? for people with 2+ dogs

• ? for people with 2+ dogs dawn Posted : 7/1/2006 12:43:34 PM Okay this may seem like a weird question, but I was wondering how those of you with 2 or more dogs take them for walks (specifically on-leash walks). As I've been considering another dog, I've been thinking over possible problems, and although it may seem strange, the image of myself attempting to  walk two dogs at once keeps grimly flashing before my eyes. Whinny is excellent on the leash, so its not that im worried about pulling or anything. More just...tangling, or dogs wanting to go in different directions...is this making sense? Do you all just stick to off-leash excercise to avoid these issues, or have any tips for making leash walks more pleasant? thanks. LIKE 23 REPLIES 448 VIEWS LAST POST MAXS MOM Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• jeano Posted : 7/1/2006 1:11:54 PM When I had two that were roughly the same size, and who were buds, I used a connector that allowed me to use just one leash. That worked very well. It would not work with dogs who are very different in size from each other. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• jensw Posted : 7/1/2006 1:31:35 PM Currently we either walk separately (i.e., I walk Roscoe,t hen I come home and walk Bella) or DH and I walk together with one dog each.  Eventually (read: when Roscoe gets better at walking on a loose leash) I'll get a coupler like Jeano and do them together *or* Bella will get to be off-leash and Roscoe will be on-leash (Roscoe has a terrible recall in "hunting" areas and I don't see that ever changing [8|]).  0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• georgie4682 Posted : 7/1/2006 1:37:05 PM I have three dogs and it is a pain to walk them together.  They seem to be much better behaved when they are alone, plus they get me all to themselves.  Sometimes my fiance and I would walk together...he takes Max and I take Buster and Lady, but it is soooooo frustrating.  Buster and Lady go in different directions and at different speeds.  If the dogs were well behaved I wouldn't mind walking them together, but it does give me a nice 3-4 mile walk everyday walking everybody separately. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Mark Posted : 7/1/2006 1:43:46 PM i bought a splitter for the 3 dogs i have.my female is very competitive and doesnt like walking unless she is in the lead...i have to run Kiara and Kovu for 15 minutes before i can walk the two together.after the excercise they are fine...i found a nice nylon splitter lead for under 20 dollars with a padded handle.the swiveled slpit makes it hard to get tangled.  i also like to keep the dogs relatively close on the splitter so they cant wander away from eachother... 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• spiritdogs Posted : 7/1/2006 1:47:47 PM I use a coupler on Sioux and Sequoyah and walk them on my left, and put Maska on a single lead on my right, since he's taller, and the girls are about the same size. Dancer goes leashless in the yard, but she's 17+, so we don't walk her with the group.  Fergie is so small that we just walk her around the property (2 acres). 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• dawn Posted : 7/1/2006 1:57:53 PM hmm. thanks for your replies. the thought of doing seperate walks did cross my mind. i think it seems like alot depends on the "walking style" of each dog and whether they'd be compatible together. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• dogslyfe Posted : 7/1/2006 2:04:29 PM It depends.  Sometimes I'll put the 3-dog coupler on Ginger, Bree, and June, and have them walk at my left side.  Zippy and Mitzi go on 6' leashes, in my right hand, and they walk out in front.  That's the least chaotic method.  When the small dogs start to lag some, I pull them to my right side.   I have walked up to four on seperate leashes with little to no tangling problems.  Typically, though, I'll just walk the smaller dogs together, and then the bigger dogs.  When I take more than two at a time, they get more of a pack mentality going on, and sometimes it takes me a few minutes to get their attention.    However, when I only walk two of them, they'll walk on seperate leashes, either both to my left side, or one on the left, and one on the right. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Bari Posted : 7/1/2006 2:11:05 PM With my 3, I tried and it just didn't work because of the pace of the dogs.  So I walk the boys together, Carnegie and Kahlua and then my senior miss, Harley. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Terri Posted : 7/1/2006 3:13:05 PM Whinny, I had the same thought before we got Odin. I couldn't picture myself walking to dogs. But it's actually much easier than I ever thought it would be. We use head halters on both boys. I have one on each side of me (I keep them right next to me for now in the hopes that someday that will come natural to them), so they never get tangled. I tried a coupler, but Loki ended up pulling Odin all over the place, so it didn't work for us.   The only time I have trouble is when we pass another dog. It is hard to get both of my boys to settle down. They're both friendly and just want to meet the dog, but they start whining, barking and pulling. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• micksmom Posted : 7/1/2006 3:16:54 PM Unless the dogs are used to walking together, i've found it easier to use two leashes. A couple of times I used a coupler to walk Mick and our then camp director's yellow Lab.  Poor Mick was getting yanked on by the other dog.  I used to walk our Husky/GSD and the Golden we were babysitting all over with two leashes in one hand.  It really depends a lot on the behavior of the dogs. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• marlania Posted : 7/1/2006 4:26:35 PM If I'm walking Brown and Grey by myself, I use a coupler or separate leashes.   0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Alexis Posted : 7/1/2006 4:40:32 PM I use the two extend leashes which is not the best situation, but I have it down to a science.  0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• malnmutt Posted : 7/1/2006 9:36:20 PM Two leashes, no coupler. I like to be able to split them up if they're causing a rukus. Also, with my dogs, acting like a butthead means you get loose leash priveleges revoked so then just one has to stick by my side. It works for us! 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Pam Posted : 7/1/2006 9:54:41 PM At first was really hard. Then I got the hang how to do it.  My English bulldog goes real slow and sniffs and pees everywhere.  My gordon setter is rearing to go or run.  He has learned that we follow the bulldog since she is his alpha .  We go a short ways adn turn around before she gets tired out.  Then I take her inside and continue a power walk with my setter.   During the time I have the 2, I have learned to manuever 2 leashes like an orchestra leader,  I amaze myself now. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login