Think about starting Dog Agility Training

[PomeranianCrazy]

Hello all! I've been researching on dog agility training, and I was thinking about starting Nismo (pom) and Sissy (lab mix) on agility. I find this website that you can buy a agilty training setup, and it looks nice. Nismo and Sissy was the easiest for me to train for the basic commands. So i figured with the time I have, I would start them off with this first before the rest. Is there anything out there that I should know before I buy this setup? How hard is it to teach a dog the basic moves of agility? I know nothing comes easy, but was just wondering what I was getting myself into!!:) I love my dogs and I want to keep them as active as possible, so I thought this would be good for them!
Opinions and Information welcome!! I love hearing replys!!! Love everyone!!!!:p
Thanks in advance!!! :cheers:

[KatzNK9]

I think that is a great idea! I plan to start agility with Ozzy within a few months ... depending on his obedience classes & competitions we're working toward. I can't wait ... and I know it will be lots of fun.

[Sabledog]

it is far cheaper to build your own agility setup for training than to go buy the pre made kits, all you really need is to be handy with a hammer and saw, and to know how to cut pvc pipe and put it back together!!! lol (all really easy stuff) pvc pipe is realy cheap at home depot or lowes and all you would need to get is a few 8-10 ft peices and the conector peices and a pvc pipe cutter (looks like evil scissors) find the standard sizes and spacings of the competition equipment and cut to fit!!! lol and you can buy tunnels at toy stores for cheap, the one i work at has 6ft tunnels for 10 dollars each, shop around and price stuff out before you buy a premade one because it will save you loads of money. and for wooden ranps and such, all you really need is some plywood and 2x4's and nails (or screws) and just cut them to the sizes you need. and you can decorate your agility setup how you want instead of a preset pattern that looks generic.

[Sabledog]

forgot to add, for the tire jump get the flexible pipe covers (accordian syle or soft rubber) and some closeline/utility rope, make a 3ft x 2ft square out of pvc pipe and braces for the bottom (see pic) get a hose clamp to connect the hose peice and use the utility rope to tie to the pvc. it should look like this when its done....

1261


when you do it yourself you can easily adjust the height of the tire because you can cut the rope to the size you need.

[PomeranianCrazy]

Thanks for all the helpful information!

[PomeranianCrazy]

it is far cheaper to build your own agility setup for training than to go buy the pre made kits, all you really need is to be handy with a hammer and saw, and to know how to cut pvc pipe and put it back together!!! lol (all really easy stuff) pvc pipe is realy cheap at home depot or lowes and all you would need to get is a few 8-10 ft peices and the conector peices and a pvc pipe cutter (looks like evil scissors) find the standard sizes and spacings of the competition equipment and cut to fit!!! lol and you can buy tunnels at toy stores for cheap, the one i work at has 6ft tunnels for 10 dollars each, shop around and price stuff out before you buy a premade one because it will save you loads of money. and for wooden ranps and such, all you really need is some plywood and 2x4's and nails (or screws) and just cut them to the sizes you need. and you can decorate your agility setup how you want instead of a preset pattern that looks generic.

forgot to add, for the tire jump get the flexible pipe covers (accordian syle or soft rubber) and some closeline/utility rope, make a 3ft x 2ft square out of pvc pipe and braces for the bottom (see pic) get a hose clamp to connect the hose peice and use the utility rope to tie to the pvc. it should look like this when its done....

1261


when you do it yourself you can easily adjust the height of the tire because you can cut the rope to the size you need.

Great information! I will see if my hubby can do this!!! Thanks alot. If you have anymore information, I welcome it!!! Thanks again:) You are great!

[PomeranianCrazy]

I think that is a great idea! I plan to start agility with Ozzy within a few months ... depending on his obedience classes & competitions we're working toward. I can't wait ... and I know it will be lots of fun.

Katz I think Ozzy would be great!!! :) :cheers:

[PomeranianCrazy]

This is the website that I was looking at about the agility equipment!
http://www.affordableagility.com/

[KatzNK9]

Did you see this thread about Mahooli's new agility equipment?
http://www.dogforum.org/showthread.php?t=4782&highlight=agility

[PomeranianCrazy]

Did you see this thread about Mahooli's new agility equipment?
http://www.dogforum.org/showthread.php?t=4782&highlight=agility
Thanks Katz, I did see the thread but I don't know how well I would be making my own. LOL see I don't have good building skills! :headscratch:

[KatzNK9]

LOL see I don't have good building skills! :headscratch:

Ah, yes, I'm the same way ... but I do have the fortunate circumstance of having a live-in carpenter & all-around-handyman living here. It did look like they did a great job on that equipment though.

