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There is a bounty of benefits to reap from using professional-level dog agility equipment, techniques, and physical challenges to train your dog.
“Some people think of agility as an activity that is all about the dog racing over and through jumps and other obstacles, so they may think the greatest benefit is as an outlet for physical energy,” expert trainer Andrea Arden told The Spruce Pets. “This is certainly one of the benefits. But in fact, when done properly, one of the best benefits of agility is relationship-building between a dog and their person.”
For dogs and humans in training, from beginner to advanced, we have curated a selection of equipment and reference tools to suit a variety of needs and objectives.
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What We Like
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Comprehensive competition set
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Appropriate for all training levels
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Indoor/outdoor use
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Collapsible and transportable
For an exceptionally designed, versatile, and affordable training kit that the professionals recommend, the Better Sporting Dogs Deluxe Agility set is the best option for most dog owners.
Most agility tests include between 15 and 20 obstacles, but a 7-piece kit helps owners create a great practice course for their dog, no matter their experience level. This kit is customizable to challenge your dog in a variety of ways, incorporating two bar jumps, a tire jump, six fixed-base weave poles, two tunnels, and a pause box.
The bar jumps are 26 inches wide and adjustable, while the tire jump has a generous 24-inch diameter. The tunnels are 10 feet long and include sandbags for maximum sturdiness.
The equipment is well-made and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use throughout the year. It’s not prohibitively heavy either, which means it’s not hard to drag back and forth from the garage. If you are varying your training location between your home and elsewhere, you can easily transport the entire set with its accompanying carrying case; all items are easily collapsible.
The adjustable capabilities of the items in the 7-piece set mean that this kit can adapt to you and your dog’s changing skill level. Consumers and professionals agree that it is a fit for beginning to advanced dogs and trainers. The customizability of the set also means that it’s the rare kit that is both reasonably budget-friendly and suitable for dogs of most sizes and breeds, except for the very largest.
Size: 120 x 26 x 24 inches | Materials: Vinyl, PVC, plastic | Colors: White, black, blue
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This affordable kit is chock full of crucial obstacles and fun toys, and accessories designed to build your pup’s mental and physical aptitude and awareness. It is a 28-piece set including this cornucopia of items: a 58.5-inch-long tunnel, 2 vertical poles, 8 slalom poles, an adjustable hurdle, and a pause box. Also included are stakes and carrying bags for securing your equipment, plus a few helpful training accessories—string, a rope toy, and a whistle.
The kit is a great pick if you’re looking for training equipment to take to the park with your dog. Its high-end polyester makes it easy to transport around without the material ripping. Though it’s marketed for both dogs, starting with agility exercises and competition-level pups, it is likely best for beginners, however, since its items are not up to American Kennel Club size and safety standards.
Size: 37.2 x 7.1 x 7 inches (package) | Materials: Polyester | Colors: Blue, orange
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What We Like
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Fully collapsible
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Adjustable jumps
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Safe design
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For all size dogs
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Includes carry bag
Beverly Mapes from Dog Agility Trials recommends adjustable jump sets as the first agility equipment items you should invest in for your dog. This product from PawHut is a top-of-the-line, fully adjustable, and safe set of bar jumps that is suitable for dogs of a range of skill levels. With their movable cups, the jumps can be set anywhere between 6 and 33.5 inches, with generous proportions to accommodate pups of all sizes (38.5 inches long, 26.5 inches wide, and 36.5 inches high).
The design is outfitted to prevent the jump from toppling; if the dog doesn’t clear the jump, the bar will fall, rather than the whole structure. The set allows for a fairly rigorous workout, including six jumps; with its customizability, it can emulate either an American-Kennel-Club-level agility trial or a modest workout.
While not suitable for indoor use, it is easily movable—via a carrying bag—to different outdoor locations. Just be sure you set your course up on flat ground. Small but important note: the cherry on top of the set is a whistle, a beneficial accessory when it comes to dog training.
Size: 36.5 x 26.5 x 38.5 inches | Materials: Polyester, ABS plastic | Colors: Orange, white
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Tunnels are usually considered to be the best agility exercise for dogs to start out with. This HDP tunnel is highly affordable—currently less than $40 on Amazon—but is not just a toy for beginners. It meets AKC’s competition standards, with its 24-inch opening and generous length. Thanks to the set of steel rings included in the kit, the tunnel can expand to 18 feet in length, longer than many popular tunnels in the same price range.
