, and just wanted to keep playing retrieve. 

Oooh, aaahh, ummm .... not sure. Perhaps try ringing a local builder in your area, or maybe ducted heating installers, to see if they have off cuts?????? Check them out, though. (The ducts, not the builders/installers .... although if they have cute butts ??? ) I'm not sure what sizes they come in (the duct, not the builders:) ) nor whether they'd be safe (the duct OR the builders ) (eg. if the material they're made of is not strong enough to hold the wire inside them with the wear and tear of dog going through).

Another possibility: I've seen them around - tunnels made of nylon (they're brightly coloured and fold up almost flat, and can be tucked into the nylon bag they come with). I think they're designed for little children. Come to think of it, I've used one, once or twice, in puppy classes. They're a bit flimsy, though, and could blow around if it's a bit windy (need to secure it) .... and I'm not sure if it'd last long with your boy, who sounds pretty tough indeed!

A friend of mine (avid agility trialler/judge) purchased a proper flexi tunnel. Think it cost her a few hundred dollars. If I remember rightly, I think she bought it through e-bay auctions, and she believes she got it for a good price. So it sounds like the real maccoy is fairly expensive. If you want me to check this out further for you, Amheilte, feel free to PM me.

[Staranais]

I'm not sure what sizes they come in (the duct, not the builders:) ) nor whether they'd be safe (the duct OR the builders )

Thanks Erny, I laughed and nearly spilt my coffee into my computer keyboard!

I've already checked out ebay - there are some nylon tunnels for $20US, but you're right that they look a little flimsy. Also some 'real' ones for about $100US, unfortunately way out of my budget.

Perhaps I'll have to go check out my local builders sometimes soon. Though the next project round here is going to be the tyre jump...

Edited August 1, 2005 by Amhailte

[Erny]

Perhaps I'll have to go check out my local builders sometimes soon.

Could you let me know what your local builders are like, when you do? Maybe I should visit?

ETA: Sorry .... just realised I spelt your name wrong in the last post.

Edited August 1, 2005 by Erny

[boxagirl]

I have a jump made out of pipes, a A frame (dont use it not stable enough LOL I built it) made from wood, and a childrens tunnel 4 the tunnel (Bondi loves the tunnel LOL but it is a bit small so she has to duck) and I sometimes use cardboard box off cuts set up as a long jump.

[Staranais]

Oooh Boxagirl, a broad jump!

We don't have one at our local agility club to practice on - so last time I introduced my dog to one he just looked at it funny and casually strolled right over top of it. Practice at home would be good...

How did you make it?

[Sparty]

I got my silver tunnel from a heating cooling specialist Celcius heating the details were :

243W or WDC324 and it was about $40 it has lasted almost 12 months so far without probs, however i dont curve it much as i doubt the sides would stant up to a fast turn

[hopenfox]

Broad jumps are easy to make using weather-boards (they even come painted white!) which you'd find as offcuts at second-hand wood places.

I was excited to find and buy (for $10) at a recycle yard a 2.5 metre long steel frame from an old bench. All it needs is 3 lengths of timber and I'll have my own mini dog walk! - that isn't to heavy for me to move by myself.

[Staranais]

Right, weatherboard and duct heating, I'm on to it!

Here are some cool links I just found of equipment plans, mostly using PVC piping:

http://futuremach.baka.com/equip.html

http://www.dog-play.com/agility/agilitye.html

I'll hopefully get round to having a bash at the tyre jump this week sometime, so will let you know how I get on...

[Erny]

... broad jump ............ Practice at home would be good... How did you make it?

Another option, Amhailte, are off cuts of plastic guttering. Once you've got the off cuts at the lengths you need, there's nothing else to be done ..... just lay them out (upside down) in front of each other.

In the initial stages of training over the Broad Jump, it is helpful if you:-

1. Give a verbal cue something like "Biiiiiiiiggggg over" - use appropriate tone of voice. This can help gee your dog up and get ready for a longer jump.

2. Put a bar jump in the middle of the Broad Jump to get him use to jumping over, rather than running across, the obstacle. Wean off once he's got the idea.