How to Make Agility Equipment for Small Dogs!

[nneessaa]

I've been searching forever to find a website that has all the information about what the standard jumping is. Finally found one, and it also has pictures of the TDAA equipment, as well as how to build each one! It is great, so far we have made 1 jump but we are making the pause table and tire jump and 2 more jumps today.

Standard for heights: TDAA Rules scroll down to equipment specifications

How to build all the equipment: TDAA

Pictures of Equipment: TDAA

[erickajm]

Thanks for sharing the info..I'm sure it will come in handy for someone!

[beemidiwfe]

Daisy is starting the beginner intermediate agility class tomorrow. She loves it. She gets so excited when we get there! This is a class for all dogs. In the last class there was a long-haired dachshund, but the rest were big dogs. I had no idea there was a special organization for small dogs. I looked for 'membership clubs' in Georgia and found one not too far from me. I may not join, but found an event that would be fun to go to in November.

This is the link for finding one near you http://www.k9tdaa.com/TDAAclubs.htm

I would love to have some equipment at my home to practice with. Does your dog compete?

[nneessaa]

No but we have only gone to 5 classes so far (out of 6 in beg 1), and already Scruffs can do everything except weave, and he loves going on all the equipment. He is SO FAST over jumps and tires. I really want to compete but I don't know how to go about doing it. I know in showing there is a rule that they can't be fixed but is it the same in agility. We are also still mastering the chute but he is a lot better!

Sadly there are no TDAA places in my area (I'm in CA).

[beemidiwfe]

Daisy just finished beginner agility a few weeks ago. We have been waiting for the new class (beginner intermediate) to fill and start. She is really good at it also. She was the best in her class as far as speed and no fear. Some of the golden retrievers were afraid of the bridge like thing we call 'walk' and many wouldn't stay on the 'teeter' until the end. I think the little ones have an advantage in that they don't cause the platforms to shake when they are on them. They set the jumps at 6 inches for her and the dachshund but she sailed over them at least 12 inches.

She naturally follows where I point, that was one of the reasons I wanted to try this with her. Whenever she has gone around a jump instead of over it it has been because I moved my arm that way. It is a great class for me as well in communicating with my dog.

Did you get to try the weave already? That wasn't included in our beginner class. I expect to start that in the next class. I said before in this forum that one thing I have learned about my dog is that she will do anything for a piece of hotdog. We use cat treats now, less gross in the hand and I can keep them in the car, but she will still do anything for them. Sometimes at the end of the 'course' she would do her twirl trick before her treat. As if running the course was not enough. Aren't these wonderful little dogs!!

And I don't think it matters at all if they are neutered to compete. I imagine most of them are. They don't have to be pure breed either.

[nneessaa]

I don't know if we will ever compete but it is a possibility. Scruffs is best at jumps and tire, and he goes over everything else no problem. We have not done a complete teeter (we are going slowly, so now it tips about 2 feet). We just did the chute only 5 times or so but he has almost got it. My class isn't the greatest because the instructor talks A LOT, but the 1 hour class is always 1.5-2 hours long so that makes up for it. I would also like an indoor course.

How much does Daisy weigh? Scruffs is 7.1 lbs and 9 inches at the shoulder. He can jump 16" but I only did it once since I didn't want to hurt him. 8 inches is sooo easy. I need an agility expert to help me since I have a question. I don't understand how border collies jump like 3 ft or more, when the standard is soooo much lower, and the jump is definitely taller than their shoulders.

Are you going to be building your own equipment? I'm going to build everything so we can practice, I'm really excited!

[beemidiwfe]

Daisy weighs about 9 pounds at 11 months. She is a big sturdy girl.

I don't think we will be building the equipment, but I would like to. I live an hour away from the facility so we don't practice that often.

[beemidiwfe]

We went to the new class today. It is more challenging, more about being a good handler than the class before. We had a great time. We started the weaving and learned to change directions by changing the hand we are leading with. It is so fun tho, Daisy was really happy to be back.