Walking two dogs at once (ottoluv)

I always walk my hounds via coupler...either 2 dog or 3....I have an adjustable one that allows for one "arm" to be long and the other short to accomodate the Hound different sizes and speeds.

I don't really organize our walks as they're just in the neighborhoods where traffics not really an issue, people or cars. We just kinda hook em up and go...they tend to trail together and stay together quite well.

When training pups to walk on a leash I always do so by hooking them up to an older hound...the hound trains them that they are supposed to walk...without any real drama.

I tried using a coupler before Neiko was trained to walk nicely on a leash and it was a disaster. Poor Dakota got tugged all over the place, so I would advise against that until both of your dogs walk nicely.

If I let the 2 dog walk right next to each other, it often turns in to a nose match - as in who can get their nose in front just a little - kind of like a competition (which is no fun for me). So, what I do now is make 1 dog walk on each side of me. This way, they both walk very nicely. It's amazing the difference between letting them walk on the same side vs. different sides. Walking on the same side just gets their competitive juices flowing - they have to sniff the same things, pee on the same things etc. Walking on diff. sides, they pay attention to the sights and sounds on their own side. Both dogs will fall in to a loose heel position without me even asking for it.

Jewlieee

I tried using a coupler before Neiko was trained to walk nicely on a leash and it was a disaster. Poor Dakota got tugged all over the place, so I would advise against that until both of your dogs walk nicely.

If I let the 2 dog walk right next to each other, it often turns in to a nose match - as in who can get their nose in front just a little - kind of like a competition (which is no fun for me). So, what I do now is make 1 dog walk on each side of me. This way, they both walk very nicely. It's amazing the difference between letting them walk on the same side vs. different sides. Walking on the same side just gets their competitive juices flowing - they have to sniff the same things, pee on the same things etc. Walking on diff. sides, they pay attention to the sights and sounds on their own side. Both dogs will fall in to a loose heel position without me even asking for it.

I walk two big, strong dogs by myself but I can't use a coupler yet either.  I can't expect Coke to walk like Kenya because he's never been trained, and Kenya shouldn't have to put up with his pulling.  So, I use two separate leashes and hold the dogs accountable for what I know they already understand.  That means Kenya walks on my immediate left or out front because she likes to be out front and knows how to lead without pulling.  Coke walks on the left, but farther over and is allowed more space.  He likes to sniff the grass, so I always walk so that he is on the outer edge, but on the "inside" meaning he's on the yard side, not street side.  Kenya doesn't care about sniffing, only working or walking, so she stays right at heel or just ahead of me.  Since Coke is submissive to Kenya and more concerned about sniffing (he pulls back, not ahead), they are fine side by side.  Kenya wears a flat or a martingale and Coke wears and Easy Walk.  The only real trouble comes if there is a squirrel or when we have to turn a corner because Coke doesn't understand direction signals yet.

I actually would not use a coupler on any dog that has been having reactivity problems.  I would also continue to walk them separately until they are both fluent in loose leash walking on cue.  JMHO 

 I can't see myself ever using a coupler. I walk both dogs together once a day, but they both still get solo walks once a day. I feel that especially for Conrad (my problem child) that's important. I've also noticed like the others that if I walk one in one hand and one in the other rather than holding both leashes in one hand and expecting them to both walk side-by-side, it can turn in to a bit of a race. Marlowe's spot is on my right, Conrad's on my left. Sometimes they both go out front and that's fine as long as they don't pull. But when I call them back to walk at my side, they each have their own side.

One thing, and I know this seems kind of silly, but one day last week I all of a sudden noticed how heavily I rely on this: I use two leashes that are quite different. Same length, but two different brands and widths. It just kind of worked out like that, I didn't do it on purpose, but the result is that I can always tell which dog is in which hand, when we 're at the park and I let the dogs wander and sniff a bit. It really helps in keeping my leashes straight and untangled. Even when they're behind me, I always know who is where because Marlowe's is the thin single-ply PetCo cheapie leash and Conrad is the wider fancy Lupine leash. I don't even have to think about it.

houndlove

  I use two leashes that are quite different. Same length, but two different brands and widths. It just kind of worked out like that, I didn't do it on purpose, but the result is that I can always tell which dog is in which hand, when we 're at the park and I let the dogs wander and sniff a bit. It really helps in keeping my leashes straight and untangled. Even when they're behind me, I always know who is where because Marlowe's is the thin single-ply PetCo cheapie leash and Conrad is the wider fancy Lupine leash. I don't even have to think about it.

I have used a coupler and I like them, the only drawback is if you have a problem with one dog the other ends up getting a correction that you do not intend. Example: I have both on coupler, Hektor lunges at something, Gunnar gets corrected although he did nothing wrong. Because of this I am using two leads now and will revert to a coupler once Hektor is 100% reliable.

Just to clarify: the correction comes from the other dog lunging not from me.

Hmm I like that idea too. I have 2 of the same leashes and sometimes I'm fumbling to see whose is whose. The problem with that is, if Dakota's leash slips out of my hand, she's off. Neiko is not such a problem. 

My experience has been that couplers are appropriate when both dogs are well trained and neither dog is reactive.  I have switched to two leashes one on the left and one on the right.  Nora really amps up her reactivity when she is walking with Dess.  Put one dog on each side of my body and it is much easier.

Not that this would be an issue for you, but I have rather strong dogs and I've found using a coupler causes mine to team up and compete for the lead.  The resulting walk isn't enjoyable for me.  I can walk all six on their own leads without issues, but with two and a coupler, somehow I'm just not heard.  But, of course, when you have six leads in your hand, it makes little difference how different they are......I always manage to get confused!

When I walk multiple dogs I always use separate leashes and have the dogs walk in front of me like driving a team of horses. We would not fit on the trails if we all walked side-by-side.

mudpuppy

When I walk multiple dogs I always use separate leashes and have the dogs walk in front of me like driving a team of horses. We would not fit on the trails if we all walked side-by-side.

This is actually another reason that I don't use a coupler. We walk primarily on city sidewalks and I do need the ability to move them around in formation to get through various tight squeezes. Sometimes we need to be in single-file,  sometimes I need both of them on one side of me, sometimes I need them behind me, or both in front. Conrad is reactive (and much more so when Marlowe is around), but even if he weren't out-and-out reactive, he is still a bit spooky over some things and he does like to give certain things a pretty wide berth (cars that are parked but running is one thing he likes to give a good 5 foot clearance to). It's just better for all involved if we have a lot of options as far as positioning.

I like side-by-side too, and I let my male in front. Before you all smile (or frown), it's because I need to keep an eye on his gait. He's disabled in so many ways and I need to watch for cues from him to let me know when we have to get him home FAST. It's pretty nice but I get a fair amount of flak for letting him go in front, but really, it's for a good reason. When I say, "Get on my good side" to him he slows up, waits until I pass, and then squeezes himself in next to his sister (so they're both on my left).

Oh yes, our walks are full of all kinds of training and gait-watching activities.