How to Make Your Own Dog Obstacle Course

You love spending time with your dogs, and as fun as a dog obstacle course would be, it can seem unattainable. Luckily, you may already have the materials and equipment for a homemade course around the house. It doesn't matter if your dog has no practice or if you have no experience training. So many simple tricks are easy for you to teach on your own. Start your course with simple jumps, weave poles, and tunnels, and you'll both look like professionals in no time.

There are a few things to consider before creating a dog obstacle course. First, make sure you have enough space for each trick you set up (and extra room around it for safety). Anything you design should be easily broken down as well, so your dog doesn't get injured when practicing. Be patient with his training and you'll both have a positive experience.

Jumping Obstacles

Jumping is a great first activity to teach your dog if you're both new to obstacle training. And if you have a laundry basket and a curtain rod, you have all the tools you need to make short, beginner jumps for your buddy.

Any extra PVC pipes or cups left over from a plumbing project? These make for a perfect DIY dog obstacle course building tool. The best way to set up a jump is with movable rungs so that you can easily raise or lower the height at whichever level your dog is learning. For help on creating a jump from PVC pipes, here are some from Instructables.

Do you have a hula hoop or a poodle "noodle"? Both of these are soft and collapsible enough to use in a jumping obstacle. When first training your pup, you can simply hold the circle at the desired height while signaling your dog to jump through.

All jumping obstacles need to be collapsible. You don't want your pup to get injured if he can't make it through.

Weaving Obstacles

Do you have small orange cones from when your children played soccer? These would make a perfect weaving course for your dog obstacle course. Set the cones up the way you'd arrange them for a pickup football or soccer game.

Have you ever used poles that look like candy canes to decorate your home for the holidays? If so, perfect! Though he's obviously taller than the cones, your dog will clearly understand the weaving path with these lightweight poles.

You want your weave poles to be secure enough that they don't fall over every time your dog darts past one. Similar to the jumps, however, they should be lightweight enough for him to stay unharmed if he runs into one. Don't space them too close together or too far apart.

Start slow by letting him walk through the cones before trying to get him to run. You can either train him by walking him on a leash through each of the cones rewarding him when he completes the task, or you can hold out a treat and have him follow it through the cones. Be sure to use consistent verbal or hand commands when training so that he will associate your commands with the actions you are asking of him.