The weave pole obstacle has 10-12 poles spaced from 18-22 inches apart. The dog must enter the weave poles with the first pole on his left side. A dog who is fully trained to do the weave poles will find the correct entry and completely execute the obstacle quickly and confidently without help from the handler. To teach this type of performance we use the channel method in which 2 sets of offset poles are spaced with a channel between them so that the dog can run straight between the sets of poles without having to bend around the poles (Step 1). The channel is gradually narrowed over several weeks until the poles are eventually in line and the dog is bending around the poles (Step 2). Eventually the poles are narrowed until they are completely in line and the dog is performing the full obstacle (Step 3). The weave poles take many months to master and it is one agility obstacle that you may want to have at home if you want your dog to learn them. A guide to purchasing weave poles is included at the end of this document.

To teach your dog the channel method make a channel using 6-12 poles offset so that they are far enough apart that your dog can run between the poles without touching the sides. Place a target at the end of the chute. You must be able to control the target so that the dog only gets the reward if it performs the chute correctly. If you are working alone you can put the food in a container that only you can open (select a container your dog can’t swallow or open quickly alone). You can also use a toy and throw the toy just as the dog completes the poles so that the dog runs forward from the exit of the poles after the toy. Make these rewards intermittent, greatly rewarding the fastest execution of the obstacle. Make a note of the width of the channel at the end of each practice session. When you start a new training session, increase the width slightly to warm your dog up and maintain speed and confidence, then narrow it again. If you dog has trouble at any point or start to slow in the weaves, increase the width of the channel and build speed and confidence before narrowing it again. The following page contains the steps that should be practiced at every width.

1.  If you have a helper, start by having your helper restrain the dog at one end of the weave poles and run to the other end. Call your dog to you, placing a treat on the target or giving the dog a toy when it runs down the weave pole chute. If you don’t have a helper – do NOT use a "wait" or "stay" for this part of the exercise – we are trying to create enthusiasm, simply skip to the next exercise.

2.  Show/tease the dog with the target at the end of the weave poles, then run the start of the weave pole chute, line the dog up so that it’s head is between the first 2 poles and run with the dog to the target, encouraging speed.

3.  Repeat step 2, sending the dog to the target or toy and only moving to the end of the weave poles after the dog has completed the execution of the obstacle.

4.  Repeat step 2, moving with the dog but from an increasing lateral distance from the poles.

5.  Repeat step 2, sending the dog from a lateral distance and only moving to the end of the weave poles after the dog has completed the execution of the obstacle.

6.  Repeat steps 2-5 with a jump or tunnel before the weave poles to build speed and momentum before the poles

7.  Repeat step 6 with a jump or tunnel after the poles. For this exercise the target is moved to the end of the sequence.

8.  Move the weave poles a little closer together and repeat steps 1-7 again at the new width. If at any point the dog slows or starts to miss the entrance, increase the width and decrease the difficulty of the entry until the dog is performing correctly, quickly and happily again.

9.  Dog learning is very context-specific, so make sure to move the weave poles during training or you may find that your dog only knows how to weave in the left corner of your backyard!