Walking Multiple Doodles

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I have been walking Guinness and Murphy together since Murph came home to us.  Recently our walks have been a nightmare, with Murphy trying to pull ahead and lunging if he sees other people or dogs.  I took Murphy for a training walk alone this afternoon, and he was entirely different.  He was focused on me (of course I had treats), and he never once tried to get in front of me.  I'm thinking that on the walks my two guys may be vying for the "lead" position, and that's the problem.  Have others experienced this, and how did you respond.  Am I doomed to having to walk them one by one?  I sure hope not, because we like to take them everywhere with us.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I have a "fast" doodle and one who heels, also. I bought a lead with a Y-shaped attachment that can hook to both dogs, but then, I put gentle leader harnesses on both dogs. They both walk to my left and if I position my hand about one foot up on the leash from the Y part and keep it centered between the two dogs I can give the "fast" one a tug on the gentle leader harness and slow her down. Since my other dog is slightly behind her and not going as fast, she gets no correction. It has worked so far!

[Jean, Rylee and Cooper]

Hi Ginny,

I just read your post and I use harnesses and I have the Y shaped attachment but I have been letting them walk ahead of me. Rylee my older doodle will heel pretty good when I walk her alone but Cooper my 5 month old doesn't like to. I have been letting them walk ahead of me when I walk them together. How do you get them to heel and have I been doing it all wrong? Is it too late? I'd love to have them walk next to me.
Any suggestions?

[Adina P]

For us (with Cass, Thule and Rosco....since Boca won't be going on double doodle walks till she's done training or at least EXTREMELY good at heeling on leash around various commonly encountered distractions). Success at walking 2 or 3 came only when ALL three were able to heel well on leash during entire walks. Before that it was hit and miss...mostly miss. So from my experience...when both dogs can be tested in various settings and do well...then you can try bringing them together for successful training walks together.

[Adina P]

Ex:

Notice Thule on the inside. She always did best heeling on the inside. IF she was the middle dog or outside dog she got antsy and tried to walk farther ahead or diagonally so she was closer to true heel position. So she got the inside and the other two ended up wherever they ended up.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Right now I have 4 dogs (my 3 and a foster) and I have 2 brace (or Y) leads. Harlow and Baxter are good healers and Sherlock is a puller. We use a gentle leader easy walk harness on him and is coupled with Harlow on 1 brace. Then Baxter and the foster are coupled on the second brace. When DH and I are walking together everyone walks on the left side; but if I an walking them alone 2 are on the left and 2 are on the right with me in the middle. If Sherlock and Baxter are coupled they compete to see who walks lead.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks everyone for your advice. Adina, the pictures are wonderful...they give me hope. I know now what I'm doing wrong. Until Murph is trained, we'll be walking one by one. It worked well when Murph was a puppy, but those days are "history". Right now his entire focus is on trying to be the "boss". Until we resolve that, I'll be walking him alone. I also realize that I've been walking them the wrong way. I trained Guinness to heel on my left side (which he does well), so I had Murph positioned on my right (which is my stronger side in case he lunged). I think that's a mistake too. Once Murph is trained I'll walk them both on the left which is the natural heel position. I also need some new "equipment" before I walk them together again. Thank you all again! What would I do without DK???

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I can see that I need to take Adina's advice also. We could easily walk Ned with anybody and we could easily walk our lab mix with anybody. Adding Gordie the ADHD walker and Clancy makes it really hard. Gordie will always be a puller without a halti - he knows how but just gets distracted and lets the tug of the harness be his reminder. Clancy needs more independent work - I just feel bad about leaving Neddie poo at home.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I really "get that", Nancy. I'm hating leaving Guinness when I take Murph out for his training walks. Guinness just sits at the door waiting and looking pathetic. I try to make it up to him in other ways....I sneak him treats when his brother isn't looking.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Oh, you don't even wanna hear Lucy when I leave her and try and go train with Sophie ....... she HOWLS like a regular ole hound dog. You can hear her half way down the street! It is the saddest sound you have ever heard!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I have a very very iffy back. So I have worked hard with each dog alone to get to the point where I can walk both doodles together. I walk Tigger on the left as he is not as reliable as Roo, being stuck in a long adolesence. He is absolutely excellent as long as he is alone; he does not distract easily or pull plus Roo gives him much more confidence. Without Roo he is pretty much glued to me. Roo being more experienced walks on the right. Roo is not perfect alone and has nothing but confidence, but good to very good ( depending on the day), with an occasional "soccer field" day thrown in for good measure.

I was trying to walk them holding a leash on each side of me, but I had a real break through when I switched to a "hands free" dog walker system. There are several available. They are all basically an adjustable nylon waist piece. Two nylon adjustable length leashes with loops to hold them on the waist piece. I keep both leashes just long enough so that the dogs can down on command and still have a little slack. This also means they can only take about three steps from the heel before they hit the end of the leash, so neither can work up too much momentum and pull me over. Mine also has two short loops on the waist piece to fasten the leashes to if the leash is not hooked to the dog. I have not found much use for them.

The breakthrough part came after I had finished a set of lessons for the CGC test in which the trainer helped me realize that I was aggravating Roo's pulling or dashing after something, usually a dog. He was aware of even the slightest give and take in my hand, even just a closing or tensing of my hand if I was anticipating trouble. Whereas Tigger simply did not react to it or reacted by sticking closer to me. With Roo attached to my waist, if he does pull I can not pull back and it is similar to pulling on a tie down. Also he can not feel my hand contract if I see another dog and therefore stays calmer. It has made a significant difference in my walks and my back. With no arm extension or even slight pull on the arm from either dog my back and pelvis has stayed where it belongs much better.

In ending, however, I will say that I never go out without a full pouch of delicious smelly training treats also hooked to my waist. I make quite a fashion statement in my full dog walking get-up which sometimes also includes my lovely wide black elastic back support. I use the treats to try and capture each dog's attention before he sees the distraction. I am not always as alert to every opportunity as they are. At least I am never bored. I cannot forsee the day when I will be able to go with absolutely no treats. However a year ago I did not forsee the really pleasant ( if fashion challenged) walks we have now. I do use prong or pinch collars which I know some object to, but the are difficult to use improperly and they are better than a dog pulling with a straight or choke collar on his windpipe. I have had way too many dogs slip a gentle leader to consider that.

So long story short, work like crazy with Murphy, I do think two short 15 minute training sessions a day are better than one longer one, although it can be hard to fit in two. Then think about using one of the hands free systems with a dog on each side.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks so much, Maryann. I'll definitely look for one of the "hands free" systems. You made me laugh thinking of you in your "multiple dog walking outfit"....looks like I'll also be making my own fashion statement!

[Kyoko]

My 2 dogs are very different in their age and their needs.
I take Charlie out to the park early in the morning to do 4 miles, and then once we return home, Butter comes with us to walk around the block. Charlie is 21 months, needing more exercise and can walk longer and faster, and heels very well, while Butter now walks much slower, wants to stop to sniff things every 2 feet, and cannot walk distance.
Because of these diffenrences, I have to walk them separately, but they enjoy being out together, so Charlie comes along when I take Butter out...