Instant Agility » Background

Teeter, A-Frame, or Dogwalk?

Allie — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:25:48 +0000

Let’s have a vote. Which would you like to see next? I think Roger has worked quite a bit on dogwalk plans on paper. There is no guarantee that what you vote for will guide the next set of instructions, but we are curious to know which has the most demand.

Share your stuff!

Allie — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 18:21:46 +0000

I thought that with everyone out there building these nifty things, you might want to share some photos, especially if you had ideas to share with the other folks using these instructions. If you want to do this, you can email the pictures to me and I will choose some (or all) to share here.

I would also LOVE to see photos of dogs using these obstacles that you built.

I will do two new pages here at the blog — one for hints and tips, and one for your dogs showing their stuff.

Please size down your picture a bit before sending it so that it does not blow up my computer.

Please include a caption for your picture, such as “I used Widget A for a jump cup” or perhaps “Mac loves his weave poles!” so that I have something to put with the photo. I won’t publish any names without permission and email addresses will not be published under any circumstances.

Send your pictures by email to agility (at) weebordercollie.com (you’ll have to copy/paste that and put the little @ symbol in there).

Happy New Year, everyone.

Allie — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 05:17:29 +0000

Roger hopes to do a dogwalk next, but it is very miserable with rain, etc. outside on the porch and in the yard where he builds stuff just now. We will be moving — soon, we hope — to a place with some kind of shop building and garage.

In the meantime, please continue to enjoy the instructions for jumps, weave poles, and pause table.

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Allie — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:23:00 +0000

Just wanted to say a Happy Holidays to everyone.

Roger has been swamped with work and has not been able to work on agility stuff for us lately. I am trying to encourage him to do a dogwalk or an a-frame next.

I think he is considering the dogwalk closely but is having trouble coming up with a design that would eliminate any gaps in the areas where the boards would meet. I have insisted that there be no gaps, because my dogs manage to find any flaw and stick their toes into it. Then we have a Sports Injury and must go to the Veterinarian for an Examination and Medication. Then, the worst part, the Injured Party must *Rest* for at least a week. Needless to say, this resting stuff does not go over well with my border collies.

This same issue with gaps will also come up with the a-frame, at the top where the boards meet. I was thinking that there could be little pieces that you set into place in these gap areas when the obstacle is set up, and then you could remove these when you go to take it down to move it or whatever. But how to secure them?? Perhaps a little T shape, and the top of the T has paint or nonskid stuff on it like the rest of the walking surface. They might be something you have to secure with a screw and bolt on the other side. If anyone has any ideas for this, please share them here. The obstacle needs to be safe, with no gaps for dog toes to get stuck. The nature of the PVC pipes and boards is such that the boards will not meet up exactly and touch each other, and that is the main problem here.

Meanwhile, I will try to bribe Roger with chocolate to get him working on more obstacles for us.