Part 1

Hello, fellow dog sports enthusiast! I hope you and your training partner are fairing well during this time of social distancing. Don’t let the boredom of interrupted training routines or cancelled classes derail your handler/dog successes.

As a responsible trainer, I too have postponed my classes. In efforts to keep my students on track, I will be sharing some training content with everybody. I am dedicating my next few blogs to aid with training at home. Starting with jump foundations. 

Now is also the perfect time to add some new tricks to your dogs resume. You can see my previous blog about the importance of trick training here. I am an AKC Evaluator as well as a Certified Trick Instructor (Do More With Your Dog). AKC has recently approved the submission of video evaluations for trick titles. I’ll be happy to evaluate your trick submission videos at no charge if a trick title is on your Covid-19 agenda.  Not sure where to start, join my facebook trick group.

So, let’s talk about building those agility jumps. Even if you don’t train in agility, you can still create fun training scenarios with some jumps in the back yard (small space approved). As a canine fitness trainer please be aware that young dogs (less than 18 months) should not jump at height (keep the bar at the first cup height or simply place the bar on the ground) because their growth plates need to be closed before you can safely jump your dog. Jump “bumps” are a useful training tool, don’t be so eager to “raise the bar” on your dogs jump game. Please subscribe to my blog, I will post exercises in a few days that will scratch your “newly built jumps” itch!

A special thanks to my lovely husband for building me jumps over the years and making some detailed instructions to share with you. Please email us with questions or if you run into any trouble.

Supplies:

(12) 1″ PVC Caps Click here to buy
(2) 10ft stick of 1″ Schedule 40 PVC or (5) 5ft sticks of 1″
(2) 1″ PVC 5 way furniture fittings Click here to buy
(1) set of agility jump cups (usually come with self tapping screws) Click here to buy
Tools:
• Pipe cutter or Hacksaw Click here to buy
• Drill
• Phillips head driver
• Small drill bit (7/64 or smaller)
• Yard stick or measuring tape
• Permanent marker
• Tape (Masking or Painter’s is best)
1. Measure, mark, and cut (2) 36″ pieces of PVC pipe
2. Measure, mark, and cut (8) 12″ pieces of PVC pipe
3. Measure, mark, and cut (1) 48″ piece of PVC pipe
4. Insert (1) cap into an end of all 36″ and 12″ pieces of PVC Pipe
5. Insert (1) cap into each end of the 48″ piece of PVC pipe
6. Insert the uncapped end of the 12″ pieces into the base of the jump (see attached photos)
7. Insert the 36″ pieces into the tops of the jump bases
8. Stand both jump bases upright
9. From the ground, measure up 28″ and make a mark (see attached photo)
10. Clip jump cup strip to PVC
11. Align top of jump cup strip to 28″ marking
12. Tape jump cup to PVC (this will help keep jump cup strip in place while drilling)
13. Use the drill to attach jump cup strips with supplied screws (if screws are not self tapping, use drill bit to create a pilot hole)
Congratulations! You now have a professional set of agility jumps! Be sure to share pictures with me on Facebook I would love to see your handy work.
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