Leashing Dogs Together

    • Gold Top Dog

    Leashing Dogs Together

    Once again I'm posting on behalf of my friend.  I'd get her to join herself but I kind of like to talk behind her back once in a while  heehee.

    Anyway here is her newest problem that I told her I would ask.  She is moving to Alberta to do some work in the bush for 4 months.  She is allowed to bring her dogs with her but has opted to leave her GSD with a friend as she is accident prone and there is no vet around for quite a ways.  Her other 2 dogs will be going with her.  And she can take them to work with her as well.  Basically she will be walking around in the bush mapping and marking for future spraying.  Her smaller dog Echo is very attached to her and very obedient.  She will NOT stray out of sight especially in a strange area.  Eclipse on the other hand is a wanderer.  My friend has recently gotten a prong collar for him to quell the leash pulling and will most likely tie him to her while she is out.  Her question is this.  Would it be possible to tie him to Echo instead?  She could not control him without the prong though.  She has tried it for short periods at home and Eclipse sticks to Echo like glue.  Would it be dangerous?  When she posted on her forum the advisors would only say that it would pose no training benefit.  Keep in mind that these are sled dogs so if there is a benefit it may be that they learn to work better as a team.  Mostly though it is just to keep Eclipse from wandering off.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Personally, I wouldn't advise it.  If the dog sticks to Echo like glue, and Echo sticks around the owner, why risk it?  It might be more prudent to take Echo and leave the other two at home.
    • Gold Top Dog



    Personally I would never do it, I would be afraid that my dogs would get into a fight and hurt each other. 


    • Gold Top Dog
    When I said that he sticks to Echo I meant on the lead.  When tied to her.  On his own he wanders.  These 2 dogs have their hierarchy worked out pretty well.  Also they are sled dogs and are hooked together all winter.  Leaving Eclipse at home is not an option.  There will be no one at her home all summer.  And he cant very well stay in a tent trailer by himself back at the camp.  Also Echo is a 65 pound dog and Eclipse is 75 pounds, if that makes any difference.  And she is dominant.(Echo)
    • Gold Top Dog






    Well, I've only had my two dogs for a year now, so my opinion isn't based on any kind of knowledge.  I just thought if the dogs were tied together, they might fight. 
    • Gold Top Dog
    Interesting question, I don't have enough knowledge to go near an answer. I wondered, though, can one dog (Echo) teach another (Eclipse) better behavior through leading by example?  
    • Gold Top Dog
    As far as the fighting goes, they will not be left alone like this, so any fighting that may occur will be headed off immediatly. And the dogs would likely only be tied together for a couple hours at a time.  Not the whole day.