The Bichon Frise Game Of Jumping (Part 2) - Jumping Through Hoops

December 21, 2006 on 6:15 am | In Bichon Frise Articles |

Does your Bichon Frise have you jumping through hoops? Well here’s your chance to get back at her. The simplest hoop for your dog to jump through is a store-bought hula hoop. You can just hold it and have your dog jump through. But if you want something a little closer to an agility tire jump, you can get a tire. Depending on the size of your dog, you can use an old car tire or a tractor tire: Be sure to drill a hole in the bottom so rainwater doesn’t accumulate in it.

A fancier and more lightweight solution can be made using corrugated drainpipe (it looks like a fatter version of flexible vacuum cleaner hose), which is available at any home supply store. Get about 90 inches of four-inch drainpipe and place it in the sun for awhile. As it warms it becomes more flexible, and eventually you will be able to tie it into a circle. Once you decide what size hoop you want, cut the pipe and force one end into the other. You can drill some holes and use cable ties to secure it, or if it seems to be firmly attached you can just wrap the joint with duct tape.

A cheap super-quick just-for-fun tire can be fashioned with the foam “funnoodle” pool toys they sell for kids. Just bend it into a circle and tape the ends together with duct tape. Once you’ve decided how high off the ground you want your tire jump, you’ll need to hang it. You’ll also want to secure it on both sides so it doesn’t sway when the Bichon Frise tries to jump through it. The ideal set-up is to secure the tire inside a square PVC pipe frame, with the vertical legs of the frame steadied by horizontal legs at the front and rear, similar to the base of the PVC jumps.

You can drill holes in the tire and attach eye loops, or you can use buckle dog collars and loop them around the tire. Use ropes, strong Velcro, or elastic bungee cords to hang and secure the tire. Leave a little give just in case the dog hits the tire. Make sure the ties going to the side can’t be tripped over; you may need to put a barrier in front of them. Now your all set to begin teaching your dog to jump through the hoops. Be careful not to injure your pet, and always consult with training possibilities for faster progress.