For those of you that have two or more dogs, how do you handle them when you get home, let them out of their crates, bring them inside, training etc.? I'm going to start my training program very soon, but was wondering if I should train each one seperate and then maybe when they get good at one command, bring them together and do some training at the same time? Also, do you lets all your dogs go outside at the same time?


Also, I watched Ed's Dog Obediance dvd and he mentioned he always has his dogs where he can control them. Either a lead attached, e-collar, prong collar or whatever. I have one e-collar already, and I am getting a second, but I'm wondering if there's ever a time when you guys don't have a leash or the e-collar on your dogs? I realize they should only be on the dog no more than 10 hours a day. And if you your dogs are inside with you, and they don't have one on... do you ever give your dogs a command and they don't listen, and if so, then what?

Lol... sorry for all the questions. I'm just trying to make sure I do everything right since I have 2 dogs.

Also, I've just been reading Ed's article about raising two pups being a bad thing and it's got me wondering if what I'm doing is bad. We got our second GSD when my female was about 10 months old, so they are about 6 months apart - we got the Male at 4 months of age. Currently they sleep in seperate crates at night, though I feed them at the same time, but in their seperate crates. During the day, we let them roam our whole back yard while we are at work.

Is it bad to let them both play in the yard during the day? Also, while inside and I want them with me, should I seperate their time they spend with me? Like crate one for a bit and have the other sit by me while on the computer or whatever, and then swap for the other one?

Thanks!

Jason have been trying to respond but keep getting an error message. I think Ed's advice is pretty spot on and if you stick to his ground rules and find you "dogs currency" you won't go far wrong, It was a god send when I stumbled on this site some years ago, I have 5 dogs, 2 min- pins female and 2 female sheps one male shep, the training tips
and advice I got from here has really helped me handle my pack,all I can say is crates are a must have, and be consistant,I use alot of food( my dogs think I am a walking Food deli) be honest about your dogs weaknesses and strengths, make sure you spend enough quality time with each one,bonding before you start any formal training.
I do not do much formal training at home, besides a sit and a non negotiable recall, you need to decide what is going to work for you, all I can say our house was "CHAOTIC" until I started Ed's methods, now we have a semblance of normality,their are alot of quick fix rememdies out there but his groundwork philosphy is invaluable.It has been especially useful with the dominant puppy, I am now training, I would never have known how to handle this teenage mutant no matter how well trained my other two dogs are,they could never have prepared me for him.

All the best with your training.

My dogs are seperated if I'm not around to watch them. They are allowed together if I can keep an eye on them and settle any disputes. They are worked seperately most of the time, sometimes together as advanced training...as puppies they were always worked and walked seperately and I actually dedicated close to an hour per dog each day.

They only have their regular tagged useless pretty collars at home. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> It's all about presence and consistency in training. If one dog doesn't listen to me, I make 'em. A correction doesn't have to be equipment-oriented...in fact they always shouldn't be. A quick "No!", a harsh word, depending on the situation...it's too much to explain in one post but the basic gist is the dog has to respect you regardless of where he is and what he's wearing. If he only respects the equipment you're in big trouble.

Three of my dogs are 8 and 1 month apart respectively. Again, worked seperately, crated/seperated when I'm not around. I never let them run in the backyard unsupervised, especially not together, especially not for the whole day!!! I want their bond and energy focused on me. I get moe lenient as they grow older, as I said, but generally before 1 year I'm the light of their lives. Afterwards I still am, I think. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Hi Kristine,

I am curious if your dogs are crated at night as well? Do you work during the day? I just can't see crating our dogs at night and then during the day as well. I currently work nights at the moment, but in a couple months I will be back on days, so at a bare minimum we are gone during the day for almost 10 hours. That would just be in the crate for way too long imo.

Jason - your very best friend on this Board is your Search button. You get the best advice you can get from the best people in the dog world. All of your questions have already been answered extensively, and I think you'll find some answers to questions you haven't even thought to ask yet! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Give it a try and take advantage of all of our experiences - both good and bad. Good luck with your dogs!

Jason,

Raising multiple young dogs at the same time is difficult & time consuming at best, especially if you are intending to do any work with them.

As a rule they should be separated as much as possible, particularly at the ages you are talking about. Give ample time, dogs will bond with eachother a lot quicker than they will with their person.

You’re on the right track with having them crated and fed separately. They should also be trained separately. If I were you I’d build some kennels outside so they can be separated & outside while you are at work. We have 3 dogs (ages 7 yrs, 2 yrs & 15 months), all working, and they are separated most of the time. They all get their ‘house time’, but usually separately. Our 7 yr old male and my 2 yr old female can usually spend time together in the house, mainly b/c our male is not really a playful dog…and they’re both old enough that constant play with eachother isn’t their main priority. My wife’s 15 month old male is big (90+lbs) and wide open, so he’s usually isolated from the others b/c he’s so annoying to them, plus he’s getting to the age where our older male feels the need to ‘keep him under his thumb’ so to speak.

As for the collars & leashes…ours typically don’t have collars on when they are crated or kenneled. A short drag leash is a good idea for a young pup in the house. Also, if they don’t have a leash & collar on don’t give them a lot of commands…remember don’t give a command that you’re not willing or able to follow through with, and you can’t follow through if you have no control of the dog.

Hey John, thanks for your reply.

Do you think my dogs are ok keeping them together during the day in the back yard though? They seem to get along really well, and I've had them together now for about 4 months with no issues.

Also, in reply to
"Also, if they don’t have a leash & collar on don’t give them a lot of commands…remember don’t give a command that you’re not willing or able to follow through with, and you can’t follow through if you have no control of the dog."

Does this also apply to your dogs that are fully trained? Granted at that point they should obey all the time, but on the off chance they dont and lets say just had a flat collar on. Would you then just calmly walk up to them and sort of jerk their flat collar a little bit and walk them over to where you gave the command and make them obey the command... then praise? That's what I gather from Ed's obedience dvd... but it wasn't really clear on this... only to keep an e-collar, lead or leash on your dogs you're training at all times when they are loose, so I guess this applies to dogs that are out of the obedience training stage.

I had two male rotts that I raise together for their entire life (1 yr age difference), they were always together and we never had any serious problems. “Great pets just Blissfully ignorant owners”, dog’s minded about as well as a couple of bratty kids but we loved them and I will treasure the years we had together. Knowing what I know now and all that I am learning from this site, I would never do that again. Although I couldn’t put a name to it back then, the second dog was 100% focused on and more bonded with our first dog “Rocky”. That eventually changed, but a good reason why to control your dog’s time together and why you need to spend plenty of “one on one” time with each dog.

Good Luck,
Peggy

I have an 8-year-old GSD/Lab mix and a 1-year-old GSD from a working line. I also have a 3-year-old and two 1-month-old humans in my house.

Both dogs go in their crates when we are not home. Upon coming home, my wife and I do “our stuff” first while ignoring the dogs. When we are ready to, we let the dogs out. Usually the dogs will go right outside, but they my have to wait a little bit before going out. Remember that we (the large humans) are in control and we get to decide when they get let out of their crates and when they get to go outside.

As far as training sessions go, most of the individual dog’s training sessions are done with one dog in the house. Obviously the older dog likes to work at a different pace than the puppy. Then, when they are just having “be a dog” time in the yard they are both outside and allowed to play together or just do what ever they want..

The real key seems to be making sure that both dogs understand that you are in charge of their entire life (food, play, living space, etc.). As long as both agree you are the pack leader, controlling them is not any more difficult than controlling one dog.