The tunnel is also incredibly durable and safe. The tough nylon fabric is resistant to tearing and waterproof; thanks to a convenient carry bag, it is easy to transport the tunnel around without wear and tear. The kit includes steel grommets to keep the tunnel safely affixed to the ground to prevent the tunnel from collapsing on your dog or ripping.
All of these points point to the reason that the tunnel is best used outside. If you’re looking for a more modest item to use in your basement or garage, this product won’t be a good fit for you; for most dog owners, though, it’s the best bang for your buck you’ll find among affordable open tunnel options.
Size: 216 x 24 x 24 inches | Materials: Alloy steel frame, dacron cover | Colors: Blue
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Along with open tunnels, weave poles are one of the most popular starting exercises for dogs and owners who are experimenting with agility training. Cool Runners makes a popular 6-pole kit that is suitable for dogs starting with agility training and advanced pups since it adheres to American Kennel Club guidelines for trials and competitions (in this case, in regards to spacing).
The poles can be customized to form more or less complex courses—straight, offset, or 2×2—thanks to their adjustable PVC bases. The kit is also more easily portable and lightweight than the majority of modestly priced pole sets on the market. They are also safe for pups, with no metal edges, allowing for a margin of error as they build their skills. Grass stakes make the poles easy to fully secure wherever you choose to set up your course.
Size: 36.5 x 6 x 7 inches | Materials: Plastic | Colors: White, blue
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Another high-caliber product endorsed by the American Kennel Club (AKC), this tire jump is built sturdily enough to be worth the $100-plus investment for any dog owner who is serious about agility training. The product can be a go-to training jump for pups throughout their agility education and can serve all sizes of dogs, with a height adjustable from 4 to 26 inches and a 24-inch diameter—the ideal measurements for agility training and trials, according to AKC guidelines.
The frame for Weave Poles’ product is extremely sturdy, constructed from furniture-grade PVC, and uses a ground bar with a wide base to create maximum stability for the jump. But despite its heavy-duty design, it’s easy to assemble and reassemble. This allows it to travel easily, making it perfect for owners who like to train their dogs in different locations or those who break it down and store it in between sessions.
Size: 5 x 4 feet (jump) | Materials: Polyester | Colors: Not applicable
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What We Like
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No assembly
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Indoor/outdoor use
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Great for beginners
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Unfolds easily
Better Sporting Dog’s Agility A-Frame is a reliable agility tool for beginners and experienced dogs alike. The wooden piece of equipment arrives fully assembled and no tools are required for setup. The wooden panels are textured on top and painted bright yellow and blue to help your dog identify where they should land.
The A-frame is suitable for indoor or outdoor use and can support dogs weighing up to 100 pounds. It is manufactured by Better Sporting Dogs in the United States and comes with an agility trainer book with helpful tips and exercises to try.
Size: 42 x 25 x 42 inches | Materials: Wood | Colors: Yellow, blue
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For backyard exercise, Better Sporting Dog’s Practice See-Saw Agility Trainer is a versatile piece of equipment that is easy to set up. This see-saw is not professional grade, but it’s portable and folds up for transport, so it is a very practical piece to have for practice and a workout.
The see-saw is designed to support small and medium-sized dogs weighing up to 60 pounds. No tools are required for assembly, but once it’s unfolded, it should be tethered to a secure spot in the grass. The color-coded plank is yellow and blue to help your dog distinguish target zones and learn where to stand to activate the see-saw, and is lightly textured to prevent slippage. You can also use it as a mini A-frame trainer
Size: 72 x 12 x 12 inches | Materials: Wood, metal | Colors: Yellow, blue
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What We Don’t Like
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Short crossbar
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Low for large dogs
With adjustable hurdle height and variable difficulty settings, the Trixie Dog Agility Hurdle Cone Set is designed for beginners and advanced jumpers. The hurdle height can be set at 2.5, 5.5, 8.5, or 13.5 inches off the ground, which is good for small and medium dogs, though probably too low for large dogs.
The set, which consists of six durable plastic cones and three sturdy poles, weighs a mere 4 pounds so it’s easy to move anywhere and use indoors or outdoors—it comes with a convenient carrying case. However, because it is lightweight, it can be knocked over more easily. Still, for dogs with arthritis and other mobility issues, this can serve as a gentle form of physical therapy.
Size: 10.15 x 10.5 x 18.5 inches | Materials: Plastic | Colors: Orange, yellow
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If you’re looking for a basic agility kit so you can see where your dog might excel, this 60-piece obstacle course can help. It’s recommended for dogs of any age and size. Setting it up is a breeze, and it’s great for indoor/outdoor use.
