Dog Agility Ivybridge

Dog Agility Ivybridge – Archie the Clumberdoodle gets his own course in the garden.

Archie loves going to his agility on a Saturday morning at the South Hams Dog Agility Group, which is purely for fun. See previous post here However with the lockdown at the moment that has had to be cancelled, but that gave us an idea.

A couple of years ago when Archie had just started agility I did buy a 4 way tunnel for him to use in the garden. However until Saturday morning agility resumes thought now (7th May 2020) would be a good  time to try and add to this to make a small course of his own. So I suggested to Steve (my husband) would it be possible? I knew he had some bits of wood that he had kept behind the shed for years and thought what a great way to make use of it? So reluctantly Steve succumbed after a bit of persuasion that this would be a really good idea to upcycle and would put his creativity to good use. I have trained him well, as he does everything I say!!!

He started with 3 jump uprights out the wood and for the feet he cut some triangular shapes from surplus laminate flooring. For the horizontal jumping poles he cut some poles out of our windbreak.

The first part of the course built and Archie as you can see loved trying it out for the first time

The next part of the course was a dog weave which was made using the rest of the windbreak poles, and as they were already shaped at the bottom we just spaced them out in the grass (good job we have no intention of going to the beach any time soon!!).

We then found our old life buoy ring that we purchased many years ago when Steve had a boat and had been stored behind the shed ever since. I thought this would make a great hoop ring obstacle. The only problem was how was it going to be fixed to something so Archie could jump through it. Problem solved – we have a swinging chair in the garden (you will see it in the videos in situ before we found a change of use for it!!). So Steve attached the life buoy ring to the frame and hey presto a brilliant hoop obstacle.

The course was now complete, 3 jumps, a weave, a hoop jump and the tunnel.

I am pleased to say that all Steve’s hardwork and creativity was worth it as Archie loves it.

Another Video with a rear view

I am trying to get Steve to make a see saw, a dog walk, the A frame and a long jump and and then we would have a complete course, but I have been told in no uncertain terms that there will be no more!!!

So although Archie is still able to go out once a day for his walk during lockdown he now has another form of exercise. Only trouble is, I find the whole agility thing hard going as I don’t do running anymore, and our garden does slope and I am afraid of slipping (well that is my excuse!!).  I need a younger model who can run as fast as Archie. So we (well I) will not be competing at Crufts!!!

After all that exercise it was then time to dismantle the course and put the swinging garden chair back Archie and Steve the course builder had a much needed rest!!  Tomorrow no doubt it will be all out again.

Dog Agility Ivybridge