What took me so long?

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I have discoverd the best invention to battling the two dog walk and it was right under my nose the past 2 years! Geez.

A little history. Murphy was a habitual puller when he learned to leash walk and since I needed a running buddy, not a sleigh dog, it was important to me that he be right at my side during runs. That took a LOT of training, a Gentle Leader for about 6 months and then the Gentle Walker Harness to accomplish. So he does a nice side walk now without any pulling. Mission accomplished, except he HATES running. Oh well, on to Bella,

She came to me totally leash trained, never pulled, does a perfect heel and stops on a dime. WTD? Same breeder too. Murphy must've flunked out of Leash walking 101.

Then as time goes on, Murphy learns to lift his leg and it appears every bush, tree, fire hydrant or leave needs to be marked, so we begin with walk, stop, walk, stop walk, stop until my arm is yanked about 6 inches longer. Bella just tended to stop and wait for him to finish, start again and wait again.  So I work diligently on our walks to keep moving and give him a few occasions to mark. He is a boy dog, so I get it.  However, DH thinks dogs should control "Their" walk and stop and start as much as they need. So you can imagine theirs and my frustration with this method.

Now a few months ago, Bella decides she has an ancestrial need to hunt, and anything that moves in her line of vision must now be hunted down to the death and she has to take off like a rocket to attack it. Fortunatly, she never catches anything.

So I have one dog stopping and starting, one dog dashing in another direction and the two leashes looking like I was trying to play double dutch skip rope or they were taking me prisoner by wrapping the leashes around my legs 10 times.

I was about to give up and just let DH have his way with them as I just don't have the strength to control 120# of dogs, going in two different directions. It's almost like they know there is strength in numbers and are going to foil all attempts of this mere 125# woman to walk a straight line.

As I was leaving for yet another dreaded walk and trying to plan the most bush free, lizard, bird or leaf free route, I noticed a double leash attachment that I had purchased prior to Bella's arrival. Someone on DK must have mentioned it, because it sounded like a great idea at the time. But I didn't need it then, Murphy wasnt marking and bella only weighed about 15 pds...

I decided to give this new found treasure a spin. Attached to both the front clips on their harnesses, used only one leash to control two dogs and VIOLA!!!!! Magic!  My dogs now control eachother with their own body weight. When Murphy stops, Bella stops too, or just keeps walking and he follows and when Bella wants to bolt for a lizard, Murphy stands his ground and stops her in her tracks. I don't have to do much of anything, and nobody is yanking my arms out of the socket. 

This works great as they are about the same weight and one counterbalances the other perfectly. Walks are back to a pleasure again,

As for DH, He still hooks a homemade rope to their collars and lets them pull him down the street. I just don't ever walk with him and them anymore. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This sounds perfect, I'm glad you've found a way to enjoy walking with the doodles!

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Timely blog, thank you. I have been thinking about how to walk two dogs for a while now. Monty heals fine anywhere but the walk. On the walk, he is just like your Murphy: sniffing and peeing and sniffing some more.  Auggie has no walk manners yet. I've been sloppy and lazy with the training so when I take them both out, I just let them off leash on the trail and put them back on leash if somebody is coming. I know, horrible. But it's good to hear the coupler is working for you.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

My two walk to my left, Murphy chose the outside and Bella the inside position from day one. I was thinking he would teach her the ropes so to speak and as it ends up, she has really helped him with heel and wait. I barely have to hold the leash now and that makes for a less white fisted walk. I do a lot of training in our walks and have it now where I don't have to say a word at a curb before crossing. They stop with a traffic cop hand signal and go with a hand wave forward. I saw a gentleman do this with his two dogs once years ago when they were crossing the street in front of me and I was in awe and wanted that for my two. Sometimes the traffic is so loud they may not hear me so I wanted a silent command. I should try it in a fenced area, off leash and see how they respond.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Actually got through Amazon, so you can give DK the business with the amazon link.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=kakaduet%20leash&....


Big link Laurie, but mine is a Kakaduet coupler and it looks like its no longer available, but Sporn makes one as well and is on the same page that I hope this links takes you to.

[Maxwell & Lilly's Page]

I may try this. I currently have one dog that likes to walk on my right, and one on my left, so life is grand until they see a rabbit or squirrel, and then I have two leaping, rearing doodles! Do your dogs do the same thing, and if so, does the coupler help?

[Bonnie and Kona]

This sounds amazing! Hooray for your diligence in continuing to walk the doodles.

We have been going to a fenced in park. The dogs get to run free while we walk the perimeter. I have been thrilled with this option.Then it occurred to me last week that nobody is getting any training! uh oh. I may need to check out the coupler. Thanks for posting. 

[BG and Gavin]

Glad you found a solution that works for you!  DHs are so stubborn aren't they?

@Laurie - go to petsmart, it is called a coupler and only cost about seven bucks.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Carol, you are so nice to give DH the benefit of the doubt, but after 41 yrs of marriage, I know how to choose my battles and this is one that he will just not back down from. I have a feeling he might suspect a little "I told you so" should he come over to the other side. I'm sure I would just never say such a thing.......lol
I will look for the name and the site Laurie, and will post.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Please give me a link for this gadget. I need one desperately. I have about had it with my two and all the squirrels and groundhogs getting ready for winter. Great blog!!