If you want to provide your dog with a great outlet for exercise and fun, dog agility training can be a perfect option. At Carlson Agility, we have an assortment of dog agility sets that can help you get your feet (or paws) wet in the world of agility and there are several reasons to consider using our dog agility equipment.
1. Our Dog Training Equipment Is Safe
You can find plenty of cheap dog agility equipment on the internet, but these items tend to be flimsy and made with cheap materials. Not only will these materials break down quickly, but they also might not be safe for your dog.
The tunnel might rip, and your dog could catch their paw in the tunnel, which could lead to an injury. If the jump bars don’t come off when your dog jumps, then your dog could be injured if they hit the jump incorrectly. Our equipment is built to the standards put forth by dog agility organizations such as NADAC, UKC, AKC and others, so you don’t have to worry about cheap equipment that could harm your precious furry friend.
2. Our Equipment Is High Quality
While safety is the most important factor, it’s also important to note that our agility equipment is built to last and can withstand the elements. While you might not keep your equipment out 365 days a year, it’s certainly not going to be convenient to pack up all of your equipment after each use. Our hand-crafted dog agility equipment is built using UV-resistant materials that can withstand the sun, rain and snow for many years to come.
Additionally, our equipment is exactly like the equipment you will find on official dog obstacle courses. Our equipment is built to meet the standards you’d find at NADAC events, UKC events, AKC events, CPE events and so forth. We have everything you will need to build a course that will get your dog ready for competition should you choose to do so.
3. Buying A Dog Agility Set Saves Money
When you purchase a dog agility set as a bundle, this means your total cost for the items goes down. If you were to purchase the items separately, you would incur a higher cost per item. For instance, our Starter Kit B, which is a popular option, includes a tunnel and two single jumps for $357. Purchased separately, these items cost about $40-$60 more depending on the options you select.
4. Dog Agility Sets Make Training Easy
When you purchase a dog agility set with three or four items, this provides you with plenty of different options for training as soon as the kit arrives. For instance, if you simply bought a single jump and your dog masters that jump very quickly, you would have to order another piece of dog agility equipment and wait for that to come before training and dogs tend to learn how to handle a single jump quickly which is why it makes sense to purchase several items at once.
When you purchase a kit, this allows you to set up a mini dog obstacle course and practice several different skills. Not only will you practice the actual skill of jumping or weaving or going up and down the dog agility teeter, but you also can teach your dog how to follow signals and commands as they move from one obstacle to the next. As your dog begins to master the skills in the dog agility set, you can start adding to your collection of agility equipment.
Which Dog Agility Set Should You Select?
Customers often ask us which pieces of pet agility equipment to purchase first, and truthfully, there’s no wrong or right answer. You can get started using any piece of dog training equipment and if you can’t quite make up your mind, our dog agility sets make the decision easier because you end up with several pieces of quality dog agility equipment.
In general, the hardest obstacle to train tends to be the weave poles. The teeter, because of its up and down movement, also can be daunting, so you might want to opt for a dog agility set that doesn’t include those items. Still, if you have a fearless, high-energy dog, there is no reason why you can’t start with the tougher obstacles first. If you want to start off with a good challenge, Starter Kit G includes a teeter, weave poles and a tire jump.
If you want to start out more slowly with easier obstacles, we recommend Starter Kit B (two dog jumps and a tunnel), Starter Kit D (two jumps and a pause table) or Starter Kit H (two jumps, a tunnel and a pause table). Again, there is no “wrong” choice, and it really depends on your own inclination. Typically, basic jumps and the tunnel are easy obstacles to teach, which is why many handlers begin with these options.
Get Started Today
There are so many great reasons to purchase a dog agility set and get started with dog agility. Agility training provides your dog (and you) with a fun, full-body workout. Agility training also strengthens the bond between the two of you and can improve overall obedience and lessen anxiety.
Just about any healthy dog can be a good fit for agility training. We don’t recommend heavy training for puppies, as their bodies need time to fully grow before handling jumps and weaves. Still, they can learn pause table skills and handle the tunnel with ease and perhaps even the dog walk and a-frame with careful supervision. During those early puppy months focus on skills such as sit, stay and come. Even a game of fetch can be an important obedience skill to learn, and your puppy will catch on quickly. If you have any questions about our dog agility sets or any piece of our dog agility equipment, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at any time. In addition to dog agility kits, we also have mini agility equipment (perfect for small dogs) and a variety of helpful training tools including planks, guide wires, wobble boards and more.
