Dog Training > Dog Agility Training > Dog Agility Training Equipment

Dog Agility Training Equipment

Dog agility training equipment is abundantly available and essentially if you wanted to you could actually set up your own practice agility course in your very own backyard. However, it’s important here for you to realize that it is not necessary for you to purchase this type of equipment in order to practice agility training with your dog, as any agility school that you attend will have everything you need right there.

Let’s go through in detail some of the various pieces of equipment that are utilized in dog agility training.

Agility Training Collar – While some agility schools will not use collars at all, many of them suggest using a “handle” or “grab” collar, which is used specifically for the purposes of dog training. This is a flat sitting collar that offers an extra piece of material on top, shaped almost like a handle. This handle or grab piece allows the trainer to quickly and easily grasp the collar in the event that the dog goes off course during the event.

Long Lead – As a dog progresses through each level of agility he at some point will be trained completely off of a lead. However, when a dog is starting out and just learning the ropes it may be necessary to run him through various portions of the course on a long lead. Your agility trainer will instruct you as to what an appropriate length lead is.

Weave Poles – Weave poles can be set in the ground at various distances apart from each other depending on the size of the dog. The idea is for the dog to begin at pole one and weave from left to right throughout each and every pole until he reaches the last of them.

Teeter-Totter or See Saw – The teeter-totter, or see saw is one of the more tricky pieces of dog agility training equipment. If you are envisioning a piece of children’s playground equipment in which one child sits on each end, then you are correct in assuming that it is the very same thing in terms of dog agility. The animal must climb up one side of the teeter-totter, balance his weight appropriately in the middle in order for the other side to touch the ground, and then walk down that side of it.

Pause Table – A pause table is kind of like a resting spot in the middle of the agility course. The height of the table is determined by the size of the dog and is designed for the purpose of measuring the animal’s ability to practice patience or “pause” for a set period of time in the midst of the course.

“A” Frame – An “A” frame is a piece of equipment that looks exactly like the letter “A”. Its purpose is to challenge the dog’s ability to walk up and down an incline.

Open and Closed Tunnels – Plastic tunnels challenge a dog to walk into an opening without always having the ability to see an exit way. Open tunnels are fully formed, circular tubes in which the dog maneuvers its way through to the end. A closed tunnel begins with a fully formed, circular opening in which the dog can enter, but then is attached to a long piece of plastic sheeting, which lies flat on the ground. The dog must push his way through this closed tunnel in order to reach the exit.

Jumps – Jumps or hurdles can be set at various heights in which the dog must jump over. Another type of jump can also include a tire or hoop object in which the dog will actually jump through.

Dog Walk – Another challenging piece of dog agility training equipment is the dog walk. This is essentially like a balance beam, which will force the dog to practice his patience and balance while walking on it.