Dog Agility

Obstacles typically found on a dog agility course include:

• tyre jump – the tyre jump is a tyre (ring) suspended in the air by a supporting frame. This obstacle requires dogs to be coordinated. Learn how to teach your dog to jump through a tyre with Frankie >
• bar jump – the bar jump is a standard hurdle. Learn how to teach your dog to jump over a hurdle with Frankie >
• long jump – the long jump is similar to the hurdle but requires the dog to jump for a longer amount of time. Learn how to teach your dog to long jump with Frankie >
• open tunnel – this is your stock standard tunnel where your dog must run in one end and out the other. Learn how to teach your dog to run through a tunnel with Frankie >
• closed tunnel (chute) – this is a variation of the open tunnel except one side is ‘deflated’. This obstacle can be harder to teach your dog than the open tunnel beacuse they have to push through the closed chute. Learn how to teach your dog to run through a closed chute with Frankie >
• A-frame – the A-frame consists of two ramps leaning up against each other. The dog must navigate up one side, over the top and down the other whilst being careful to touch the yellow contact zone on the other side.
• weave poles – the weave poles are always an impressive obstacle to watch especially when the dog picks up speed whilst navigating them. They are a series of verticle poles in which the dog must dodge in and out of. Even if your not competing in agility, the weave poles are a good way to release any excess energy your dog may have. Learn how to teach your dog to weave with Frankie >
• dog walk – the dog walk tests your dogs balance and courage. The dog walk is located a fair way off the ground and requires your dog to walk the length of the three planks. Learn how to teach your dog to cross the dog walk with Frankie >
• see saw – the see saw is perhaps one of the hardest obstacles to teach your agility dog because it moves. Learn how to teach your dog to navigate the see saw with Frankie >

Dogs get penalised for a number of things including:

• knocking the bar off the hurdle
• touch the tyre
• knocking over ___ in the long jump
• not remaining on the pause table for the required length of time.
• not making contact with the yellow contact zones on the a-frame, see saw or dog walk
• refusing an obstacle
• jumping over or running through an obstacle the wrong way
• entering the weave poles from the wrong side
• ‘falling out’ of the weave poles