http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-10791443

I initially thought Great but when you think more about it...........puppies being dragged round.....no supervision........dogs falling off etc
Chris

It stopped working for me after the shot of the weird tunnel. Doesn't sound like a good idea to me, when my dog was learning agility it was very one-to-one particularly on contact equipment. Without having seen the whole video, I can only hope there isn't an A frame / dog walk / seesaw for the general public to terrify their dogs on without having taught the dog how to negotiate them safely!

That tunnel looks possitivley dangerous it is so slippery I wonder who will be the first to sue the council over a broken leg!!!
Aileen

> I can only hope there isn't an A frame

it was on look east 1pm news, you could see better on tv but if you look at the clip there is a dog jumping off from half way down a lowish A frame, there also looks to be a 'table' type thing - looks a couple of foot high!

Imagine what the tunnel will be like when it is wet :-O  and the weave poles looked as though they were made of metal and fixed permanently to the ground - another disaster waiting to happen.

To minimise the risk of injury to both dog and handler you have to be trained to participate in agility so I can foresee some major problems in the not too distant future for those using the equipment.

I wonder if the council consulted any knowledgeable agility experts before setting up the course. It's great that the council want to provide facilities for dogs and owners but there would seem to be little or no research with regard to this project :-(

Well it's certianly not the first in the UK as there is one on a Woodland Walk not far from Teeside Airport.  We have been a couple of timee and it is fun for the dogs, although some of the obstacles are too big for the pugs (the "box" of jumps are way to high for htem, even the small ones) but they have enjoyed the tunnel (even in very muddy weather) and love jumping on and off the table and the podium thingy.  There isn't an A frame at the one we have visited.  It is all very spaced out much more a relaxed fun activity than a serious training facility - haven't heard of any problems which have arisen.

> There isn't an A frame at the one we have visited.  It is all very spaced out much more a relaxed fun activity than a serious training facility - haven't heard of any problems which have arisen.

There are one or two like that here in Hampshire. No A-frame, no tunnel, but a very low see-saw, a very low catwalk, some jumps and I believe some wide weaves in the one I haven't yet been to. If safety can be managed, then I wish there could be one in every park as long as the users do so at their own risk (as in children's playgrounds). Years ago before dogs were excluded from children's playgrounds I trained my family dog to use a high metal slide (she would run up that ladder fast as anything), the see-saw, and jump over swings. No agility clubs or other facilities within miles then - I'm kind of in the same situation now.  I'd love to have some very basic equipment like that in my local park.

I hope there´s a warning sign stating that dogs should not start at agility until they are several months to a year old (depending on breed).  Basic training and basic obedience come first, then agility.

The Telegraph article says "A sign in the park advises owners that their dog must be over 18 months old and fit to use the equipment but that it is suitable for any breed."

> suitable for any breed.

Oh heck, thats not good :-(.. My breed and larger need suitable equipment for large/giant breeds. My boy got injured at an agility club as he got too excited and fell off the high beam and then jumped back on again ..I stopped it as the equipment wasn't suitable really for such a large dog..

only just read this thread - or half read it anyway -  What you' seem to be saying is that even at an agility clubs equipment isn't necessarily suitable for all breeds - this needs to be warned publicly, but shouldn't discount public equipment/  i think it's a great idea to encourage doggy activities and provide public accessibility for dogs and their owners.
As others have said - childrens' play equipment is, thankdully, still provided - both parents and dog owners should take care to supervise and consider potential dangers

> both parents and dog owners should take care to supervise and consider potential dangers

thats fine if they know enough to be aware of dangers, you stop joe public in the street and ask them about 'rules' for agility and most would not have a clue - never mind the kids with the family pup/youngster.

tatty-ead - Sorry for the delayed reply.
I understand what you say about Joe Public[JP] not knowing the rules, but what I am trying to say is that the same applies to kids in playgrounds etc.  When I talk about kids I mean the care of them,eg in playgrounds and on equipment, not their interaction with dogs - I certainly wouldn't have children as sole supervisors of dogs.
Surely education and support is what these sites, and chatting to people on the street, in the field etc are about - helping each other learn.  I don't know about others but I know how hopeless I felt when I had my first child, never mind dog, and how much I learned from so many different sources. 
I've always believed the doggy community is a friendly, helpful one [maybe I'm a dreamer] and anyone seeing anything dangerous would advise, just as friendly helpful parents would with children on a playground.