This beginner-friendly agility set includes a tear-resistant tunnel (made from 190T polyester), weave poles, an adjustable agility hurdle, jump rings, a square pause box (also known as a ribbon box), a whistle, tennis ball toys, a treat pouch, and carrying cases. Your dog is bound to take to one or more pieces of equipment.
If your dog is advanced in agility, aggressive, heavy, or large, you may find the durability of this kit a little lacking. But if you’re working with a small to medium dog and you’re just starting agility training, this kit will be the perfect starter obstacle course.
Size: 57.09 x 27.56 x 36.22 inches | Materials: Plastic, polyester, | Colors: Orange, yellow, black, blue
Final Verdict
We chose the Better Sporting Dogs Deluxe Agility Equipment Set because of its excellent value for a comprehensive training kit. The set will serve both beginner and more advanced dogs well, thanks to its customizable features, and it’s safe for larger dogs as well as small ones.
It is the rare reasonably priced kit that comes recommended by professionals. As Mapes explains, it is worth shelling out slightly more money to make sure your training course at home is adjustable and safe. The Better Sporting kit is not prohibitively expensive but feels like you’re making a serious investment in your dog’s well-being and athletic future.
What To Look For
Materials
During agility exercise, dogs will often throw their full weight on different pieces of equipment and come at them at rapid speeds. Using outdoor agility course products without weight to keep them grounded is a major hazard to any dog’s safety, so make sure the equipment you invest in includes steel stakes and adequate heavy bases. Mapes advises consumers to make sure their equipment, especially a tunnel, is sandbagged down as well as affixed with stakes.
“This is a safety concern,” she explains. “If your dog is moving really fast through a tunnel, it can spin around and hit the stakes you’ve got it staked down in.”
With equipment like seesaws or A-Frames—the most expensive items on the market, Mapes warns—it is important to be sure that the product has adequate traction on any surfaces your pup might be standing on.
Official Rules
Dog agility training can be a hobby, but it is also a sport. Like any other sport, it has rules and regulations. If you’re planning on running trials or entering competitions with your pup, you will want to be aware of the American Kennel Club’s Regulations for Agility Trials and Agility Course Test document. The AKC encourages you and your pup to begin with a test, and then, if you’re interested, to move on to one of three different agility trials or competitions.
Reading over the rules and construction of these events can give you an idea of what equipment might be most helpful to have on hand at home to prepare. It also gives you the tunnel and jump diameters, among other specs, that are used on the courses.
Training
When choosing the spread of equipment you want to purchase for your dog’s training, one of the first things to consider is: what are your goals for your pup? Is it just a bit of exercise, or are you hoping to get them prepared for agility tests and competitions?
Short tunnels are considered to be a great starter item for dogs beginning training, and from there, it’s easy to build items one by one. It is also generally safer to use more beginner and cost-effective equipment with smaller dogs who are less likely to get hurt.
If you know you’re planning to do elaborate exercise regimens with your pup, it may be prudent and more cost-effective to shell out for an agility set—five pieces or more—or weave poles and jumps that are AKC regulation size. Mapes believes it can definitely be worth the investment to buy more top-shelf stuff when you and your pup move to more rigorous exercises, though she specifies there is good quality training equipment on the market.
“Like with human athletes, you might have less good quality equipment at first. But if they are really becoming good athletes, you want the better stuff because they are gonna get hurt on that cheaper stuff.”
FAQ
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How do you assemble dog agility equipment?
Most of the dog agility equipment on the market is designed to be easy to assemble and collapse, even when the items are fairly large and weighty. You can follow the instructions on the packaging, and transport it or store it in the carry cases usually included with the products.
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What equipment do you need for dog agility training?
As both Arden and Maps specify, the essentials for basic dog agility training are an open tunnel, a couple of types of jumps, and weave poles. Many dog owners starting with dog agility buy training versions of these (that is, not up to AKC specifications) or even build their own out of PVC pipes and other materials. As training and interest progress, tire jumps, dog walks, A-frames, and seesaws can be added to your home collection, but this will require a much bigger investment.
Why Trust the Spruce Pets?
This article was written by Andrew Whalen, senior editor for The Spruce Pets. Andrew has tested hundreds of pet products.
For this article, we spoke with Andrea Arden and Beverly Mapes from Dog Agility Trials about what to look for when selecting dog agility equipment. We also paid close attention to American Kennel Club guidelines and trial information. This product list comes from a combination of recommendations from professionals, owners of competition-grade dogs (like Mapes), and customer testimonials.
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