Do you do individual activities with your dogs?

[Multiple Doodles (or dogs)]

I've only had two dogs for a bit over a week now, and every time I try to do an activity with just one of the dogs, I feel so guilty about leaving the other behind! I want to get them used to individual activities/outings, and definitely need alone time with Noah so that he can bond with me. He likes me, but he likes my other dog, Sherlock, a lot more. Since Noah is very high energy, I'm hoping when he's older we can go jogging together. Sherlock is physically too small to go jogging with me, so I'll have to leave him home by himself. Is this mean to do? Does anyone else have these guilty feelings?

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

Yes we will take each doodle places individually. Dexter is much much better in an unfenced area so I've taken him to playdates on the beach and I leave Kirby at home. I've taken Kirby for hikes just him and I. I also took some agility classes with Dex and took Kirby for a training class w/o Dex. I do think it's good for them to spend some time apart.

I do feel guilty leaving Kirby because he loves going places more than you can imagine :) So he is not a happy camper when he sees Dex going in the car w/o him.

[Susan, Zeke. Lily & Jasper]

Lily & Zeke are in different levels of obedience training so we have just started individual activites. They attend on different nights, so the one not in class gets to stay home with "dad". That part has worked out great but practicing what they have learned has become a challenge. Zeke is very advanced, we've had him since he was 12 weeks, now 10 months. Lily is a 8 month old rescue who is just beginning obedience, we've had her only a month. The problem is that when working with Lily, Zeke responds to all her commands. He seems to be stressed when she is reprimanded or doesn't respond properly to commands. Also, they neither one like it when the other one goes outside without them. They have really formed a strong bond in a short time but it's easy to see that they need some individual time with us as well as alone time away from each other.

[Susan, Zeke. Lily & Jasper]

It's getting much easier to practice obedience commands with the dogs together now that Lily has completed some classes. It's a joy now to walk them together and expect the same things from both of them. I have also enjoyed their individual classes. Lily is now taking most of her cues from me instead of Zeke. She seems to like the alone time with me while we train. Zeke really likes his breaks from Lily too. She wears him out with her constant puppy play.

[Richard Crowe]

Oh yes... Each of our dogs is an individual. Of course, there is one Goldendoodle (Holly) and four maltese (Dandy, Annie, Mama mia and Dovie). and we do different things with the maltese and Holly. We will walk Holly and often take the Maltese along in a doggie stroller. that is so no large dog gets at them. Additionally, the didtance we walk Holly is pretty difficult for the maltese, especially Dovie who is an older girl.

All five of the dogs ride just great in our Honda Pilot but, we often leave Dandy and Annie at home because they are barkers.

[LeAnn, Lucy & Rusty!!]

I have a 15 month old doodle and a 15 week old doodle. I do things with them together but I also so things one on one. Lucy goes to agility class every week and we go to the dog part 3 times a week. Rusty (the puppy) goes to puppy obedience class while Lucy waits at home. They take turns going to petco/petsmart. They both go to visit Grandma and Grandpa (but I may have to get a bigger car when Rusty is full grown!).

All that to say, your feelings are normal. I feel the same each time I leave one.. but it's getting much much easier. Especially when I get home and everything is just as it was when I left.. happy dog and all!

It's been a while since you asked this question (yes, I just now noticed) - so how's it going??

[Gabriele Kennedy]

I was curious about the same thing. I have seen family's who have a 2nd pup who gets anxiety attacks when they are left alone because they have never learned to be by themselves. That can't be healthy.
It seems like it is important to teach them to be okay my themselves but logistics of this seems difficult
Also having one on one time with my oldest seems like it would be important?

Feels like having kids doesn't it ;-)