How to Make Agility Equipment for Pits

Agility training is fast and fun, and it allows pit bull owners to work alongside their dogs. Beginning agility might consist of jumps and weave poles whereas more advanced agility might include an A-frame, see-saw or tunnels and chutes. According to the Untied States Dog Agility Association, PVC pipe must be Schedule 40 1-inch or 1 1/4-inch only. A pit bull owner could purchase or build her own agility equipment. Most of the equipment is simple to build and requires minimal tools.

Things You'll Need

  • For Jump:
  • 2, 30-inch pieces of 1-inch S40 PVC pipe section
  • 4, 12-inch pieces of 1-inch S40 PVC pipe section
  • 1, 50-inch piece of 1-inch S40 PVC pipe section
  • 1, 48-inch piece of 3/4-inch S40 PVC pipe section
  • 2, 1 3/4-inch pipe stubs
  • 4 slip "T" connectors
  • 6 slip end caps
  • 2 jump cups
  • PVC pipe glue
  • 1-inch paint brush
  • Rubber mallet
  • One roll of colored electrical tape
  • For weave poles:
  • 10, 8-inch pieces of 1-inch S40 PVC pipe section
  • 4, 9 1/4-inch pieces of 1-inch S40 PVC pipe section
  • 3, 20-inch piece of 1-inch S40 PVC pipe section
  • 6, 22-inch piece of 1-inch S40 PVC pipe section
  • 8, 3-way slip "T" connectors
  • 2, 4-way connectors
  • 14, slip end caps
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Instructions

  1. Constructing a Dog Agility Jump

    • 1

      Use the 1-inch paint brush and some glue to coat each of the four 12-inch PVC pipe pieces on the outside of one end. Place a slip end cap over each glued end and pound into place with the rubber mallet.

      Glue each open end piece of the four 12-inch PVC pipes into a "T" connector.

      Use the rubber mallet to make sure they fit tightly.

      Glue the two stub pieces into the open end of the "T" connectors.

      Use the rubber mallet to make sure they fit tightly.

      Set these aside for later.

    • 2

      Glue each remaining "T" connector to the 50-inch PVC pipe; this will serve as the cross bar. Ensure the first "T" connector dries completely and is flat on the work surface before continuing. When this is completely dry, add the foot pieces that you built in step one. Using the paint brush, brush some glue around the stub piece and move it back and forth until it fits snugly into the "T" connector on the cross bar.

      Do the same for the other side, then set base pieces aside.

    • 3

      Glue the last two slip end caps on to one end of the two 30-inch PVC pipe pieces.

      Glue each 30-inch PVC pipe, which is now an upright for the jump, into each of the empty "T" connectors on the base.

      Use the rubber mallet to make sure they fit securely.

    • 4

      Place one jump cup, which holds the cross bar where the dog jumps over, on each of the uprights. Cut strips of colored electrical tape and strip the uprights and the cross bar.

      Place the 48-inch piece of 3/4-inch PVC pipe across the jump, resting the bar in the jump cups. This is the cross bar where the dog will jump over.

    • 5

      Practice with your dog. For competition-level jumping, a pit bull must be able to clear between 22-26-inches depending on the height of the dog.

      Most fully grown pit bulls are between 18- and 22-inches tall.

    Constructing Dog Agility Weave Poles

    • 6

      Place some glue on one end of six 8-inch pieces of PVC pipe using the 1-inch paint brush. Put the glued end in all the openings of two of the 3-way "T" connectors. These will serve as the end pieces.

      Set one end piece aside and work with the other.

    • 7

      Attach a 3-way "T" connector on to the end of the 8-inch piece that is protruding out of the bottom of the "T" connector. On the opposite side of this "T" connector, attach one 20-inch PVC piece. At the end of this, attach another 3-way "T" connector and then a 9 1/4-inch PVC piece.

    • 8

      Start over by attaching a 20-inch PVC piece, a 3-way "T" connector and a 9 1/4-inch PVC pipe piece. The last 4-way connector is next in the row of PVC pipes, followed by another 9 1/4-inch and a 3-way "T" connector. The final 20-inch PVC pipe is attached next, followed by a 3-way "T" connector and the end piece that was set aside earlier.

      When two of the 9 1/4-inch PVC pieces are attached to a 4-way connector, the length becomes just under 20-inches. This is the regulation length between the weave poles for competition.

    • 9

      Glue the remaining 8-inch PVC pipe pieces into each of the 4-way connector openings. This will help to balance the weave poles.

    • 10

      Attach each of the six 22-inch PVC pipe pieces into the remaining openings in the 3-way "T" connectors.