How to Make a Dog Agility Chute

Agility is a sport for dogs. The canines are expected to maneuver their way through an obstacle course, being judged on time and speed. One of these obstacles is the chute. This is an 8-foot to 12-foot tunnel that begins with a circular opening but ends in a loose fabric tube; it's the dog's task to find a way out. If you would like to train your pet up to compete in a dog agility competition or would like to simply treat to your dog to a new toy, building a chute is not as hard it sounds.

Things You'll Need

  • Two sheets of lightweight nylon fabric, 60 inches by 60 inches
  • Sewing needle
  • Thread
  • Scissors
  • 20-inch diameter hula hoop
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clear a large space on the floor and lay out one of the sheets of fabric.

    • 2

      Cut an 11 1/2-inch strip from one of the sides of the material so that it now measures 60 inches by 49 1/2 inches. Discard the strip.

    • 3

      Locate the corner of the side that you just cut. Measure 3/4 of an inch along the cut edge and stick a pin at this point. Repeat this step with the other corner in the cut side of the fabric so that there are now two pins along the edge which have 48 inches between them.

    • 4

      Sit next to the side opposite the cut edge. Measure 8 inches along this edge from one of the corners and stick a pin here. Do this again for the last remaining corner, so that there are two pins that are 33 inches apart.

    • 5

      Fold from the first pin that you inserted on the cut edge to the pin closest to it on the uncut side. Press this fold down with a warm iron. Don't iron nylon, it will melt. Unfold the fabric.

    • 6

      Repeat the previous step with the remaining two pins.

    • 7

      Cut the fabric along these folds, but add an extra 3/4 of an inch toward the sides, which you will use as a seam. The fabric will now be uneven, measuring 49 1/2 inches at one side, with the opposite side measuring 34 1/2 inches.

    • 8

      Repeat steps 1 to 8 with the second piece of fabric.

    • 9

      Place the two pieces of fabric on top of each other so their edges are parallel. Place four pins at the wide end and another four at the small end to keep them together.

    • 10

      Place a pin every 4 or 5 inches down the sides. Make sure to do this 3 quarters of an inch in from the edge.

    • 11

      Sew down the sides of the fabric, between the series of pins and the edge.

    • 12

      Remove all of your pins.

    • 13

      Push the narrow end of the fabric through a 20-inch hula hoop. Bring about 2 inches of this end back over the hoop and hem it all of the way round. Now the hoop is hidden by the material.