Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 1:12 pm Post subject: How much equipment?
I am thinking about some agility training with Rufus, to add to his repertoire of skills . I have looked at the jumpforjoy agility equipment website and wonder how much stuff do we need to start? We are planning to go to a class next week but would like to get a few pieces for the garden.
What would be a good minimum of equipment to start? We can add more stuff later.
If you haven't already started a class I'd be tempted just to do some makeshift jumps for now as it's pricey if neither of you take to it.
That said, equipment wise I got 3 jumps from jump4joy and 6 weave poles. I made a long jump myself out of skirting boards and a tyre jump myself from plumbers piping and a hoola hoop.
I use a mat as a pause table and bought a cheapy flat tunnel for £15 from pets at home.
I waited and waited for a good deal on ebay for a tunnel and finally got a whopping sturdy 5m one for £30.
Will see if i can find a pic of my home made long jump bits if that helps.
edited to add:
pre painted skirting board cut to size with a sticky back plastic stripe (blue peter eat ya heart out!)
push n fit pumbers piping and a hula hoop with pipe lagging and electric tape over.
Last edited by Basil on Mon Aug 16, 2010 3:38 pm; edited 1 time in total
I built my own jumps, but Pets at Home are now selling some equipment around £20 each. I bought a tyre jump because I was struggling to make one and actually it isn't bad - ok not as sturdy as the real thing but fine for practicing. I also bought some lightweight weave poles from them and my chute tunnel. They also do hurdle jumps.
Just for getting started I think £20 isn't bad, its the same price as my home made jumps cost (though they are KC standard )
Wow Sarah, am really impressed by your skills and I might pinch some of your ideas but you are right about seeing how we get on at class. Chocice - I have seen the PaH stuff and it's not bad, might try that too.
Sarah(jane) - am planning to go to the West Suffolk Agility Club near Bury St Edmunds on Wed evenings. Not sure where you are, are you thinking of going?
I've just started, but am having 1:1's at the moment which I prefer as there is no waiting around for other people and Mole just loves it
Will maybe consider a club when she's got the hang of it, though that might not be too long as she is picking it up really quickly
You'll have to let me know how she gets on.
TBH I wouldn't rush to buy anything much before you start. Go to class, see what they start doing with you, and then you can practise that.
Some things I taught Oak before we started classes were "touch" - teach them to touch a pringles pot lid, or similar. Then when you start on contact equipment you put the pot lid at the bottom of the touch point and they are used to putting their nose, or paws (whatever you teach) on it.
"Round" - go to the park and teach them to go round the goal posts, or at home the washing line, or a tree on a walk - what ever you find. Then they will go round the wings on a turn for a box, for example.
Get them used to the tipping motion of the seesaw. We got an old plank and fixed it to a log, = makeshift seesaw. A friend made a wobble board - square board with a ball in the centre so it wobbles about when the dog gets on. Just to get them comfy with the motion.
"go on" - teach them to run through a line of jump wings (or chairs, cones etc) - no poles. Run straight through to a toy, for example.
Some things I taught Oak before we started classes were "touch" - teach them to touch a pringles pot lid, or similar. Then when you start on contact equipment you put the pot lid at the bottom of the touch point and they are used to putting their nose, or paws (whatever you teach) on it.
"Round" - go to the park and teach them to go round the goal posts, or at home the washing line, or a tree on a walk - what ever you find. Then they will go round the wings on a turn for a box, for example.
Get them used to the tipping motion of the seesaw. We got an old plank and fixed it to a log, = makeshift seesaw. A friend made a wobble board - square board with a ball in the centre so it wobbles about when the dog gets on. Just to get them comfy with the motion.
"go on" - teach them to run through a line of jump wings (or chairs, cones etc) - no poles. Run straight through to a toy, for example.
And most of all - HAVE FUN!!!!
Katy
Would all those be okay to do with a little puppy? Maple is nearly 4 months old. Just trying to think of fun things to do other than sit/stay/down/wait etc
Would all those be okay to do with a little puppy? Maple is nearly 4 months old. Just trying to think of fun things to do other than sit/stay/down/wait etc
Of course you can! I did allsorts of silly things like this to keep Oak's puppy brain interested. Also try dropping a variety of things on the floor and asking "hold it". Oak will hold anything I ask of him (as long as it's a reasonable size), which is so useful when you drop something on the floor accidentally! Or have your hands full.
Have fun!
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. I have looked at the jumpforjoy agility equipment website and wonder how much stuff do we need to start? We are planning to go to a class next week but would like to get a few pieces for the garden.
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