JUMPS
The DOG-GAMES of Bounce, Bounce & Hand, Bounce & Round and Bounce & Touch all use four 8" (20cm) flyball jumps for the dogs to jump over (this measurement refers to the total height of the boards across the two uprights).
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The jumps are easy to assemble and dismantle and take up very little room when stored. A set of four jumps can be stored in a heavy-duty bag or sack. Each jump has two uprights, a baseboard, and two thin slats. Each upright has a slit cut just wide enough for the baseboard and later the slats to be threaded into. It is also useful to have hand holes near the top so that the uprights can be carried. DOG-GAMES recommends that assembled jumps should not be moved and carried by these handles as the twisting and turning of the boards may result in the baseboard breaking at its weakest point - the large cuts where they slot over the uprights. |
The baseboard is 6" (15cm) high and is made to slot at right angles to the uprights. These baseboards give stability to the jump. Be careful not to make the slat hole too big or the jump will wobble or fall over in a gust of wind. Conversely, if the hole is too small and makes assembling the jump difficult, the wood may splinter from being forced through and over the uprights.
Each of the two 1" (2.5cm) slats threads through the uprights'
holes and rests on top of each other above the baseboard. You
may wonder why the baseboard is not made high enough so that the
top slats are unnecessary - the answer has to do with safety.
Historically in Flyball a 1" slat is
always used at the top of the jump so that if a dog hits it hard
the slat gives way rather than damage the dog. As the
DOG-GAME jumps are set at the British Flyball Association minimum height (8")
and baseboards are made at 6" rather than 7", this necessitates two
1" slats being used rather than a 2". (I hope the above made
sense!!)
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The jumps are usually made of either painted plywood (which needs
a lot of care and maintenance) or signwriters
plastiboard (which is waterproof, does not need painting and
does not break or splinter easily).
Modern Dog Sports - tel 01730 266633; fax 01730 260055; mds@moderndogs.co.uk have been making high quality flyball jumps for many years, not only for the UK but for overseas customers as well. They are happy to help and advise you on prices, postage and packaging arrangements, and accept cheques and all major credit cards. Jumps can either be bought singly or as a full set of four.
If, on the other hand, you wish to make your own jumps a template for one is available by clicking this link - Jump Diagram. The dimensions given are for 10mm thick wood/plastiboard. Adjust the widths of the 12mm cut outs accordingly if thinner or thicker wood or board is used.
The Material contained herein may not be reproduced without the prior written approval of Dog Games Ltd. © 2000-2005 All Rights Reserved.