It gives owners something to do.

A fenced field only lets dogs run.

A course creates a reason to return.

Repeat visits are what justify the facility.

Dwell time rises noticeably.

It also spreads dogs across the space.

It should not be.

Competition apparatus assumes a trained handler.

It also assumes constant supervision.

Public equipment meets unknown dogs unsupervised.

Heights are fixed and deliberately conservative.

A regulation A-frame in an unstaffed park invites injury.

Six items cover most of the value.

Weave poles and a low ramp or A-frame.

A tunnel and fixed-height hurdles.

A pause platform and a hoop.

Further items give diminishing returns.

Surfacing and shade repay more at that point.

Something that drains and absorbs landing.

Dogs land hard and repeatedly.

Bare earth ruts and then turns to mud.

Sand, wood fibre and artificial turf are all used.

Drainage matters more than the material.

It contributes more to safety than any feature.

Galvanised or stainless frames.

Recycled plastic and marine-grade board for surfaces.

Chewing is a design condition, not misuse.

Edges and fixings must be recessed.

Timber needs more maintenance than most sites give.

Coastal sites rule out plain steel entirely.

Public installations are normally fixed.

Movable items get rearranged and removed.

Fixed spacing keeps the course usable.

It also keeps clearances predictable.

Some sites allow adjustable hurdle heights.

Locking adjustment prevents unsafe settings.

Instructions and a supervision notice.

Owners need to know how each item is used.

Unsupervised dogs on equipment is the risk.

Size and age suitability should be stated.

Pictograms work across languages.

Local authorities often prescribe the wording.