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Jump Heights and other Specifications

Dog's Height
Jump Heights
Rising Spread
Tyre
A-Frame

If you're making your own agility equipment here's a few specifications that might be useful.  They're effective from 1st January 2006.  I haven't included things like water jumps and wishing wells.  Oh come on.  Are you really going to make these for your back garden? 
If you're new to agility you'll need to know what size your dog is.  Please don't measure the waistline.  It's the height of the dog at the withers that counts.
More specifications can be found in last year's Kennel Club press release and in their rule book.

Dog's Height                                                                    Top of Page
Large dogs are those measuring over 43cm at the withers.
Medium dogs measure over 35cm and 43cm and under.
Small dogs measure 35cm and under at the withers.

The Height of the Jumps
Large dogs: Between 55cm and 65cm.
Medium dogs: Between 35cm and 45cm.
Small Dogs: Between 25cm and 35cm.

The width of the jump should be no less than 4ft.  (Jamie's practice jumps are a couple of inches smaller than this and it hasn't caused any problems.)

Rising Spread                                                                  Top of Page
This is made from a maximum of two single jumps placed together to form a double spread.  There must be no more than two elements to this obstacle. The top bar on the first hurdle must be at least 15cm to 25cm lower than the second hurdle.  In the table below I've listed some practical heights for the rising spread.  However, I've noticed that to comply with the regulations the medium and small dogs are going to need poles at heights where clubs are unlikely to put their jump cups. 

Rising Spread Dimensions

Tyre
The tyre should have a minimum aperture of 18ins.  The aperture centre from the ground is:

Large dogs: 80cm (It says 800m in the Kennel Club press release.  Errm!)
Medium dogs: 55cm
Small dogs: 49cm

A-Frame                                                                             Top of Page
Now I haven't made one of these....yet, but if you want to make your own A-frame it's one of those bits of equipment that doesn't have to be full size.  It will still be useful as a contact trainer even if it's smaller than the standard.  For those who want to have a go here's some dimensions.

The Kennel club standard is:
Two ramps, 9feet long, 3feet wide and hinged at the apex, 5ft 7ins from the ground.   The last 3ft 6ins from the bottom of each ramp should be a different colour to indicate the area with which the do should make contact.  Each ramp to have a non-slip surface, and anti-slip slats at intervals but not within 6ins of the start of the contact area.
Now, I've used my trigonometry to calculate how you could make this smaller and still keep the angle of dangle the same.  That is the steepness of each ramp will be approximately the same as the Kennel Club standard.  I've also calculated how much room the A-frame would take up lengthwise so here goes.