how_to_make_a_wicket_to_measure_dogs

Here’s a simple verison of a wicket that costs no more than $5 in materials. You can make it fancier by adding a base to the bottom or by adhering measuring tape to the sides instead of marking the PVC pipe. This is also very self explanatory and easy to adjust depending on your breed of dog. For my breed of dog that ranges from 24-28 inches in the standard, I made mine much taller has some claimed to have 34 inch dogs. I wanted to make sure this wicket could accommodate dogs outside of the standard. I also made the width quite wide (2 ft wide) for our breed; again, to accommodate the self-reported large dogs. I also used 1/2 inch PVC pipe which is incredibly easy to cut.

Materials:

Two 36 inch long PVC pipes (1/2 inch) – adjust according to your breed height.
Two 24 inch long PVC pipes (1/2 inch) – adjust according to the typical width of your breed.
Two 90 degree PVC connectors (1/2 inch)
Two T PVC connectors (3/4 x 1/2 inch)

Other tools:

Measuring tape
Marker
Optional for base: T connectors (1/2 x 1/2 inch) and 4 inch long pieces of PVC pipe (1/2)
Optional for making it super fancy: Two fabric measuring tape and strong clear packing tape. Tape this up the sides of the long pieces of PVC pipe.

I don’t think I need to actually write out instructions as this is very straightforward, but feel free to email if it is unclear. . Just follow the pictures!

Here’s Vesta with the final product. She looks happy about it. Note: it is NOT measuring her. She’s in a stand stay, and I have balanced it on her back for the photo. Below is a video of how you should use it to measure a dog.

I made two sets of wickets at the same time; thus I have four pieces of 36 inch PVC.

This is how I measured the vertical pieces. You could tape fabric measuring tape on it if you wanted to be super fancy.

I started with two inch increments, then I made one inch increments starting at 22 inches – which is on the short side for bitches in my breed.

Then I went back and added blue lines for 1/2 inch increments, and some green lines for 1/4 inch increments.

Then I used a 90 degree corner piece to attach the top connector bar. I inserted the second cross bar with the T connector. The 1/2 inch PVC slides right into the 3/4 opening on the side. This should slide up and down to measure the dog at the shoulder. You could drill in a screw to hold it in place or add some tape around so it doesn’t slide all the way to the bottom. Either way works.

Here’s a close up of what it looks like. You can see how the T connector slides up and down. For this one, you’ll add 7/8 inch to the the measurement showing on the side because the distance from the T connector to the cross bar (lays on the dog’s shoulder) is 7/8 inch.