[PomeranianCrazy]

Ah, yes, I'm the same way ... but I do have the fortunate circumstance of having a live-in carpenter & all-around-handyman living here. It did look like they did a great job on that equipment though.
I'm sure my hubby could try to make it for me, considering he's good with his hand and loves to creat stuff from scratch. But its just finding the time for him. He owns his own company and works on cars in his spare time. So i don't know i just figured buying the equipment would be better, but I'm always into the cheaper side of anything! Saving more money helps out alot! ;)

[KatzNK9]

I can tell you, that PVC pipe is pretty cheap stuff so it is likely to be much less expensive if you've got the time & the creativity all in the same place at the same time.

[PomeranianCrazy]

I can tell you, that PVC pipe is pretty cheap stuff so it is likely to be much less expensive if you've got the time & the creativity all in the same place at the same time.
I will look around tomorrow and ask my hubby if he can try to make it for me! I'm sure he will but he just has to find the time! Thanks for all the help!

[Sabledog]

pvc is simple cut to fit and inset into the fittings i would not pay 40 bucks per jump when you can make each for about 10-20 bucks a peice and they wanted like 900 dollars for an a-frame on that site!!!!!!! i could build it for about 50-60 in materials!!! same for dog walk. i cant really build much either but i know that pvc and plywood are pretty easy do it yourself things. to do a full agility course i could make it for around 200-300 dollars in material, thats including hardware. for a teeter al you need is a triangle base and a cut peice of plywood and attach 2 door hinges to each side making it able to move easily and be stable, granted they are NOT portable like the ones on the website but i bet they are much better quality than some aluminum peices and will last much longer.

[PomeranianCrazy]

pvc is simple cut to fit and inset into the fittings i would not pay 40 bucks per jump when you can make each for about 10-20 bucks a peice and they wanted like 900 dollars for an a-frame on that site!!!!!!! i could build it for about 50-60 in materials!!! same for dog walk. i cant really build much either but i know that pvc and plywood are pretty easy do it yourself things. to do a full agility course i could make it for around 200-300 dollars in material, thats including hardware. for a teeter al you need is a triangle base and a cut peice of plywood and attach 2 door hinges to each side making it able to move easily and be stable, granted they are NOT portable like the ones on the website but i bet they are much better quality than some aluminum peices and will last much longer.

Oh that sounds much better! I like them prices much better than the ones I seen on a couple of websites! I'm sure me and my hubby could put something together. Saving that much money calls for it! :) I didn't realize how cheap the material was from a hardware store. That sounds like the better route to take. Thanks alot Sabledog!:D

[mysterydog1]

My mixed breedy Oakley loves it and I want to start Vanna in on it too. Oakley is now 11 years old but nobody's told her! Shes out there with the 1-2 years old purebreds in her agility class. =)

[GreyhoundGirl]

Agility is wonderful. I just love it. Jenny and I spend hours everyday in the summer fooling around with our (home-made) equipment, going to trials, demos and team practises. When I got depressed, agility was the only reason I kept going, I practically lived for the hours I spent on the course with Jenny.

Jumps are quite easy to make too. Two pieces of wood and two pieces of PVC pipe. (I wont give any measurements, because it probably varies with location.) Weaves are a bit harder to make, but if you can get your hands on a piece of matal and someone to shape it, it wont be too dificult. :)

Agility is so awesome, you'll never regret joining. :D If you've ever got any agility questions, don't hesitate to ask me. I love talking about agility, and could, literally, talk agility for hours. :p

[PomeranianCrazy]

Agility is wonderful. I just love it. Jenny and I spend hours everyday in the summer fooling around with our (home-made) equipment, going to trials, demos and team practises. When I got depressed, agility was the only reason I kept going, I practically lived for the hours I spent on the course with Jenny.

Jumps are quite easy to make too. Two pieces of wood and two pieces of PVC pipe. (I wont give any measurements, because it probably varies with location.) Weaves are a bit harder to make, but if you can get your hands on a piece of matal and someone to shape it, it wont be too dificult. :)

Agility is so awesome, you'll never regret joining. :D If you've ever got any agility questions, don't hesitate to ask me. I love talking about agility, and could, literally, talk agility for hours. :p
Thank you very much for the information! I will probably have many question to ask, so I'll be sure to pm you! Thanks again!;)