Dog Agility Tools

If you have ever watched a border collie race at top speed through a dog agility course, you know that it can be a thrilling sport to watch. For dogs and their handlers, agility provides exercise, challenge and a chance to bond. At an agility trial, each competing dog must complete an obstacle course. Dogs are judged on their run time and points, which are totaled to calculate a final score. Points are taken away when a dog fails to clear a hurdle, misses an obstacle or makes any other errors on the course. It takes time, training and tools to prepare for an agility trial.

  1. Hurdles

    • Hurdles are part of every agility course. Dogs are expected to clear hurdles without touching or dislodging the bars. Dogs compete against others in their weight class at agility trials, so hurdles will be set according your dog's size. You will find single, double and even triple hurdles in an agility trial. The course might also contain hoops or tires for dogs to jump through. If you plan on racing with your dog, you will need access to hurdles for practice.

    Contact Obstacles

    • Each agility course contains contact obstacles. Each of these has zones that your dog must touch with all four paws in order to complete the obstacle. If your dog fails to touch a contact zone, it will be faulted. Contact obstacles include A-frames, dog walks and teeter-totters. Many agility courses also include a pause table, where your dog will be expected to stand, sit, lay or crouch for a certain length of time. Penalties are given to dogs that leave the pause table before the judge finishes counting.

    Weave Poles

    • One of the most complicated obstacles on an agility course, weave poles require a dog to race through a line of PVC poles, weaving in and out as it goes. The weave poles may be one of the most difficult obstacles to teach your dog, so it is necessary to have a set (or at least access to a course) to practice. You can also buy guides to attach to each pole when you first start training. These guides create a path for your dog to follow as it learns how to navigate the weave poles.

    Tunnels and Chutes

    • No agility course would be complete without a series of tunnels and chutes. A chute is a tunnel that is collapsed at the end. They are usually made of fabric so that dogs can pass through easily. If your dog bypasses a tunnel or a chute, it will be penalized. You can purchase portable tunnels and chutes online if you want to practice at home. You can also join an agility club to have access to its training courses and equipment.