Dog agility set, I mean, kids high jump set, I mean pvc pipes.

December 14, 2021 8:23 AM

Help me find or make this in the US

I have this: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Boje-Sport-Jumping-training-dribbling/dp/B00XLCTC8K
Here is something similar: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Hurdle-Set-Größe-Jako-NS/dp/B004RD136Q

I think it is made for dog agility, but my son uses the first one for high jumps inside the house. It is all cheap, light plastic. Notice that this is German amazon.

I want to find something similar for our upcoming trip to the US, since we will be stuck at home a lot, distancing, etc. I want to order it from a US store. All the dog stuff I have found is too small (the bar should get up to 100 cm high at least).

I thought of bringing the round dome stands as well as the black things that hold the bar, and getting some poles/rods there. How do I find a pole of exactly the right thickness (25mm outer diameter?) And it needs to be light? I saw some PVC piping but it is not in metric. The closest is 3/4 inch inner diameter and 1.05 inch (26.7 cm) outer, so it might not fit into the dome things.

Anyone have any suggestions for a similar set, or for where I might find pipes/rods etc. of 25mm diameter that are at least 1 meter long? Thanks.

posted by melamakarona to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (12 answers total)

Response by poster: Small addition:
It has to be set up so that if you hit the bar, it slides off.
posted by melamakarona at 8:32 AM on December 14, 2021

Those are definitely not made for dog agility (they can only be safely jumped in one direction and agility hurdles are taken in both directions so the cups hold the bar centrally between the uprights). However, dog agility hurdles are very easy to make from PVC. Clip and Go is the leading manufacturer of fittings for this purpose; the jump cups come in lots of different styles. The rest you can make from plain, cheap PVC plumbing pipe. Fancy colored pipe and other fittings are available if you want to spend the money, though.
posted by HotToddy at 8:49 AM on December 14, 2021 [4 favorites]

Missed one of your questions: Cheap white PVC pipe comes from any hardware store. Here's the fancy colored PVC from Clip and Go.
posted by HotToddy at 8:52 AM on December 14, 2021 [1 favorite]

For pipe diameter: would 1 inch outer diameter work? You're going to find things in non-metric dimensions a lot more easily. I think a 3/4" inner diameter PVC pipe is likely to have 1" outer diameter, or very close.

something like a closet bar (they have them made of wood) or a shower curtain rod is going to be easier to find with an outer diameter specified. Shower curtain rods are often aluminum, which will be lighter than, say, an oak closet bar. For those, a 1" diameter will be more common.

I'm talking about 1" diameters because it's close to 25 mm, and it's a measurement you can make before you leave.
posted by amtho at 9:14 AM on December 14, 2021

PVC pipe is available at all hardware stores in the USA. It is a common material to buy and comes in different shapes and different fittings.

You can probably buy enough 1" pipe for your project for about $20 USD. Then you just need a saw, a measuring tape, and the fittings.

To hold the "bar" to jump over, you could screw deck screws directly into the PVC. You may need to pre-drill small holes first.

Someone that lives nearby in the USA can probably lend you the drill and saw to complete this project.

Pictured on the right is the project I would advise you to complete. https://imgur.com/a/8opl73i
posted by bbqturtle at 9:17 AM on December 14, 2021

Outside diameters are not accurate. They are, however, standardized so here are the actual measurements in the US and in the UK, which I assume are EU standards still. I think your 1" will fit your 25mm.
posted by DarlingBri at 9:20 AM on December 14, 2021 [1 favorite]

Just a tool note: a PVC cutter is vastly more pleasant to use than a saw. It rachets closed, so it's click-click-click-click-click-pipe falls off like nothin'.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:30 AM on December 14, 2021 [5 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks. just to answer one question. I am not sure that 3/4 in. PVC will fit into the bases I have. the 25mm poles fit snugly in there, while the 3/4 in PVC is 1.05 in outer diameter = 26.7 mm.
posted by melamakarona at 10:02 AM on December 14, 2021

You can get 25mm OD PVC pipe shipped from McMaster.com. it may not be the cheapest option especially with shipping. You can get it in 4 or 8 foot lengths:
https://www.mcmaster.com/2809N17/
posted by muddgirl at 10:17 AM on December 14, 2021

Would a kit like this work? One of the photos shows it used for hurdles.

Also, Chewy sells a similar version to the one you linked to.
posted by haplesschild at 10:24 AM on December 14, 2021

Where in the US? If it's the San Francisco Bay Area, pretty sure I can come up with an appropriate sized bit to drill holes in a couple of blocks of wood (say 5.5" squares of fir) to make bases for you, and you could use 3/4" PVC and "T" fittings to make the pins to hold the horizontals.
posted by straw at 10:43 AM on December 14, 2021

I did turn up one similar product that's actually a set of 4: Champion Sports Agility Hurdle Set.
posted by yuwtze at 11:53 AM on December 14, 2021