 Walking and heeling with two dogs.
#311985 - 01/16/2011 11:46 AM |
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Help!!!
I have 2 x 11 mth male GSD's. In the very early stages of training the heel. (yesterday). I am trg the dogs separatly using prong collar. I am going to put emphasis on repetition and consistancey. Now my question, should I train with dog A always on the left, then train dog B always on the right, or should I train them both on the left side, and do it repeatedly. Would alternating their positions have a detrimental effect on the consistancy aspect? I'm wondering what will happen when I walk them at the same time, if I give the heel, and they BOTH know to find my left leg, will this cause a problem. These are companion dogs, can anyone foresee problems of trg heel with one GSD on each side of me? Any insights would be appreciated as what happens in the next week or so will be with me for the next 12 -13 years!!
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Re: Walking and heeling with two dogs.
[Re: JJ White ]
#311989 - 01/16/2011 11:59 AM |
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Imho you should train the informal heel with both dogs on one side as a courtesy to other pedestrians, lets face it, some people are freaked, or allergic or just don't want dog hair on them. Also it leaves one hand free for whatever. I've walked as many as four GSDs on one side. each dog should have the heel down perfect before you start walking together. I also experienced rank issues with this. The Boss dog wants to be closest to master. My two females got into a tiff over place position.
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Re: Walking and heeling with two dogs.
[Re: Dennis Jones ]
#311991 - 01/16/2011 12:05 PM |
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JJ, are you training loose leash (or informal heel, whatever: "nice walk") one at a time?
As Dennis said: " ... each dog should have the heel down perfect before you start walking together. "
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Re: Walking and heeling with two dogs.
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#311993 - 01/16/2011 12:28 PM |
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Yep. One at a time, so each understands the concept. Then you can walk them together--like the four in my signature pic. I prefer all on the left for the reasons Dennis mentions. Also when passing other dogs, I can put myself between the other dogs and mine.
Cinco | Jack | Fanny | Ellie | Chip | Deacon |
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Re: Walking and heeling with two dogs.
[Re: Dennis Jones ]
#311994 - 01/16/2011 12:30 PM |
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Good insight. I am familiar with ppl being freaked out. As a courtesy, and because the dogs have yet to be proved 'reliable', when I am walking them, by default I put them in a sit until any distraction has passed, (other dogs, Asian tourists, kids etc) it gives me peace of mind, and gets the dogs used to staying put amidst distractions. You are also correct about the dogs vying for position, which is why I thought maybe giving each dog his 'own' side would eliminate that. I presently walk them on a two dog lead using gentle leaders, they are both on my right side(keeps me closest to traffic) as I found they will walk a 'small circle' to get on the other side of the dog presently closest to me. You can see why I want this sorted out once and for all.
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Re: Walking and heeling with two dogs.
[Re: JJ White ]
#311998 - 01/16/2011 12:39 PM |
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having two pets the same sex and about the same drive is a real pita, if I had to do it over I probably would of done it differently. As for gentle leaders, I've yet to see a professional working dog trainer use them.
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Re: Walking and heeling with two dogs.
[Re: JJ White ]
#311999 - 01/16/2011 12:39 PM |
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I sometimes have two small ("non scary") on one side, one ("scary") on the other.
Regardless, I have to teach each one separately. Part of the teaching, of course, is who is the boss of the walk. 
When dogs are eventually walked together, it goes the way I indicate. You over on this side, you two here, you closer to me, this time you closer to me .... this is not up for discussion, including "small circle-walking" discussion. But for me, anyway, all of this must have the foundation of each dog learning the walk separately. Me and the dog.
Also, for me, we don't meander at a pace that would allow for much jostling anyway.
PS Not a fan of gentle leaders: not a training tool
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Re: Walking and heeling with two dogs.
[Re: Tracy Collins ]
#312000 - 01/16/2011 12:41 PM |
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Yep. One at a time, so each understands the concept. Then you can walk them together--like the four in my signature pic. I prefer all on the left for the reasons Dennis mentions. Also when passing other dogs, I can put myself between the other dogs and mine.
Oh heck, I never noticed the forth dog in your sig line pic, had to look hard
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Re: Walking and heeling with two dogs.
[Re: Dennis Jones ]
#312002 - 01/16/2011 12:54 PM |
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Yep. One at a time, so each understands the concept. Then you can walk them together--like the four in my signature pic. I prefer all on the left for the reasons Dennis mentions. Also when passing other dogs, I can put myself between the other dogs and mine.
Oh heck, I never noticed the forth dog in your sig line pic, had to look hard
I never even saw the phrase "like the four in my signature pic." Not only had I never seen that fourth dog, I missed the reference to there being four.   But there he is. NOT invisible, either! LOL!
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Re: Walking and heeling with two dogs.
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#312004 - 01/16/2011 01:15 PM |
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Yep. One at a time, so each understands the concept. Then you can walk them together--like the four in my signature pic. I prefer all on the left for the reasons Dennis mentions. Also when passing other dogs, I can put myself between the other dogs and mine.
Oh heck, I never noticed the forth dog in your sig line pic, had to look hard
I never even saw the phrase "like the four in my signature pic." Not only had I never seen that fourth dog, I missed the reference to there being four. But there he is. NOT invisible, either! LOL!
Corgi butt!! 
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