milos_mommy
09-20-2007, 05:09 PM
no, not backyard breeder :p Backyard BASICS as in agility basics.
okay, so i don't quite have the money to pay for agility lessons right now. We're working hard at home on focus, D/A, and just groundwork and some skills, and we're making progress, so hopefully soon we'll join a class :) anyway.
I've been setting up a mini course in my backyard (which is decently sized (1/4 an acre), but is half taken up by deck/pool...so the grassy area we're working in is like 12ft X 15ft ish. I've got an old child's play tunnel, some broomsticks on bricks, and a hoola hoop. I'm thinking i can just get a wooden board and lift it up on bricks for a pause table... and get some dowels and stick them in the ground (that'll go over well with dad) for weave poles. I'm nervous to make any kind of contact obstacles because it can't be anything bulky, i've got to be able to take it down and store it easily... I may try and make a dog walk with some 2x4s...
anyone else with experience in backyard agility, know of any good equipment i could make?
Also **brag!** Milo's doing awesome! He's now running a tunnel - jump sequence from a distance :) going through the hoola hoop (wannabe tire jump) with no problems, and he's just really excited about it. His recall is still rocky (hearing ten people screaming the word " COME!" at you all day kind of takes away the meaning of it). I'm going to use the word "ici" (french for "here") instead. But anyway, when i call him from across the yard, he'll make sure to jump the jump or run the tunnel instead of going around it. And i use his cuz as a motivator a lot, but i didn't today. So after we were done he starts nudging my bag and giving me looks like "uhh, forgetting something?" :cool:
Anyway, i'm just looking for tips on making practice equipment in the backyard.
okay, so i don't quite have the money to pay for agility lessons right now. We're working hard at home on focus, D/A, and just groundwork and some skills, and we're making progress, so hopefully soon we'll join a class :) anyway.
I've been setting up a mini course in my backyard (which is decently sized (1/4 an acre), but is half taken up by deck/pool...so the grassy area we're working in is like 12ft X 15ft ish. I've got an old child's play tunnel, some broomsticks on bricks, and a hoola hoop. I'm thinking i can just get a wooden board and lift it up on bricks for a pause table... and get some dowels and stick them in the ground (that'll go over well with dad) for weave poles. I'm nervous to make any kind of contact obstacles because it can't be anything bulky, i've got to be able to take it down and store it easily... I may try and make a dog walk with some 2x4s...
anyone else with experience in backyard agility, know of any good equipment i could make?
Also **brag!** Milo's doing awesome! He's now running a tunnel - jump sequence from a distance :) going through the hoola hoop (wannabe tire jump) with no problems, and he's just really excited about it. His recall is still rocky (hearing ten people screaming the word " COME!" at you all day kind of takes away the meaning of it). I'm going to use the word "ici" (french for "here") instead. But anyway, when i call him from across the yard, he'll make sure to jump the jump or run the tunnel instead of going around it. And i use his cuz as a motivator a lot, but i didn't today. So after we were done he starts nudging my bag and giving me looks like "uhh, forgetting something?" :cool:
Anyway, i'm just looking for tips on making practice equipment in the backyard.