Preparing for cavalettis
Typical cavaletti setup
The most typical cavaletti setup consists of a number of poles and cones.
My favorite cones are the multi-colored cones with holes already drilled into them (shown below on the left). The cones are light-weighted for easy transportation, but not too light that they would fly off in the wind. You can usually find the cones in the sports equipment section online. There are also cheaper versions of the cones with holes (see below on the right), but these cones are made of cheap plastic and tend to be not sturdy enough. I rarely use them except with the tiniest dogs. If you are handy with a drill, you can also get regular cones and drill holes in them.
Most people use PVC poles or wooden dowels cut to approximately 3-5’ long. PVC poles and wooden dowels are generally inexpensive and can be relatively easily purchased from home improvement stores. I prefer PVC poles as they are sturdy and can withstand the elements as I typically leave the poles outdoors. The length of the poles determines the width of the dog’s path. The wider the path, the easier it is for the dog to maneuver. The narrower the path, the more challenge it is for the dog as they will require more focus and balance to move across a narrow path. Of course, larger breeds will naturally require wider paths than smaller breeds.
It should be noted that the diameter of the poles has an impact on the height of the cavaletti. Smaller breeds may benefit from using PVC poles of smaller sizes (e.g., 1/2” or 3/4”), whereas medium to larger breeds may be able to start with PVC poles of 1” in diameter. I have two sets of PVC poles - one 3/4” and one 1” in diameter - so the cavaletti setup can be adjusted for the dogs I work with.
There are also pre-made cavaletti sets available from a few canine fitness equipment suppliers, such as TotoFit and FitPaws.
Multi-colored cones with PVC poles
Cones from dollar store with PVC poles
Alternative cavaletti setups
Instead of using cones and PVC poles, there are many different easily accessible items that you can use to setup your cavaletti. For example, PVC poles and wooden dowels can be replaced with:
Broom/mop handles
Shower curtain rods
Golf clubs
Pool noodles cut in half length-wise (so they will not roll)
Pieces of garden hose (if you never need to raise the poles off the ground)
Jump bars/weave poles
Walking sticks
To secure the poles and to raise them off the floor, you can also use:
Bricks, cement blocks, garden pavers
Empty yogurt cups/soda cans
Small buckets
PVC connectors
Plastic basket with holes
Empty tissue boxes (or multiple boxes of similar size)
Rolled/folded up towels
Below are a a few examples for your inspiration.
Soda cans crushed in the middle used to keep the poles in place
This allows the poles to remain relatively low to the ground.
Old weave pole PVC attached to scrap wood with rubber protectors. The cavalettis can be rotated to four different heights. (Image courtesy of Charlotte Rundgren)
Fruit boxes with holes can be used to raise poles off the ground. However, it is not easy to adjust the distance between poles with this setup.
Poles raised slightly off the ground using holes in cardboard box.
Plastic baskets with holes and cones with holes holding up PVC cavaletti poles. (Image courtesy of Cathy Matson)
Thin pieces of styrofoam can be used to increase the height of the pole. (Image courtesy of Leah Oakley)
Shoes can be used to hold the poles in place when you don't have enough cones. (Image courtesy of Leah Oakley)