walking two at a time?!

[ozzysdad]

I did a search on this topic and didn't come up with anything, so I apologize if this has come up before...

We have two nearly 6 month old pups. I have tried walking them together, but they try to eat each other! They get very upset with each other to the point of an all-out dog fight. They do better when walking alone- so, they get their own walks. The male is a real puller, and so he has been getting lots of training on walking politely and is making progress. I just wonder if anyone has had this problem trying to walk two dogs at the same time, and did they get better as they got older?

If I have to walk them separately forever I will, but it would be so much nicer if I could eventually take them together?

 

[Jade010103]

I have a golden retriever that is only 3 months younger than my Jade and they were a challege to walk them both for awhile, to try and control the wrestle while we walk I would have one on each side of me with a short leash so they couldn't get to each other. I'm sure it'll get better as they get older and learn to walk better.

 

[boxer]

Yes, you should eventually be able to walk both together, but you should stick with your current regime for a while yet. Your dogs need to fully understand the correct way to walk on a leash before you introduce "distractions". That goes especially for the one that pulls. For him you should introduce a regime of stopping dead as soon as he puts any weight into his collar to start pulling. That way he will learn that the walk only happens on your terms and that he has to behave correctly to get his walk.

Once you've got that firmly implanted, you can start to walk the two together. Same rules though - any misbehaviour by either dog and the walk stops. They will get the idea

One last thought - it's worth training one or both of your dogs to walk on your right side before trying the two of them together

 

[sashamom]

I was able to walk my two together until they were a year old....but NO more...they attack each other and try to play non stop....they don't even do their business....So i gave up and now they get walked separately....I got tired of being a wishbone too...LOL

 

[ozzysdad]

"I got tired of being a wishbone too..."

LOL, yes!

Thanks for your replies! I will continue walking them separately for now. I guess I was concerned that I might be reinforcing their behavior by walking them apart. Although, it does make sense that they need to learn to mind their manners first. I look forward to the time when I can, in fact, walk them together.

 

[SOBE]

I agree with "boxer" above, that it may be helpful to teach one at a time how to walk alone before trying them both together. (although I walk them on the left side because my trainer taught me to.) I had my dogs "staggered" in ages and times when I got them, so it was easier for me, and although at first trying, they both walk to the left of me with one leash. I bought a "two dog" leash extender thing-a-ma-jig that attaches to the one leash and allows "splitting" of the leash. There are also three dog extenders, but I can't imagine that except for a triplet of small pugs, if you will.
I see by my house a woman who jogs with two Golden Retrievers, one on each side of her, two seperate leashes, of course, and I can't believe it, a dog on each side, well trained to run beside her on either side..not flopping off in another direction.... fantastic!!
It's hard at first to find the right combo to walk two dogs at once, and believe me, I had a lot of entanglements with the no-pull leashes and harnesses that are available. Time, patience, and walking on a consistent basis can help.
Good luck, don't give up.!!!