OUr STory
Agility Stuff was founded to develop innovative, light weight, safe and strong dog agility equipment. A second objective was to manufacture in bulk and carry stock thereby reducing waiting time and remove some of the costs as with bespoke manufacture.
Where it is impractical to manufacture locally we source and import where necessary finished products and components from around the world.
The company began trading when Lyn’s first dog Jasper slid backwards off an A Frame which led to the development in 2003 of the Contactacoat system of rubber chip coating for agility ramps. The concept has been picked up in most countries and rubber chip in various forms is now the standard in most dog agility Nations. Also in 2003 we chased down a supplier of electronic timing systems and have represented FarmTek Inc of Dallas Texas in the New Zealand and Australian markets since.
During his time as Chair of the inaugural Agility Committee in New Zealand Lyn was influential in a number of innovations including the introduction of the Micro height, split classes, the permanent number system, a modern measuring device and influenced through acquaintances in the sport a computerised system of event management and results storage.
Lyn retired at the regular age and after selling his paper merchanting business in Wellington transferred Agility Stuff Ltd to Taupo in 2010. Lyn and wife Sarah now share the duties of running the company from our home just north of the town where we share a 6 hectare property with 4 dogs, 2 cats and way too many rabbits.
With innovation being the driver, Agility Stuff has developed a unique piece of equipment which simplifies the teaching of the 2 x 2 weave technique, a simple “blind” hurdle to replace the cumbersome brush fence and a very safe collar to anchor spiral welded tunnels in place. Despite the efforts of really high drive dogs, there have been no instances of tunnels moving during competition when our collars are used. One of our most successful developments in recent times is our Phoenix wing hurdles which sport a lo-line foot assembly. In addition our hurdle cups which are made with rounded edges are now available in the original black nylon and a recent edition made to the same design but utilising a soft polymer which have proven even safer than the original. Our wingless hurdles are manufactured using plastic joiners which are designed to break under the tension of a serious crash. All parts are guaranteed for the life of the product and broken parts will be replaced free of charge without question……..better a broken hurdle than a broken dog.
In 2015 we visited the British manufacturer of Doggyjumps and following that visit began to import their plastic wing hurdles. In 2016 the Australian distributor of the same product commissioned a making of Chinese imitations of the British product making importation to New Zealand of the original product no longer viable. Never one to shrivel in the face of a challenge, Agility Stuff Ltd have now developed a similar product but wholly manufactured in New Zealand from raw materials containing 85% recycled aluminium. Even the small amount of virgin aluminium needed is sourced from the Tiwai smelter in Bluff using Australian bauxite.
Both Lyn and Sarah compete all around the North Island with the occasional trip to the South Island, this exposure gives a wide cross section of opinion as to what agiliteers would like to see by way of equipment improvements. Lyn has been judging since 2002 and that too gives us a great appreciation of the risks we expose our dogs to and ways to help mitigate those risks.
In recent times our reputation has spread and we have now started exporting equipment and components to Australia.
Where it is impractical to manufacture locally we source and import where necessary finished products and components from around the world.
The company began trading when Lyn’s first dog Jasper slid backwards off an A Frame which led to the development in 2003 of the Contactacoat system of rubber chip coating for agility ramps. The concept has been picked up in most countries and rubber chip in various forms is now the standard in most dog agility Nations. Also in 2003 we chased down a supplier of electronic timing systems and have represented FarmTek Inc of Dallas Texas in the New Zealand and Australian markets since.
During his time as Chair of the inaugural Agility Committee in New Zealand Lyn was influential in a number of innovations including the introduction of the Micro height, split classes, the permanent number system, a modern measuring device and influenced through acquaintances in the sport a computerised system of event management and results storage.
Lyn retired at the regular age and after selling his paper merchanting business in Wellington transferred Agility Stuff Ltd to Taupo in 2010. Lyn and wife Sarah now share the duties of running the company from our home just north of the town where we share a 6 hectare property with 4 dogs, 2 cats and way too many rabbits.
With innovation being the driver, Agility Stuff has developed a unique piece of equipment which simplifies the teaching of the 2 x 2 weave technique, a simple “blind” hurdle to replace the cumbersome brush fence and a very safe collar to anchor spiral welded tunnels in place. Despite the efforts of really high drive dogs, there have been no instances of tunnels moving during competition when our collars are used. One of our most successful developments in recent times is our Phoenix wing hurdles which sport a lo-line foot assembly. In addition our hurdle cups which are made with rounded edges are now available in the original black nylon and a recent edition made to the same design but utilising a soft polymer which have proven even safer than the original. Our wingless hurdles are manufactured using plastic joiners which are designed to break under the tension of a serious crash. All parts are guaranteed for the life of the product and broken parts will be replaced free of charge without question……..better a broken hurdle than a broken dog.
In 2015 we visited the British manufacturer of Doggyjumps and following that visit began to import their plastic wing hurdles. In 2016 the Australian distributor of the same product commissioned a making of Chinese imitations of the British product making importation to New Zealand of the original product no longer viable. Never one to shrivel in the face of a challenge, Agility Stuff Ltd have now developed a similar product but wholly manufactured in New Zealand from raw materials containing 85% recycled aluminium. Even the small amount of virgin aluminium needed is sourced from the Tiwai smelter in Bluff using Australian bauxite.
Both Lyn and Sarah compete all around the North Island with the occasional trip to the South Island, this exposure gives a wide cross section of opinion as to what agiliteers would like to see by way of equipment improvements. Lyn has been judging since 2002 and that too gives us a great appreciation of the risks we expose our dogs to and ways to help mitigate those risks.
In recent times our reputation has spread and we have now started exporting equipment and components to Australia.