Make your own agility equipment

[Mahooli]

Now I've never done agility and I'm getting a bit fed up waiting for me to reach the top of the waiting list so I'd thought I'd have a go at making my own.
You'll need pencil, hack saw, tape measure, length of 19mm over flow pipe, 2 right angle bends, 4 t-bends, 1 length of lagging.
Saw the over flow pipe into 2 sections 114cm long, 4 sections 15cm long and 4 sections 8cm long.
Saw the lagging into 2 1m lengths.
Fit the lagging onto the longest poles. Slip the 2 right angle bends onto one pole and 1 set of t junction using the t on the other pole. Fit the 8cm pieces to the other set of t-junction on the longest bit not the t bit.
Fit the 15cm pieces between the t-junction with the 8cm bits and the pole with the t-junctions attached then fit the other 15cm pole on the top hole of that. Slot the 90 degree bends into the top of the uprights.
I have made these jumps for a small dog. You can cut the upright bits any length you like. They are light weight and easy to dismantle for storgae.
Below are pictures and I would like to point out that Liberty, my model, has never jumped a jump in her life until today! It took half an hour to make and cost £19.23 but I do have a length of pole left so could make the jump hight. I got the bits from Travis Perkins so if you go somewhere else size of pipe and cost may well vary.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h217/beckyess/equip2a.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h217/beckyess/equip1a.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h217/beckyess/equip3a.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h217/beckyess/equip4a.jpg
And there you have a two height practice jump for your garden. I'm going to have a bash at a spread jump and long jump tomorrow!
Becky (who's rather proud of herself)

[katch_this]

wow these are great! Wanna make me some for the horses? BTW your dog is gorgeous.

[skunkstripe]

Mahooli I like your approach! My husband built this:

http://www.dogforum.org/gallery/data/500/seesawzirc.jpg
which is nice except that he designed it to take the weight of a large human being who might want to play see-saw. It is so heavy the dogs have a hard time getting it to move with their weights of 50-60 lbs.

[brunosmom]

good job....both of you.....great looking equipment!!!!

[retriever crazy]

you agility equipment looks great! awesome job! thanks for sharing :)

[Bea]

Wow! Thanks for that! I've been wanting some equipment like this for some time now, so now I can show my partner how to make it!! One of my JR is very active and likes jumping over stuff. Thanks very much for sharing!

[lassie]

wow they look great, well done to you. the dog looks so sweet junping them. Clever you!!

[Mahooli]

So part two (I'm enjoying this), yet again very simple. The long jump I have made is for a small dog and conforms as best I can with my sawing abilities to KC regs with a length of approx 50cm.
You take your two poles from your hurdle and make another one of the same dimensions (114cm long with a 100cm piece of lagging). You need 10 90 degree angles and 2 t ones.
You need to saw yourself the following lengths of pipe. 4x 20.7cm, 2 x 6.7cm, 2 x 11.8cm and 2 x 16.9cm.
Take a 90 degree fitting and place it on one end of a 20.7cm pole, attach a t fitting long ways to the other end of that pole and fit another 20.7cm pole onto the other end. You then place a 90 degree fitting at the end of that. You will then have a 90 degree bend, pole, t fitting, pole and 90 degree bend in a straight line with all the holes pointing up.
Repear with the other bits so you have two identical pieces.
Place the 6.7cm poles in one of the 90 degree bends, the hole in the middle fit a 11.8cm pole and the 16.9cm pole goes on the other end. Repeat with other side.
Fit 90 degree fittings to the tops of these poles and fit the bars lengthways. Voila! a long jump for small dogs.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h217/beckyess/equip6a.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h217/beckyess/equip7a.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h217/beckyess/equip8a.jpg
My model this time is Wilson. If you are worried about having a static pole then cut down the tops of the 90 degree bends to form a cup so they can be easily dislodged. I prefer mine static and these units are so lightweight that your dog probably has a greater impact throwing itself on the sofa than these but the choice is there for you!
Becky (having fun!!)