Weaves - age?

 I was told DO NOT weave before one year. NIkon should be fine.

 Ann

At the dog daycare where I volunteer, their trainer said she wont go "real" weaves with a dog until they are at least a year old, before that she uses only 2 poles or has the poles spaced further apart.

 Have to ask, do I need to purchase this DVD? Is it really worth it?

griffinej5

 Have to ask, do I need to purchase this DVD? Is it really worth it?

I am the absolute last person to be interested in dog training gimmicks, I can't stand training from books and DVDs, and I think agility trainers have a knack for over-complicating a lot of things....but I watch the first half hour over my lunch break today and was 100% sold.  The "green" dog she works in the DVD weaved 4 poles lined up and with an entry I would not attempt with my titled dog after just five days!  OK granted it's Susan Garrett and the dog is a crazy Border Collie (and I think based on the number of sessions she mentions, she is actually working 2-3 times a day), but still, it was cool.  In fact I just came in from doing Nikon's first session.

 Good to know. Once I get some money, I'll need to get it. I have crate games around somewhere and liked that one, so I bet I would like this.

I was really lucky that my friend had it so I'm borrowing her DVD.  Now I need a new set of weave bases though.  Right now I can start with two poles doing something make-shift with the ones I have but I'll be saving my $$$.  I guess the nice thing is that the 2x2 bases can still be tilted to create channels or lined up for straight competition weaves.

 Yes, the bases can be moved in any direction you wish.  Clean Run sells the cheapest set (with the cheapest shipping), at least to my house.

I am also sold on the DVD and use it in teaching weaves to my students.  My dogs can find their entries now and that is the beauty of this method. It teaches dogs to find the entry and to hunt it down, as opposed to teaching a dog to run fast past poles and then later trying to find the entry.

Great method, imo.

ETA: the DVD has a pdf file on it if you put it in a computer, that you can print and take training with you.

And yes, no need to start weaves until at least one year of age.  Plenty of other stuff to work on until then.

 I saw some PVC 2x2s on Ebay the other day. Do you think those would work ok?Anyone know of directions to make them?

 PVC would work fine but you will need to buy specialty pieces for the connectors of the poles.  The thing about buying a set made with steel bases is that they are heavier and harder for the dog to move.  PVC, you will *have* to stake them down in some fashion or tape them to the floor if inside.  But they would certainly do just fine to get started!

As for directions... 

For 21" wide poles
For each 2 pole set, you will need 2 4-way connectors. 2 poles that are at least 36" long (uprights).  1 pole that is 21" long (center pole). 2 poles that are 10.5" long (center pole cut in half).  And 2 more poles that are 10" long (feet).

Put a 4 way on each end of the 21" pole, with them rotated opposite each other. The two 10.5" long poles go on the other sides of the 4 way in a straight line with the 21" pole.  Now place the 2 10" poles into the slots opposing each other, so they stick out to the sides from the straight line but on different sides.  Your two 36" poles now go into the 4 ways sticking straight up in the air.

For 24" wide poles
For each 2 pole set, you will need 2 4-way connectors. 2 poles that are at least 36" long.  1 pole that is 24" long. 2 poles that are 12" long.  And 2 more poles that are 10" long.

Put a 4 way on each end of the 24" pole, with them rotated opposite each other. The two 12" long poles go on the other sides of the 4 way in a straight line with the 24" pole.  Now place the 2 10" poles into the 4 way opposing each other, so they stick out to the sides from the straight line but on different sides.  Your two 36" poles now go into the 4 ways sticking straight up in the air.

Doing the sets in the above fashion will allow you to butt one set up against another to create a 4 pole or 6 pole set, depending on how many "sets" you  make.  You can use wire from the gardening department of a Lowe's to stake them into the ground.  Place the wire, bent into a U, over the "feet" of the sets to hold them in place.

griffinej5

 I saw some PVC 2x2s on Ebay the other day. Do you think those would work ok?Anyone know of directions to make them?

That is what my channels are (with the bottom bases on the outside so the dog is never stepping on poles on the ground).

But for 2x2 you need to have bases that have just 2 weaves and can easily be set at various angles.

There's a guy making them locally and will make me 6 bases (the metal kind with the legs and tails) for $160 and I can use the PVC poles I already have.  If anyone knows of a better price, I'm interested!

 Clean Run sells a set of 6 2x2 poles/bases for $130 for 22" and $142 for 24".  Shipping to my house in Indiana was only about $20.  They came with poles already taped and powder coated steel base.

tashakota

 Clean Run sells a set of 6 2x2 poles/bases for $130 for 22" and $142 for 24".  Shipping to my house in Indiana was only about $20.  They came with poles already taped and powder coated steel base.

The $160 was for a full set of 12.  I guess I only need 6 in the 2x2 style but I still need a full set somehow since my current channel ones won't work being combined.

Liesje

tashakota

 Clean Run sells a set of 6 2x2 poles/bases for $130 for 22" and $142 for 24".  Shipping to my house in Indiana was only about $20.  They came with poles already taped and powder coated steel base.

 

The $160 was for a full set of 12.  I guess I only need 6 in the 2x2 style but I still need a full set somehow since my current channel ones won't work being combined.

That's a darn good price then!  Are the bases steel, aluminum, what?  Also, where is he located. :D