Both of my dogs can heel wonderfully individually, I am trying to teach them to heel simultaneously. I;ve tried it with them both on the left of me, wondering if it might be easier to heel one on each side (my girl at least used to be good at heeling on the right)

This is only for leashwalking in the neighborhood purposes, i.e., walking by a squirrel or other dog when wandering about on leash won't do.

Anyone have any input?

I find it far easier to have one on each side.

I just use a different command from the "heel" one (which is saved for real heeling in proper position). I use "let's go" for simple loose-leash, one on each side, no-pull.

I walk 3 dogs in a heel on my left side and I am now perfecting the focused heel with 3 dogs on my left side.

To do this I make sure all 3 dogs KNOW what heel is, if they don't then it won't work with even 1 dog. Then I start with 2 dogs, a bag of treats and a lot of patience. Taking one step at a time I reward only the good heels and ignore the bad ones. Once the two have perfected it, I switch one of the dogs for the other one, then start the process all over again. Once everyone has got it down, I put them all together and start again, one step at a time, rewarding only for proper position. Then two steps, then three and so on until you are walking!

If I do walk one on the other side I use my "in" command, which means walk with me but not in a focused heel.

Thanks for the ideas. I think neither of my dogs has the "in" command that you described. They either heel, or they have run of the leash with the knowledge that if they hear my voice or they feel the leash get tight, they should report to me immediately.

I like your idea- how did you teach that? The "in". So far when I heel them both on the left, the outside dog has a tendency to think it can wander off and sniff while th einside dog usually does a good heel. But we've only practiced once or twice. Good to know it can be done!

I teach all dogs I train to work on either side. I use the command "side" for the right side. I have heeled with multiple dogs on either side, or some on each. Whichever you find works best for you or your situation. As for which is easiest, I think one on either side.

I taught the in with one dog at a time.

I just started walking and would randomly stop. The dog will usually go to the end of the leash at first, but as they figure out the game they will pay more attention to you. So I stop randomly and when the dog looks at you with the signature "why'd you stop?" look. I say "in" and take a few steps back and show them my treat at first, as the dog comes in I say "yes" and reward. When they figure out what "in" means you can just use the command without luring with the food. Then start again. The point of the exercise is to teach the dog to have a loose leash. So everytime they start to pull, you make yourself a post, wait for the eye contact, then take a few steps back to engage them to come to you while you say the command, then reward. They learn really fast that "if I want to move forward, I have to keep the leash loose".

I LOVE this command because it can be progressed to off leash too! When I run my dogs it is a really quick way to get them to come in and stay in. When they walk with the "in" command, they don't have to heel but only have a 5 ft radius around me. So they usually just walk beside but not in any sort of a formal heel.