Agility Dog Training Equipment
Agility is a "dog sport" that the handler
and the dog participate in together. Handlers direct their
dogs through an obstacle course, which requires good
obedience training of the dog, speed, and accuracy.
And if you're a beginner, agility dog training
equipment can be confusing! With so many types of
obstacles to learn, plus trying to maintain your
dog's attention, it just takes time to learn them
all. Well, you're not alone: here are explanations
of some of the more popular agility dog training
equipment available:
- Jumps are familiar to most people. A horizontal
bar is supposed by a couple of posts. The dog jumps
over the bar, which can be adjusted for height, ie.
big dogs jump higher.
Other types of jumps are tire jumps (the dog jumps
through a middle of a tire shape); panel jumps
(several short panels instead of the horizontal bar;
panels cover right from the ground all the way up to
jumping height); and broad jumps (a set of
slightly raised platforms that cover a broad area
over which the dog jumps). All jumps are adjustable.
- Tunnels are great fun for many dogs.
Sometimes also called chutes, they're a hollow
tube through which the dog runs. Tunnels are sometimes
connected together to make a longer tunnel, or they
can be "collapsed", meaning one end is open
while the other lies flat. The dog enters the open
end and pushes his way through the fabric until he
exits the tunnel.
- Weave poles are a series of upright poles
through which the dog weaves. Many agility handlers
say that this is a difficult task for dogs to learn,
as it must be done in a specific way and dogs cannot
"skip" poles.
- The teeter-totter or see-saw is similar
to the see-saws children use on the playgrounds.
Some dogs find it unnerving since they are required
to run up one end, balance and wait for the other
end to drop before they can get off. Dogs must
touch the "contact zones" at each end
of the teeter-totter to get full credit.
The contact zone are areas on the start
and end of some pieces of equipment. Dogs must touch
these contact zones with at least one paw when they
ascend or descend the equipment.
- The A-Frame is exactly what it sounds like:
a platform hinged to form an "A" shape. The
dog runs up one side and down the other, and is required
to touch the contact zone on each side.
- The dogwalk consists of a ramp leading up
to a horizontal slat, then another ramp leading back
down. The dog crosses the dogwalk, again touching
the contact zone on each side.
- A pause table is a raised platform where
the dog must lie down for a specific period of time.
Most bigger cities and even some of the smaller
towns have dog agility centres or classes you can
join. Classes start right from the beginner level
to the advanced so there's something for everyone.
It's a great way to strengthen the bond between
you and your dog, and also great exercise. Go out
there and have fun!
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