Labradoodle & Goldendoodle Forum
On the road with doodles
I finally broke down and bought the doodles a new car. It was well past time. My mantra for the last couple years has been, it’s paid off, it’s really not that bad. But now the girls and I are set with an awesome dog mobile. And I’m off work for the next week and I would love to take them on a spontaneous road trip.
But here is the snag. We cannot all three walk together on a leash at the same time. It’s a disaster! Someone is going to die, and it’s going to be me as they tie me in a knot between them and drag me off toward the farthest squirrel. They’re great off leash at the park, but we can’t walk around the block. And they’re okay individually, but all of you who can manage two at a time are my heros.
My mom’s suggestion is to just take one of them and leave the other one here. But how would I ever look at one of them and tell them they couldn’t go? I just love them both so much. I imagine we’ll all just be staying here. But I really wish one of you smart people could think of a way to make this work, without practicing our leash walking skills for six months first!!
Stacy
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle on
-
After 40 years of owning dogs, I still don't know how to properly walk two together. I know some people who use couplers so that you are only holding one leash, but i don't know if that would help with the pulling. You might try a no-pull type harness for whoever pulls the hardest.
Congratulations on the new ride!
-
Permalink Reply by Lynda Kamrath on
-
Oh, I would add to that that a harness works better than a collar. I started with the dogs on harnesses, but now that they are accustomed to the routine, collars work fine.
It's funny, but the last car we bought, we got for the dogs. It is a Venza and the back is large enough for three dogs. We built a cage behind the back seats, put down a rubber truck mat, and side panels to hold their doggie needs. The mat cleans easily after trips to the beach, but we also have a memory foam pad covered with lambs wool for longer trips. (Do you think our dogs are spoiled??) It definitely has worked for us, but when we were test driving cars, be brought along the three dogs to see if there was enough room for them. This car won out.
-
Permalink Reply by Stacy on
-
Katie would be the puller. She's just so excited to get wherever we're going. Ava is happy to walk with me, but she has a bad habit of weaving back and forth in front of me. If she would just pick a side she would be perfect.
You know, I've never tried a harness and I don't know why! I think it's the idea that a well trained dog shouldn't need anything but a buckle collar and should know to walk nicely. But apparently I haven't done the best job with that. Maybe harnesses and a coupler would be just the thing! I think I'll make a Petco run and see what they have.
I'm not sure I'm brave enough to try for a multiple day trip to Colorado with them yet, but maybe we could try camping for a night at the lake that's only 30 miles from home. We could always pack up and come back. If only it wasn't so hot! I wish I had been able to do this last week when the weather was unseasonably wonderful.
-
-
JD was almost 7 years old when he learned to walk well enough with a plain old buckle collar to pass the CGC. :)
-
-
I think with just a little effort Ava could pass the cgc. Well, maybe. Maybe not the part where she has to be anywhere without me. But Katie still has a whole lot of puppy crazy in her. And really I don't mind. She's a happy dog. But she might enjoy going for more walks if we aren't both struggling the whole time.
-
-
We do it. I walk two at a time, and my husband walks three at a time. When I get the three together, it is just too much for me. Any two are fine. My husband made a special double leash and it hooks onto any leash. I actually use a retractable leash, but most people don't like them. I would not suggest that if you are just walking your dogs. I sometimes let my dogs sniff around and explore while we are on a walk. But they know when things get serious. My husband is always serious and that seems to work better. You can actually get more exercise for yourself if you walk them individually. Our normal routine is walk down to the dog park (1/4 mile), take them off leash and let them run around, then back on leash and back to the car. We have some great dog parks in this area and the dogs know them all.
-
-
Most people don't like retractable leashes because they are dangerous, both for humans and dogs.
-
Permalink Reply by DonMarie and Picco on
-
Have you seen a dual dog leash? https://www.amazon.com/YUP-Double-Dog-Leash-Med-Large/dp/B0006L0XFU
I'm curious if it would work in your situation. I've walked 2 dogs together but they were older and I had no problem.
-
-
That might be just the thing! I feel like being wrapped up in one leash would be so much better than being wrapped up in two!
-
-
Permalink Reply by Nancy on
-
I just mastered walking my 2 together last winter in Florida. I use the Easy Walk Harness on both of them. I use a 6 ' leash and allow them to be out front as long as they do not pull. I found the only way of doing this is to walk in the middle of the road, obviously not a busy road, so that there is no grass sniffing allowed, unless I bring them to the side and say "ok sniff". Oliver is horrible on leash but I found that if he there is nothing to sniff, he is much better. I usually hold 1 leash in each hand. Although this works for 2, it won't work for 3. Good luck!!!
-
-
Too many choices! But I came home with the petsafe easy walk harness. I just got home and put it on her and walked out the door with her on leash. And... she just walked right beside me. She didn't even try to pull. It can't possibly be that easy can it? All these years of struggle and I needed a 30 dollar harness? Despite how she looks when we go places, I have spent a lot of time and money training her. And I know the reason we aren't more successful is because I don't practice enough and I'm not consistent enough. But training walks where I have to fight her every step just isn't that much fun! So I avoid it and take her to the park and we play in the back instead. But if it's as easy as a different harness it's going to change our world!
© 2024 Created by Adina P.
Powered by
