8 Ideas for an Agility Course for Dogs

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Best Overall Agility Course for Dogs

We chose the Better Sporting Dogs Seven-Piece Deluxe Dog Agility Equipment Set because it’s got just about everything you need.

The open tunnel features weighted bags to hold it steady for safety. The jumps can be easily height-adjusted and customized for your dog. And because each piece of equipment comes with a fixed base, they’re sturdy and suitable for indoor or outdoor use. It’s also lightweight, easy to set up and appropriate for all ability levels.

Beginners can learn the basics before moving on to more advanced equipment, while seasoned pros can perfect basic skills to shave seconds off their lap times.

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Best for Puppies and Seniors

Puppies shouldn’t do regular agility. The jumps and tight turns are bad for their developing joints and can lead to life-long problems. And seniors often struggle with these movements, too.

That’s where Hoopers Hoop comes in. It’s a fun way to work on basic communication and foundational agility skills, but in a low-impact way.

Stable and affordable, this product makes up the foundation of the Hoopers’ courses. You start with hoops, then eventually work your way up to going around barrels and through short tunnels.

This particular model makes our list because it meets the North America Dog Agility Council (NADAC) specifications. It’s also easy to disassemble for transport and suitable indoors or out.

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Best Budget-Friendly Agility Equipment

The Cheering Pet 28-Piece Dog Agility Set offers a good balance of obstacles, quality, usability and cost. Is it competition-grade? No. But if you’re just looking for some fun backyard bonding with your dog, or you want to have a go at agility before you invest in classes or high-end equipment, this kit is perfect.

With this lightweight backyard setup, you can practice weave poles, jumps and the tunnel, all core foundational obstacles you’ll need to advance in dog agility. You can also use the weave poles to teach other skills, like tight turns and figure-eights.

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Best Competition-Quality Kit

For those who want to up their agility game without paying a lot, Agility-in-a-Bag is a smart choice. It’s got lots of floor-level obstacles, including fixed weaves, adjustable bar and tire jumps, a pause box and a choice of tunnels — three feet long with an eight-foot chute, or a nine-foot open style.

It’s great for competition-level basics. And as you advance, you can add separate see-saw, A-frame and dog walk obstacles. If you’re working on a budget, you’re much better off with a reasonably-priced indoor-outdoor kit for the basics, then spending more on obstacles like the dog walk that require higher safety and solidity.

This kit is a good starting point for all but the largest breeds.

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Best Tire Jump

At around $365, the Affordable Agility Breakaway Tire isn’t the cheapest, but we like its increased safety and superior build. It can stand up to regular height adjustments, so it’s good for those with multiple dogs of different sizes.

It comes with a balanced, sturdy base. The tire features dense foam that’s hard wearing but semi-soft, so it won’t hurt your dog if they catch feet, head or body on the way through.

We also like it because it snaps open on the bottom so your dog has an easy release if they miss the jump. And if they fall and the tire breaks away from the frame (as it’s supposed to), it’s soft enough to flex and conform to your dog’s body to minimize the risk of injury.

We love that it puts safety first and fits to any tire frame.

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Best Open Tunnel

The Better Sporting Dogs 10-ft Agility Tunnel comes with two sets of sandbags to hold it in place, giving it more stability while preventing your dog from slipping as the tunnel moves.

Suitable indoors and out, it’s collapsible and easy to transport. The 10-foot-long tunnel can be used straight or with a single or double curve without forcing your dog to move awkwardly and risk injury. It’s also wide enough for most breeds.

If you’ve got a basic set of jumps and weaves and want to add an extra challenge to your agility setup, try this tunnel. It’s practical, safe and suitable for competition-level training.

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For Beginners

The Outward Hound Zip and Zoom is an affordable indoor starter agility kit. It’s definitely not competition-grade, but it’s fine for trying out agility and see if you and your dog want to get serious with it.

The square tunnel won’t roll around, and a set of weave poles and an adjustable jump with wide bases to keeps everything upright. The jump is also easy to break down, and you can use the components as extra weave poles.

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Best DIY Agility Setup

If you’re serious about building your own agility course, take a look at the NADAC equipment specifications. They’ve used the same specs since 2013, so you can trust these requirements don’t change often.

If you only possess basic DIY skills, stick with things like adjustable jumps where the bar can easily fall off if your dog hits it. Weave poles are also easy to create. But only experienced DIYers should tackle things like the A-frame or dog walk, because these must be safe, sturdy and appropriately sized.

Why? If a piece of equipment moves unexpectedly or makes even the slightest weird noise, your dog will be put off, and agility loses its fun. And if you get the specs wrong or it isn’t sturdy enough, your dog can be seriously hurt. So please, exercise caution.

For something different yet doable, try a buried tunnel. While not conventional, you can put a rigid open tunnel in your yard, then cover it with dirt and plant it up with grass, herbs and flowers as a landscape feature. It’s a great way to add agility equipment and enrich your dog’s environment while enhancing the beauty of your outdoor space.