Contact Areas
Obstacles that have contact areas (such as teeter totter, dog walk – short and tall, and A-Frame) should have tape, painted line, or painted ends to mark the designated contact area which at least one dog foot must touch. A variety of methods may be used if the contact areas are clearly marked.
Low/Short Dog Walk
An 8 foot or 12 foot long, 12-inch-wide plank, is used for Levels 1, 2, and 3. It should have contact zones painted 42 inches from end and be placed on cement blocks or something similar to make a safe and secure obstacle. The surface of the dog walk should be roughened to provide traction but should not be hazardous to the dog’s feet.
High/Tall Dog Walk
The high dog walk (Level 4 and 5) is 36 inches high, and all three boards are the same length. Boards are either 8 feet or 12 feet with 12 feet preferred. All boards should be 12 inches wide. The cross plank should be elevated to no more than 36 inches above the ground by two rigid supports on each end of the plank, to which the cross plank and ramp planks shall be securely fastened. Contact zones should be painted 42 inches up the ramp planks. The surface should be roughened to provide traction but should not be hazardous to the dog’s feet. Slats may be used on the ramps (angled boards) for high walks only.
A-Frame
The A-frame should be no more than 36 inches high with two 6–8-foot boards that are 3 to 4 foot wide. It should have adjustable chains that will allow it to be set at lower height for dogs learning the obstacle and for practice. If using 6-foot boards, they should have 36-inch contacts and if 8 ft. boards, 42-inch contacts.
Dogs do not need to touch contact area on the up contact but do need to touch contact area on downside. A-Frame can have slats and sand (both).
Teeter/Seesaw
Teeters should have these dimensions for consistent angle:
- 12 ft. board that is 12-inches wide with a 24-inch height at the center and 42-inch contact areas on each end
- 10 ft. board that is 12-inches wide with a 20-inch height at the center and 42-inch contact areas on each end
- 8 ft. board that is 12-inches wide with a 16-inch height at the center and 36-inch contact areas on each end
Pause Box/Pause Table
Pause box/table should be four-foot square and can either be laid flat on the ground (pause box) or with legs between 4 inches to 6 inches high (pause table). The materials used to make the pause box/table can vary to include: 2x4 lumber, PVC pipes, rope tied around stakes or other material as long as it fits the dimensions. The dog must step or jump into the box and to a sit stay or down stay as the judge counts off 5 seconds aloud. A pause box does not need a solid bottom, it may be constructed like a frame and set flat on the ground. Either pause box or pause tables may be used and may be switched for other levels of competition according to equipment available for host site. In Levels 1 and 2, the dog should sit on/in the pause box. For Levels 3, 4, and 5 the judge designates if exhibitor should have dog sit or down. Must stay in position for 5 seconds (counted by judges as 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and go). If a dog leaves the tables or box before the count of 5 is completed, they must get back into position and the count starts over. No points are lost if a dog breaks, the count of 5 restarts. If a dog leaves the box/table, it is a 5-point deduction and the count of 5 restarts. If a dog over runs the box/table, it is a 5-point deduction and the count of 5 restarts.
Open Tunnel
An open tunnel should be 10 to 20 feet long with a 24-inch diameter opening and should be fully enclosed except for openings on each end. Sandbag or stake down the tunnel so that it is secure and will not move. A variety of items may be used (milk jugs with water, and bungee cords, etc.) to hold the tunnel in place while dogs go through.
Weave Poles
Each pole for weaving is 1 to 1 ¼ inches in diameter and 20 – 48 inches high, set in the ground using either stakes or electric fence posts, or with a base no more than 1 inch high and 4 inches wide. The poles are set 20 - 24 inches apart. Six weave poles are used in the lower levels, but for Level 5 a set of 12 may be used.
Bar Jumps
Bar jumps consist of bars that are supported by bar supports that are mounted to uprights. Uprights must be displaceable. Jump wings attached to the uprights, either temporary or permanent, are permitted. The supports must be positioned so that the tops of the bars can be set within ¼ inch of the jump heights (6, 12, and 16 inches). Jump heights must be designated on the uprights by number or color coded. An additional position for a bar placed 2 to 6 inches above the ground is also required. Unless a jump is specified as a One Bar Jump by the judge, all jumps shall have at least two bars. Bars should be no less than 48 inches and no more than 62 inches in length. Jumps should be constructed to not topple easily when bumped by the dog while running.
Panel Jump
The Panel Jump uses cross-boards to give the illusion of a solid wall from the jump height to the ground. Specifications for the boards supports and uprights are the same as for the Bar Jump. The cross-boards are 4 to 5 feet long, 3 to 4 inches wide, and no thicker than 1 inch. The top board for all jump height classes shall be a maximum of 4 inches high. Panels are to be supported 1 ¼ to 1 ¾ inches below the top of the board to be easily displaceable.
Double Bar Jump
The Double Bar Jump consists of two parallel bars, 5 feet in length, positioned at the jump heights specified for the Bar Jump. It may be built as a special jump or assembled from two Bar Jumps. Solid sides that do not allow viewing of all bars from both sides of the obstacle are not permitted. The distance between the centers of the bars is one-half the jump height (within a ½ inch tolerance). In addition, two bottom bars, 5 feet in length, must be placed one under each horizontal bar and crossed to the ground crating an “X”. All other specifications are the same as for the Bar Jump.
Triple Bar Jump
The Triple Bar Jump consists of a series of three ascending bars 5 feet in length. The horizontal distance between adjacent bars is one-half the jump height, while the vertical distance is one-quarter the jump height.
Broad Jump
Jumps should be low and flat to the ground. The Broad Jump is composed of up to four 8-inch-wide jump sections. The sections are constructed from a top piece and two side pieces. The length of the sections is to be between 4 and 5 feet long, and they may be of different lengths. The sections are of varying height and shall be arranged in ascending order. Each section of a Broad Jump is at least ½ inch higher than the previous one, and the height of the front edge of a section is at least ½ inch lower than the back edge. No portion of any section may be lower than 3 ½ inches or higher than 8 ½ inches. The length of the jump is twice the jump height of the division.
Tire Jump
The tire jump shall be a frame that holds a hula hoop, tire, clothes dryer hose, etc. and is adjustable to 6 inches, 12 inches and 16 inches in height. The Tire Jump consists of a tire (or circular object that resembles a tire) suspended from a rectangular frame. The tire is constructed of two (2) 180-degree segments that are connected at the top to allow for independent movement of each segment. The tire should give or come apart with approximately 16-20 pounds of pressure to prevent injury to the dog. Secure the tire to the frame with the provided strap or elastic band. Leave the straps loose enough to not apply any additional pressure on the tire. When the tire is broken open it may stay open, or it may automatically close.
The inner diameter of the tire is 24 inches plus or minus an inch. The tire must be connected to the frame at 3 points. The frame must be tall enough to accommodate the tire at the different jump heights, as specified for the Bar Jump. The uprights of the frame shall be secured to the base and the base must be weighted or secured properly to the running surface. The jump height is measured from the ground to the bottom of the tire opening. The tire shall not be displaceable off the frame.