Set Up

16 articles

Information about Setting up the lure course

Articles

Step by Step - Getting Started!

Here's the first things you will want to do when you first get your SwiftPaws Home! https://www.swiftpaws.com/getstarted/

Surfaces for Course Setup

SwiftPaws Home is designed for home/backyard setup. Not everyone has that ideal, perfectly level space. What follows are some guidelines for what is or is not recommended. Ideally the area is fenced, or is in some other way, secure for your dog to ru

Course configuration diagram ideas

The kit has three pulleys and the drive unit (shown as a target instead of a circle) so you can set up a four-point course. making the distance between each point as long or a short as needed. Adding additional pulleys can increase the complexity of

Introducing your Pet to SwiftPaws for the First Time

Introducing your Pet to SwiftPaws for the First Time Even if your doggo loves lure at day care or special events - you might want to introduce them to their Home SwiftPaws like any other new toy. Here are the steps we use to introduce a pet

Ready to use right out of the box?

Not quite. You’ll have to charge the machine battery (and the remote controller if you took delivery before July 1st, 2020) Do this first! While you wait, you can familiarize yourself with the rest of the kit, plan your course, etc.

SwiftPaws is a Continuous Loop System

Both SwiftPaws home and commercial grade units are continuous loop equipment. Continuous loop is where the ends of the line are tied together in a continuous loop. Straight line is where the lure is pulled only in one direction, for example in FAST

How to set up for a straight-line chase

While SwiftPaws (both home and pro) is designed as continuous loop equipment, you can set it up in a straight line like we do when we operate FAST CAT® events (CAT stands for Coursing Ability Test)– which is a timed 100-yard dash where dogs run one a

What are the Ideal Conditions for the Perfect Course?

Resistance or "drag" is the #1 considering when planning your course. Drag is created any time the drive/line encounters resistance. Drag at the most extreme happens when the dog catches the flag or steps on the line. But other things might create dr

Exactly how big can my own course be?

SwiftPaws is designed for courses 200-300 feet. We cannot guarantee an exact size - because there are multiple factors that affect course size. Adding more line or more pulleys to the course does not increase the maximum size of the course you can su

Can I Make a Small Course Bigger Later?

Yes! The SwiftPaws course can be any size up to 200-300 feet. To set up a larger course, you would simply tie more line onto what you are already using. See this video: How to Tie the Line Together See this article from our knowledge base/FAQ: Exact

Do I have to use the tethers?

YES! The are actually quite important in maintaining correct tension on the line while it is moving by allowing flexibility and a little give for those times when your dog is racing over the line, stepping on it, tugging at the lure, and making those

Is There a Minimum or Maximum Course Size?

SwiftPaws Home is perfect for backyards, indoor use, or play areas the size of a standard agility ring or smaller. The kit comes with three pulleys and the drive unit - as long as there's space for them and your pup to run in - you've got what it tak

Setup on a hill or uneven ground

How flat does the area need to be to set up SwiftPaws? What if my yard is uneven? My yard is on a slope or incline can I still use SwiftPaws? The good news is, SwiftPaws can be set up virtually anywhere that is safe for your pup to run. When settin

Will SwiftPaws work on bare ground (no lawn)?

It's a good rule of thumb to think about how you would fair running on the surface you're considering: if you think you would get hurt if you slipped or fell, it's probably not good to run SwiftPaws on it. Also, excessive dirt, gravel, standing water

What is the maximum space between pulleys?

The space between pulleys is variable and restricted only by the maximum size of the course. The pulleys can be placed any distance within the closed loop course. The maximum total course size is:. Note: course is closer to 12-16 feet 😆.

Step-by-Step Procedure

Step-by-step procedure to successfully run your lure course.