I have two dogs, a 2 year old pedigree boxer, and a 9 month old akitx husky x gsd mix. and they are a hand full to walk together, i need some sort of method to walk them at the same time but to heal. before i just had my akita mix and i was using teats and a yank and release method but as i now have two dogs to walk at the same time it very hard. At the moment i am wrapping the leads around my hands and if they pull i yank them back to me and say no or heal and praise if they stay like that but they go straight back to it, or i will say stop yank and release and praise when they come to me or as soon as the lead goes limp.

Has any one got any advice on how to train them on the lease. thanks xxx

In my opinion, training two dogs to heel at the same time is going to be pretty difficult, at least training them what 'heel' means. I suppose you don't have the time to teach them one by one?

What are they doing right now, just pulling? If so, maybe a prong collar will work. I would give them almost no room to pull, meaning the leash should be short (sorry, English isn't my first language, don't know how to say this exactly).

Have you seen 'The Dog Whisperer' on National Geo. Channel? The host (C. Millan) is a master at walking a pack of dogs, and almost every episode he deals with dominant dogs who drag their owners when taken for a walk.

As a side note, I would suggest you examine the pack structure in your house in regards to your dogs. Most likely they are pulling because they think they are the pack leaders. Read some of Ed Frawley's articles on pack structure here on the website.

Oh, and when they pull... pull to the side, not back. Pulling back entices the dog to keep pushing forward.

The way I taught both my dogs to walk with me was to start with them individually. I know a lot of people prefer to walk two dogs on the same side; however, I walk one on either side of me. Chance has always been walked on my right; Beau on my left. That is the way we started training. Chance walked on the right and when I stopped, he sat. Then I worked with Beau on the left. This did not happen overnight, and it was quite a while before I walked them together. Also a prong (as least for my guys) is a MUST. With both hands full, you must have control at all times.

Also, for me, the double snap at the end of one leash did not work – the dogs were way too far out in front of me for me to have any measure of control.

Another thing I learned with walking two at a time is to pick and choose your battles. When we are walking in a new or different area, I am not as strict with them being absolutely in a heel position. They do get to nose around a little bit. It is not formal walking all of the time. However, when they hear the words “walk with me,” they know to get back in position and there is no fooling around.

What also helps is to tire your dogs out first before attempting to walk them together. When they are full of unspent energy, it seems like they will pull your shoulders out of their sockets all the time before they get the hang of what they are supposed to do.

In summary:

1. Use a prong.
2. Get each one familiar with one side of you.
3. Exercise before walking.
4. Let them “off-heel” once in a while.
5. Have patience!

Good luck. It's really a lot of fun walking two well-behaved dogs together.

If you can, train them separately. It'll be MUCH easier.

What kind of collars do they have on while you're walking them?



Oh, and everything Jan said, too!

When trying to train two dogs to walk properly I always recommend that they are first taught seperately. It is very difficult if not impossible to praise one dog for walking properly and correct another one for not walking properly at the same time! Think about it, how can you praise and reward dog # 1 when dog # 2 is pulling your arm off? And how much fun will proper walking be for dog # 1 if he doesn't get to go anywhere because you are constantly having to deal with dog # 2?

Teach them both, individually, that walking on leash is a behavior that is supposed to be obeyed, just like "sit" or "down" is. Then when they are proficent on their own, try them together. Expect big set backs at this point. It will more often than not be as though they have not been taught anything at all. Keep in mind that they are being taught to walk TOGETHER for the first time, however. Exercising first always helps and sticking to familiar surroundings too when teaching the dogs this portion of proper obedience is most times a must.

its me again lol. i use a half chock collar for my puppy akita x and a normal buckle collar for the boxer, i want to get a chock collar for each dog, i take them out in the morning and let them off to play ball then i walk them 2 to three times a day after that. they dont go with out lol x. but i walk the boxer on my left and akita x on right and it nearly always that way around