For our Freestyle Level 2 class it’s recommended that you provide your own platform(s). You may find it helpful to have two platforms, but for class you will definitely need one! I have some extras but I lend those out to the Level 1 students so I won’t necessarily have any platforms available for Level 2.
If you want to buy a finished platform I recommend getting them from K9 Play Products. (Click the link to see their sizes and measurement instructions, you can pay online).
A cheaper solution is to make your own platforms, I provide instructions below. You can buy your own material (I get mine from Amazon) or you can buy material from me (cash only) on the first day of class. Pictured below is a platform that I made for my dog. This platform is 8” wide, 20” long, and 2” tall:
The narrower you make the platform the better alignment you will get with your dog. The challenge is that it can be harder for the dog to get all four feet on a narrow platform. The more you practice with your dog, the better they will be at getting all four feet on a narrower platform. See view from top here:
I get my platform material from Amazon. Here is a link to the material I like best:
Here are a couple other examples:
I use a box cutter knife to cut the material. Then I use duck tape to tape the layers together. I typically use 2 or 3 layers of material for my platform. I try to leave approximately 1/2 inch of space on each side of my dogs feet. I leave 1 or 2 inches of extra space in the front and back of the platform. In general, a 10” wide platform will work just fine. For a small dog you may go as narrow as 8”. The length is less critical than the width. See below:
Here is a video tutorial for how to make your own platform:
Have fun and see you in class! If you have questions please email me at dogswitchdog@gmail.com
– Steve