Types Of Agility Equipment
Open Tunnel
Dogs have to run at full speed towards the tunnel from all angles, before going through it and exiting at the other end. Most tunnels can be altered in shape for some variation
Jumps
Panels, sticks, or even hoops – dogs run at them from a distance and have to clear the jump without knocking bars off or halting. Most can be adjusted in height, so once they have mastered one size, they can have the next challenge
Weave Poles
Dogs enter the row of poles from the right-hand side, then have to weave through them in a figure 8 pattern before emerging at the other side. They must keep up a good level of speed while doing this, which will be a great thing if you need something which you can stick at for a few months. Most can be adjusted in spacing and angle
Seesaw
These enable your dog to gain trust – encouraging them to go on can be scary for them, but once they know the wobble won’t harm them, they will gain trust going around the rest of the course. Dogs will soon see it as a fun part of the course, as well as gaining patience
What To Look For In Agility Equipment
If you are buying for home use, you may want to move the items around, either to alter the course and give your dog a different layout every day, or you may want to book a closed field for an hour and take it with you for more space. This is before mentioning that you probably won’t want to leave it outside 24/7, 365.
Either way, you need to be able to move it around, pack it up and easily get it out again. Plus, anything too heavy could injure your dog if they miss a jump or corner while learning what to do.
Just because something is lightweight doesn’t mean it isn’t stable. But if you will be using outdoor-friendly equipment, look for things which will allow you to fasten it securely into the ground. This may be poles, pegs or simply a really secure wide flat base.