Dog agility courses afford your dog the opportunity to engage in necessary exercise, and the variety of stations keep him interested and going back for more. Courses are set up with trainers on site to assist your dog to learn to navigate through the activities, but courses also are popping up in backyards. With a little time, dedication and PVC pieces, you can start your own course.
Things You'll Need
- Schedule 40 PVC pipe, 1 1/2-inch, 145 feet in length
- PVC tees, 1 1/2-inch - quantity 18
- PVC elbows, 1 1/2-inch - quantity 2
- PVC end caps, 1 1/2-inch - quantity 18
- Measuring tape
- Sharpie
- Hacksaw
- PVC adhesive
Instructions
Weaving In and Out
Measure your PVC pipe and mark with a Sharpie. Measure out four pieces 22 inches in length, two pieces 24 inches in length, two pieces 6 inches in length, and six pieces 36 inches in length. These are the PVC pieces you'll use for your weaving activity.
Using the hacksaw, cut your PVC pipe.
Attach one 6-inch PVC piece to one of the elbows using the adhesive. Plumbers use a primer first when attaching PVC, but since your PVC won't need to be water tight, the primer isn't necessary. Add a 24-inch piece to the other end of the elbow, facing toward the left and add an end cap.
Repeat step 3, but attach the 24-inch piece facing toward the right. These are the ends of your weaving course and will stabilize it.
Attach a PVC tee to the end of the 6-inch piece; attach a 22-inch piece. Repeat this until you've used all of the 6-inch pieces and all of the 22-inch pieces. Make sure the unused hole in your PVC tee is facing upward.
Attach the other end piece you made in step 4.
Insert a 36-inch PVC pipe into each of the PVC tees and attach with adhesive.
Add a PVC cap on the top of each of the 36-inch PVC pieces.
Time to Get Jumpy
Measure your PVC pieces for your dog agility jump and mark each measurement with a Sharpie. You'll need eight pieces 12 inches in length, two pieces 5 1/4 inches in length, two pieces 6 1/2 inches in length, two pieces 15 1/4 inches in length and two pieces 48 inches in length.
Using the hacksaw, cut each of your pieces and set them aside.
Build one T-shaped base by attaching one 12-inch PVC piece into all three holes of one PVC tee and attaching with adhesive. On the two ends of the top of the T-shape, add an end cap. Attach another PVC tee to the remaining end, and then add a 22-inch PVC piece. On the end of that piece, add an end cap.
Repeat step 11 and make another T-shaped base.
Place the bases so the "T" of the T-shaped base is upside down if you're facing the jump.
Insert a 5 1/4-inch PVC piece into the open PVC tee spot on each base, and then add another PVC tee. Into the opposite end of that PVC tee, add a 6 1/4-inch piece, another PVC tee and one 15 1/4-inch PVC piece. On the other end of the 15 1/4-inch piece, add an end cap. Attach each piece with adhesive.
Position the fully constructed T-shaped bases so that the open ends of the PVC tees are facing each other. You'll be adding two PVC pieces to create the poles of the jump. Slide a 48-inch PVC piece into each of the PVC tee openings and attach with the adhesive.