Many people get their start in agility by joining an agility club, and that can be a smart idea, particularly if you aren’t quite sure if your dog will love agility. Once you start progressing and working up to competition level, though, it’s wise to start purchasing your own dog agility supplies, including the following.
1. Dog Agility Jumps
The majority of the obstacles on any agility course will be jumps and there will be several different types of jumps, including single, double and triple jumps. The single jump definitely should top your list of dog agility supplies, but we believe that the triple jump can be an important investment for anyone serious about competition.
Triple jumps force a dog to jump a farther distance and these can be very tricky for dogs to navigate. Having a triple jump for backyard practice can be a fantastic idea, as this allows you to practice this obstacle at any time and in many different configurations.
We have AKC-compliant and USDAA-compliant triple jumps, as well as a handy training jump, which isn’t as high as the AKC or USDAA jumps, but can be a perfect option for those just beginning training or those who don’t have enough yard space to include a larger triple jump.
Obviously, we have plenty of double jumps, as well, but if you are looking for a few ways to cut costs, you could start out by purchasing a single jump and a triple jump. After all, if your dog can clear the triple jump with ease, the double jump should be a piece of cake.
2. The Tire Jump
At Carlson Agility, we have tons of dog agility jumps. In fact, we have just about any kind of jump you possibly could need, and that includes tire jumps. We’ve moved the tire jump into its own category simply because it is quite different from those single, double and triple jumps and you will always see a tire jump on an obstacle course so it just makes sense to include this in your backyard agility arsenal.
3. Weaves
Few dog agility supplies strike as much fear in the eyes of handlers than the weave poles. Once a dog gets the hang of this obstacle, it is amazing to watch them zip in an around the poles, but there is no getting around the fact that this obstacle can be tricky to teach. Having your own set of weaves for backyard training can be a huge help, and ensure that you are prepared for competition.
When it comes to weaves, we have many excellent options. We have a set of 6 training weaves with a PVC base as well as a set of 12, and both of these are free-standing. We also have stick-in-the-ground weave poles if you prefer that. We have a training weave chute with 6 or 12 poles, depending on what you want, and while this looks different from what you find in competition, it can be a great way to begin your training.
If you prefer to stick with poles closer to what you’ll find on a competition course, consider investing in some of training guide wires, which will make it easier for your furry friend to know what to do.
4. The Teeter
Every course has a teeter, and some dogs are a bit timid about the teeter at first. After all, it goes up high and it moves. Because this obstacle can take some time to teach, we’ve put it on our must-have list as you may need extra practice for the teeter. Once your dog masters this, it’s quite impressive to watch them handle this obstacle.
5. The Tunnel
Every agility course will have a tunnel, so this is definitely one of those essential dog agility supplies. Some dogs are a bit timid about the tunnel, but with some gentle coaxing and a friendly face at each end of the tunnel (and perhaps a treat), your dog should be zipping through the tunnel fairly quickly.
We also carry collapsible chutes, however chutes are not found on every dog agility course, so check out what your competition organization requires before you invest in the chute. Also, the tunnel can be a bit easier to teach at first because the dog can see the, um, light at the end of the tunnel so to speak whereas a chute collapses at one end.
But what about the pause table and the dog walk and the a-frame, you may ask? Well, we have all of those items and we definitely recommend that you add all of the course components at some point, as your dog will need plenty of practice on every obstacle.
Pause tables are important, but you could substitute a board or mat during the early stages of training. Eventually, you probably will want to invest in a table that is the correct height and size so that you can create courses that are close to what you’ll find at a competition.
The dog walk and a-frame are important dog agility supplies, but with the teeter, you expose your dog to a bit of height and if your dog is able to handle the height and the movement of the teeter, you probably will have less of an issue training them how to use the dog walk and a-frame.
Of course, every dog is different, so you might prefer to change up the dog agility supplies that you purchase. There are no hard and fast rules about what pieces of equipment to teach first and which to save for later.
No matter what dog agility supplies you decide to purchase, we have everything you need here at Carlson Agility. In addition to all of our full-size agility equipment, we also have a complete selection of mini agility equipment which is great for smaller dogs, puppies and indoor training.
