Dog agility equipment offers a great way to engage your furry friend in a fun and stimulating activity while actively training your pooch, too. With its series of obstacles for your pooch to climb over, under, weave around and more, agility equipment offers both a physical and mental challenge for dogs of all breeds and sizes. Offering more than just a bit of fun and exercise in the garden or park, using agility equipment requires a fair bit of training. The skills you teach your pooch during agility sessions can be used while taking your pooch out and about and are just as useful as making sure you’ve got all the right dog walking accessories while out on walkies together.
With Crufts back on our screens once more, the agility trials are one of the many events that have us hooked. It was first introduced at Crufts in 1978 and it’s a firm favourite with competitors and spectators alike. We’re in awe of those pups zooming through the courses and always a little bit guilty of looking at our dogs and thinking they could do that too. Of course, there’s no reason your hound couldn’t be a future Crufts superstar, but you will need to be dedicated to the cause and put in the hours of training to get your pup completing the courses in record time. It's not just about your pup's skills, though. For your dog to be great at agility, it requires good communication from their owner and trust in each other too.
Best dog agility equipment at a glance:
• Best dog agility equipment set: X XBEN Upgraded Dog Agility Equipment Kit – View on Amazon UK
• Best beginner dog agility training jump set: PawHut Pet Agility Training Set – View on Amazon UK
• Best dog agility seesaw: PawHut 1.8m Wooden Pet Seesaw – View on Amazon UK
Even the dogs at Crufts were beginners at some point, so getting yourself some equipment to put your hound through their paces in your garden or the local park is a good place to start. You can get tunnels and wave poles that focus on speed and agility, as well as jumps and seesaws that put your pup’s coordination and problem-solving skills to good use. While your dog is still learning, you’ll want to use plenty of training treats and words of encouragement and praise to get them interested in the course. You even find a dog whistle a good training aid to enhance the communication between you and your pooch. However, if your pup doesn’t seem interested or simply doesn’t want to do it, you should never force them to.
If your pooch has mastered sit, lay down and fetch, dog agility equipment will provide you with some more advanced activities for you to train your dog to use. With plenty of practice, lots of positive encouragement and handfuls of tasty treats, your pooch will be zooming around their agility course like the rest of the pack, and they'll be ready for Crufts in no time!
Best dog agility equipment UK
Best dog agility equipment set
X XBEN/AmazonIf you know you're committed to building your dog's skills, this X XBEN Upgraded Dog Agility Equipment Kit is the choice for you. With five different pieces, including hoops and tunnels, you'll be using this sturdy kit for a while. It's well worth the investment, in our opinion.
Customer review: "Love love love this set. The tunnel is excellent. Love by the puppy and the outdoor cat! Easy to put together. Durable and safe when he bumps one or knocks one over. Loved its sturdiness. He learned the entire course within 3-4 tries by using treats as lures. Sooooo glad we bought this set and at last value for money!!!! Thanks a lot."
Pros
- Sturdy
- Good variety of obstacles
Cons
- May not be the best choice for smaller dogs
| What's included: | Adjustable ring poles, jump poles, tunnel, weave poles, square pause box and carrying bag |
Best beginner dog agility training jump set
PawHut/AmazonA great dog agility set to kick you off if you're focusing on jumping. The PawHut Pet Agility Training Set has three pieces, so you can keep it simple and build up your dog's expertise with these classic agility tools. The height of the hoop and hurdle is adjustable, so you can gradually build up their jumping skills.
Customer review: "For a beginner starter kit, it's ideal. It's easy to set up and dismantle and has basic instructions and handy hints included. Love the carry case that comes with it, which is strong and durable and waterproof. The largest dog I've used the kit with was a 2-year-old Red Setter that although tall for his age, has lots of filling out to do and he just managed to fit over the jump (without the hoop), but a bigger/wider dog wouldn't. As a behaviourist I wanted something that wouldn't cost the earth, but would last a long time, fit in a smallish area and my clients would enjoy while learning to behave themselves better and this fits the bill perfectly."
