Hello folks!

I am the proud owner of 2 golden retrievers. They are the sweetest, most adoring things on the planet! I do, however, have a developing situation that I need advice on.

My wife and I got the "puppies" a month ago when they were already 7 months old. They have bonded to each other like you would not believe! They would rather play with each other than anything else. When we play fetch, they go and retrieve a couple of times, but then they both grab the toy at the same time. Sometimes they'll both bring the toy back, running side by side, and sometimes they'll just play keep-away from each other.

I have gathered, from reading other posts on multiple dog households, that we should have one on one time with each dog separately. Are there any other suggestions?

A little background on the pups: 1 male and 1 female, both full-blooded and fixed. The former owner got them from separate breeders. She had 3 children and kept 5 more, so the dogs were kept in a very small enclosure in the back yard during the day and were kept inside the house in a small bathroom at night.

Any help we could get would be greatly appreciated!

Thanx!

Freddie

Goldens are good intelligent breeds, they should be ok playing together but if you really want to start working with them you should practice their Obedience one at a time. Bring them together to play and socialize but separate them when you want to its time to train. After they have they understand the commands you can bring them together to practice the command under distraction (each other, its a test do they want to play or listen to you).

I usually will do the fetching one at a time but their both out, because the Male GSD will try to get or take both thrown items. I had to start holding one dog and sending the other out to fetch. This works great but it takes practice, I had a friend try this with his two dogs and he ended up face down boths dogs chasing the ball and fighting. Its best practice one at a time once you get control of them by command. I can down one and let the other chase the ball, but I get a lot of whining, its better when I hold their collar and pet them and praise them while the others giving chase. This still builds up frastration and the dog being held really charges out of the block chasing the ball or stick.

Two dogs are fun but if you plan to work them, you want them more attached to you rather then each other, if they are just pets you want this but its not a big deal, as long as they are not fighting.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Have fun training

I wish I could edit.

Bring them together to play and socialize but separate them when you want to its time to train. After they have they understand the commands you can bring them together to practice the command under distraction (each other, its a test do they want to play or listen to you).

Edited
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Bring them together to play and socialize but separate them when its time to train.

After they understand the commands you can bring them together to practice the command under distraction of each other.

(Its a test that shows if they want to play with each other or listen to you).

Thanx Don!

I appreciate your response!

Also, take them on walks seperately, just as often or MORE often than you do both together. Otherwise you could have hysteria if you need to take one someplace without the other. Seperation at home, while you train one does NOT help this.
It is neccessary as desribed above but so are seperate walks in my book. It is the only way you will see each temperament bloom. Have you tried it yet?
They may have a problem with it (separation) already.

Stella is right,

My female goes crazy when I take the Male to train first she barking and jumping up acting like she is going to miss something. Now the Male seems to care less when she is out training its almost like he knows that I prefer him (oops the truth slipped out.)

But yeah, try that before they get too attached to each other. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Thanx again for your responses! I'm new to this board and new to dog training, so I've gotten lots of great information here!

Stella:
There is already a problem with separation. I took the male to the gas station with me the other day, and when I came back my wife said that the female had whined and cried and had run around looking for him. I'll be starting the separate walks this very day! Any ideas on how to deal with the one that's left behind? Should there be praise and petting, or should it be left alone?

Don:
I started training them separately but within sight of each other. Worked to a point, but they're still more interested in what the other is doing than in what I'm trying to teach them. I'm going to try training them where they cannot see each other, then introduce the other as a distraction once they know the commands. Does this seem like a reasonable approach, or is there something else I should try?

Thanx again!

Freddie

I think you are starting to quickly with a distraction while doing basic OB. The results is them being more interested in each other then your teaching.

You are correct in your conclusion to train them totally separated then after months of proofing. Teach each dog separately with a lesson plan for each dog, though they are alike there will be difference.

Then bring them together but 1st test them separately under distraction.

Try this by themself 1st, then try a sit or down on opposite sides of you and circle them kinda in a figure eight, if either try to rise correct/reset them (this should take a command now) and continue circling. Then release them to come to you informal or formal. Or you can go to them and release them, according to where you are in your training.

I would not rush OB you will be doing this most of their life, to keep them sharp. Lay a firm foundation and its gives you something sturdy to build on. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Good luck in training.

Thanx Don!

I figured it'd be best to keep them completely separated during training. I'll post progress reports from time to time.

Thanx again!