Improve Your Canine’s Agility With the Best Weave Pole

Although purchasing a set of weave poles is straightforward, you should do your homework to find the finest pole set for your dog’s training. If you purchase the wrong type of weave poles, your pooch’s training might be undermined by a flimsy pair of poles that will keep falling over. Such poles will be useless for you and your pooch. To avoid this, we recommend doing some research and purchasing a reliable set of weave poles in the first place. To help, we’ve answered some common questions that dog parents have when getting ready to purchase their first set of weave poles. Let’s take a look!

What to Look for in Weave Poles

Outdoor vs. indoor training

Although most people prefer doing agility training outdoors, you might need an indoor setup if you live in a cold climate where your backyard is often covered with snow. Outdoor pole sets often have spikes to place the poles in the ground for better stability. What’s more, the frame should be made of durable material to withstand weather conditions like wind and rain. An indoor weave pole set should come with a platform where you can place the poles.

Pole length

Ideally, you want the poles to stand up straight without wobbling or falling on top of your furry friend. The pole size and length depends on the size of your dog. If you own a large dog, you’ll need taller poles to ensure that your canine will not be able to knock them over during the training. Medium or small dogs can use smaller-sized poles.

Portability

Some dog parents prefer to take their pooches to the nearby park for training. Also, those who don’t have enough space in their yard might also find it difficult to train their dogs in the house. If you intend to take your dog elsewhere to train, buy a weave pole set that is compact and easy to carry. For the most portability, choose a set that comes with a high-quality carrying case that can withstand the pressure and weight of the poles while traveling.

Accessories

Some weave pole sets come with other training accessories to give you the ultimate training experience. Such sets usually cost more, but the price you pay justifies the versatility and range of accessories that you get. We recommend purchasing the set that comes with at least a ring jump and an agility tunnel.

Types of Weave Poles

PVC, plastic, and aluminum are the most common materials used to make weave poles. Although PVC and plastic are the least expensive materials, they are not used in professional contests. However, these materials can suffice for at-home training. Below, we break down the difference between plastic and aluminum weave poles.

PVC and plastic weave poles

PVC and plastic aren’t as strong or heavy as aluminum, which is their primary drawback. As a result, they’re not only lighter to carry, but they’re also more prone to being knocked over or damaged by your dog during training. Because these poles are usually quite affordable, it’s not too expensive to replace them.

Aluminum weave poles

High-end aluminum poles tend to be more lightweight, although collapsibility is less common than it is with PVC poles. Their rigidity means that they can stand up straight even if they are tall, and a clumsy dog won’t be able to knock them down.

For those who plan to compete in agility, aluminum poles are a requirement. If you’re just starting off, there’s no use in investing a lot of money in these types of poles. Keep in mind that even the most elite dog trainers still use inexpensive materials for training.

How to Train Your Dog Indoors

It will be tough to teach your dog to use weave poles inside unless you have a little dog. Agility weave poles have a sharp pointed end on one side in order to hold them upright in a large area. Your living room floor isn’t likely to be the best place to drive in one of these spikes.

You can still train your dog to weave poles indoors if you absolutely have to. To avoid damaging your floor, some poles come with suction cups, which grip marble, tile, or other hard surfaces. Keep in mind that these suctions won’t work on the carpet.

Another approach is to come up with your own solution. If you opt to customize your own training equipment, you won’t need to purchase weave poles because you can make them out of supplies from your local hardware store.

What Is the Recommended Age for Agility Training?

Weave poles should only be used in competitive situations when a dog is 15 months old or more. Because of the pressure on their growing joints caused by the constant bending and flexing of their spines, their body should be able to endure the pressure when navigating the poles. Most recommend waiting to teach your dog agility until they’re physically mature. Because weave poles are tough for dogs to learn, you should expose them to them as early as possible to give them a kickstart.

As a general rule, you shouldn’t set up weave poles in a straight line while working with pups or elderly dogs. The best way to avoid stressing their backs is to place the weave poles in an offset position.