Pros
- Great for beginners
- Adjustable heights
Cons
- Larger/heavier/wider dogs may find it a bit of a squeeze to go through the hoop
| What's Included: | An adjustable pole, hoop and hurdle, eight steel stakes, two spikes, one string and one bag |
Best dog agility seesaw
PawHut/AmazonThe PawHut 1.8m Wooden Pet Seesaw is high-quality, durable and weather-resistant, so it's likely to last a long time. With anti-slip padding and a high-traction sand grain asphalt felt covering, it provides easy and safe footing for your dog so they'll feel safe when learning to climb and go down this seesaw.
Customer review: "My two little dogs love this product. I had to train them with treats to use it. One dog Cavajack took to it straight away ran straight up to it, jumped off then ran through a hoop and jumped over a high jump set at low level. The other dog Yorkie was afraid of it at first but with treats and patience, she is mastering it now. She is not so afraid when going over it."
Pros
- Anti-slip covering for your pup's safety
- Protected with an outdoor water paint
Cons
- Some reviewers felt it wasn't so easy to assemble
| What's included: | 180L x 30W x 30H cm fir wood seesaw |
Best dog agility cones
Bramble/AmazonOne of the simplest pieces of dog agility equipment you can get your hands on, we recommend grabbing this set of 9" Multi Sport Marker Training Traffic Cones to help your dog build up their weaving technique. Weatherproof and durable, the bright colours make them easily seen.
Customer review: "Bought this product to train my dog though my Grandchildren are all having fun and putting the cones to good use for football training and obstacle training."
Pros
- Bright colours
- Durable and weatherproof
Cons
- Perhaps a little flimsy
| What's included: | A set of twelve multicoloured nine-inch agility cones |
Best dog agility tunnel
dibea/AmazonEvery dog agility training set needs a tunnel to go with it. This dibea Dog Tunnel is foldable and comes with a carry bag, so it's easy to store. All you need to do is roll it out and get ahead of your training!
Customer review: "Good quality, easy to erect if you've ever used tent pegs and know to push them in at an angle and keep them taught there's no issue. Our dog is a bit mental and even though he's a GSD he turns around inside it, jumps on it and it's all good."
Pros
- Hardly any assembly required
- Easy to store
Cons
- Some reviewers felt it could be more sturdy
| What's included: | A 200 x 40 cm tunnel and mounting pegs |
Best dog agility hurdles
Bramble/AmazonWith three adjustable levels, a durable design and easy storage, there's a lot to like about the Bramble Adjustable Height Hurdles Set. A good size for small and medium breeds, these hurdles are created in bright colours for enhanced visibility and can be used to train your pooch both indoors and outside.
Customer review: "This is a really top quality product. We have bought it for our dog’s rehabilitation following a shoulder injury and we are really pleased with everything about it. Attractive colours, sturdy construction and fits into a compact bag. The delivery was also excellent as we received it the next day. Highly recommended."
Pros
- Adjustable height
- Easy to store
Cons
- May weather over time if left out exposed to the elements
| What's included: | 12 cones and six training poles |
Best indoor dog agility equipment
Outward Hound/AmazonIf you don't have access to much outside space, the Outward Hound Kyjen 41003 Zip Zoom Indoor Dog Agility Starter Kit will allow you to train your pooch indoors. Highly rated on Amazon with over 3,000 reviews, this set encourages healthy exercise with your pooch while also boosting their I.Q.
Customer review: "After reading the reviews, thought I would take a chance. Was pleased I did. Dog loves it. Great for helping with training and fun. Yes, it is plastic but used correctly could last. I have a small dog and he is fine with it. The tunnel pops up and would easily get large dogs through it. My 23-year-old daughter was having fun crawling through it after the dog! Looking forward to the summer so it can be used in the garden."
