Hi,

I am living in a flat with 2 dogs. The older one is a common breed dog (neutered) picked from the street a couple of years ago, about 6 years old; he makes a pretty good pet, despite he is not trained. The young one is a Giant Schnauzer (male) of 13 months. They are fed at the same time but separately, never from the table; they are not allowed in the bed, each one uses his spot in the house, none is really dominant, so I don't have any important problems with them for the moment. I spend about 3 hours per day to walk them in a park nearby and about 1,5 hours for the young dog training.
I am now working with the Schnauzer for the BH, supervised by a professional trainer. I don't have the intention, time or nerves to train the older dog as well.

Questions:
Is it good that I repeat with the Schnauzer, after his 'school' is ready, separately or in the presence of the older dog?
How can I make the older dog not to feel neglected (currently I am offering him a short separate walk, but I am not sure this is enough)?

I have three dogs, all with different needs. When I train basic obedience at home, I crate the two that aren't being worked, while I work with the third one, in plain view of the other two. I rotate dogs, and work each one in whatever they particularly need work in. What I like about this is that the other two are always ready to go when it's their turn. I use their frustration, their feelings of being "left out", to my advantage in their training. They really come out of the box ready to work when they see me working with another dog. This only takes 30-60 minutes daily, and I can even do 15 by giving each dog five minutes, if I am short on time.
As far as walks, etc., it's not possible for me to give them all equal amounts of my time every single day. So what I do is take a dog with me in the car when I run errands, or take a dog with me when I have to take my kid to a class, and work them in obedience while I wait outside for the class to be over. I find ways to spend time with each dog every day. On weekends, my husband and I take all three for off leash hikes in the forest.

Just wanted to add, all you can do is to do your best to give each dog enough. It doesn't have to be exactly equal. Don't be too hard on yourself either!

Talk about feeling guilty, how do you think I feel when I take my new SAR dog out to train, and see my Lab, who just retired from SAR training, looking at me expectantly, knowing full well where I am going and what I will be doing??? He knows exactly what he is missing out on! Talk about guilt trips!!!!!

I just make sure I play with him some when I get home, hiding his toy around the house, or playing hide and seek with him. He always forgives me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thank you a lot. You make me feel it is possible...

 Quote:

Originally posted by Lisa Swanston:
I have three dogs, all with different needs. When I train basic obedience at home, I crate the two that aren't being worked, while I work with the third one, in plain view of the other two. I rotate dogs, and work each one in whatever they particularly need work in. What I like about this is that the other two are always ready to go when it's their turn. I use their frustration, their feelings of being "left out", to my advantage in their training. They really come out of the box ready to work when they see me working with another dog. This only takes 30-60 minutes daily, and I can even do 15 by giving each dog five minutes, if I am short on time.
As far as walks, etc., it's not possible for me to give them all equal amounts of my time every single day. So what I do is take a dog with me in the car when I run errands, or take a dog with me when I have to take my kid to a class, and work them in obedience while I wait outside for the class to be over. I find ways to spend time with each dog every day.

This is pretty much how I do things but with 5 dogs.

Everybody's happy and content - no problems. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />