Dog Agility Equipment for Dog Competitions
Dog agility contest are becoming increasingly popular in the United States and if you have a dog that just might be able to win a contest or you think training and participating in a dog agility contest will be fun and provide exercise for your dog you will need to purchase the essential dog agility equipment. During a dog agility contest the dogs basically have to run through an obstacle course and the dogs are judged based on their speed through the course as well as their ability to successfully complete the tasks of the various obstacles without making errors.
Dog Handlers
The dog handlers are not allowed to touch the dogs or offer them incentives such as snacks in order to encourage them to maneuver through the course. The handlers are allowed to follow their dogs while they are running through the course and they are allowed to provide verbal and physical instructions to their dog. Let's take a look at some of the types of dog agility equipment used in dog agility competitions.
Agility Equipment
The A-frame consists of two platforms which are connected together with a hinge and are lifted up in order to have the hinged connection to be about five to six feet higher than the ground. The contraption now has the appearance of an A-frame which the dogs have to travel over.
The dog agility equipment known as the dog walk consists of three planks which are attached at the ends of the planks. The middle plank is lifted up to about four feet from the ground which provides the dog walk with two ramps. The dogs have to travel up one of the ramps to the top plank and then travel down the other ramp in order to reach the ground.
The teeter-totter is a long plank which pivots on a support. The unit is designed to be a little off balance in order for the same end of the plank to always return back to the ground. The teeter-totter has to be designed so that the tiny dogs that are competing in the dog agility contest can make the higher end of the device go down to the ground.
Tunnels are dog agility equipment items that are typically found in the competitions. They are usually made from vinyl and range from ten to twenty feet in length and are typically two feet in diameter. The dogs simply have to run through the tunnels as part of the competition. Typically the tunnels are curved in order to make it more difficult for the dogs to run through them. Some of the other dog agility equipment pieces you will want your dog to practice with include the crossover, weave poles and numerous types of jumps. Purchasing dog agility equipment will allow your dog to practice and increase his abilities before he enters the contest.