Pros
- Can be used indoors
- Variety of equipment included
Cons
- Some reviewers thought it would be bigger
| What's included: | High jump, square tunnel, four weave poles, setup and training tips booklet, storage bag |
Best dog agility training book
Eva Bertilsson/Emelie Johnson Vegh/AmazonLast but not least, if you're a total beginner, first-time dog owner, or just looking to learn more - we recommend reading this book by Eva Bertilsson and Emelie Johnson Vegh, which will break all the tips and tricks down into easy-to-read information. Then take the theory and put it into practice!
Customer review: "An excellent book, I have done agility with my boys for almost 10yrs, just for fun and exercise not to compete, but still wish I had found this book years ago. It is easy to understand and breaks everything down into bite-sized pieces. I also teach an 'introduction to agility' course and it has helped me to think in a more structured way to design a better syllabus and lesson plans. I have recommended it as the best introduction to Agility to several people and to those wanting to work on improving their dog's confidence and their own handling skills."
Pros
- Breaks down tricks into easy-to-read information
- Tips for teaching your pooch
Cons
- Some may learn better by doing rather than reading
| What's included | One paperback book |
FAQs
At what age can a dog start agility training?
The Kennel Club recommends that for safety, agility training shouldn't start until your pup is a year old. You won't be able to compete in any competitions until your dog is at least eighteen months old, but it's good to get a start or train your dog young if you're just doing it for fun and to use up some excess energy.
Any breed can learn agility, so whatever dog breed you have, they'll be able to complete a whole course of agility training. As they say, learning never stops, so you and your dog can continue learning forever.
What dog agility equipment do I need?
Things can seem complex at first, but it doesn't have to be that hard. The most common agility equipment for dogs are things like a hoop jump, A-frame, hurdles, cones and tunnels. All of these you will recognise once you get started.
If you're not sure which to go for or what will be best for your dog, you can always pick up a dog agility kit, which will include the basic tools needed to get started with your agility training.
Here are some of the products you should be on the lookout for
• Jumps (including bar jumps, hurdles and hoops)
• Weave courses (including poles and cones)
• Tunnels
• See-saws
• A-frames
If you're still working on your dog's recall and you're more likely to practise agility training in the park, you may want to make sure your pooch is wearing a dog GPS tracker just in case they get distracted and shoot off. That way you'll know exactly where they've jetted off to and you can find them more easily.
How do you get started with dog agility?
If you'd like to take your pooch further than training with dog agility equipment in your garden or the park, there are ways you can get involved at a more professional level. Your first step will be to receive some expert training. Information direct from The Kennel Club states your dog doesn't have to be a pedigree dog to take part in expert events, but they must be registered with The Kennel Club on either the Breed Register or the Activity Register.
Here are some things you need to know about taking part in professional dog agility events and training:
• Your dog must be registered with The Kennel Club, either on the Breed Register or on the Activity Register Competitors taking part in any event licensed by The Kennel Club must familiarise themselves with The Kennel Club rules and regulations beforehand.
• Dogs can only enter agility shows once they turn 18 months of age and, for small, medium and intermediate dogs, once they have been officially measured and placed in the correct height category. Obviously, large dogs do not have to be measured.
• There are seven grades of competition from 1 to 7. Competitors and dogs that are new to agility will be able to enter classes suitable for grade 1. As you and your dog improve, you may be able to progress to the next grade. There are two ways in which a competitor can progress; the first is progression on wins, and the second is through points progression.
• Make sure you buy an agility record book, you will need this to have your dog measured and to record your competition wins and clear rounds.
• Plenty of regular practice is essential when preparing for agility competitions, but supervised training at an agility class is just as important. You can use The Kennel Club's Find a Club service to find a training club near you.
After more advice? Watch this YouTube video about getting started in agility from The Kennel Club and agility champion, Anthony Clarke.
Rosie Floyd is a Pets, Homes and Garden Product Writer for Take A Break Pets, specialising in all things dogs. She grew up always having at least one dog as part of the family and has experience in owning a variety of breeds, including Labradors, Cockapoos and Yorkshire Terriers.