Need advice from those of you with multiple dogs

Lovely said:
Instead of clicking, you could get a dog whistle to make a marking sound for the behavior you want. You could also do a thumbs-up or something in conjunction in case you don't have the whistle. I've always done hand signals with the cue for sit, down, stay, wait, etc...

Sit: I turn my palm up. I make it more animated if the surroundings are distracting.
Down: Turn the palm down and angle my hand toward the ground.
Stay: Palm facing outward, fingers oriented up. If I'm stressing it, I'll push out at the same time.
Wait: Palm facing outward, fingers oriented down. (I twist to the outside so I don't break my wrist.)

I heard somewhere that Shelties only need to be lured into position 8 times before they "have it"... can't remember the source.
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Judy and Barbara also suggested I get a single tone whistle. I meant to get it yesterday when I was out and I forgot. I need it because my yard is pretty big and if Cooper goes to the far corner he cannot hear me, so I can't get his attention.
 
I trained a deaf dalmation and the key was attention. First week I had him, I tethered him to me with a 6ft lead as I moved around the house. Everytime he looked at me I treated him. Soon he was watching me all the time.

Then I just choose the hand signals I wanted to use and lure him into position with the treat and the hand signals. Then I faded the lure and just used the hand signal. I also taught him to look at me with a small leash pop since he couldn't hear if he got in front of me. A foot tap on the floor indoors also signaled look at me. Then I could call him with my hand signal.

I never had him off lead outdoors and used a 30 ft long line to give him some freedom. I placed him in a nice home and he did really well.

As for walking multiple dogs. I have them on 3 leashes. 2 to the left and 1 to right. No rules other then don't pull. and sit when I stop.
 
Justicemom said:
I trained a deaf dalmation and the key was attention. First week I had him, I tethered him to me with a 6ft lead as I moved around the house. Everytime he looked at me I treated him. Soon he was watching me all the time.

Then I just choose the hand signals I wanted to use and lure him into position with the treat and the hand signals. Then I faded the lure and just used the hand signal. I also taught him to look at me with a small leash pop since he couldn't hear if he got in front of me. A foot tap on the floor indoors also signaled look at me. Then I could call him with my hand signal.

I never had him off lead outdoors and used a 30 ft long line to give him some freedom. I placed him in a nice home and he did really well.

As for walking multiple dogs. I have them on 3 leashes. 2 to the left and 1 to right. No rules other then don't pull. and sit when I stop.
Click to expand...


Great info! Thank you!
 
Callie walks on my left, Happy on my right. I have purchased a coupler so Cranberry and Callie can both be on my left but I have not used it yet. He is still learning to walk on leash :wink2:
 
I use two leashes, both the same length - about 4 feet long. I try to get both dogs to walk to my right. I know that "heal" training says they should be on your left, but I can control them better this way. I use my fingers to slow down one pup over the other, if one is going too fast or too slow - my index for the outside pup and my ring finger for the inside pup.

Sometimes I have to do some gymnastics to untangle leashes if one pup decides to stop and smell the "roses" (or more accurately, some garbage or other dogs' pee), but I've become quite adept at pulling up one pup while maintaining the momentum of the other.

I guess this is MY agility exercise! :lol:
 
BarbV said:
I use two leashes, both the same length - about 4 feet long. I try to get both dogs to walk to my right. I know that "heal" training says they should be on your left, but I can control them better this way. I use my fingers to slow down one pup over the other, if one is going too fast or too slow - my index for the outside pup and my ring finger for the inside pup.

Sometimes I have to do some gymnastics to untangle leashes if one pup decides to stop and smell the "roses" (or more accurately, some garbage or other dogs' pee), but I've become quite adept at pulling up one pup while maintaining the momentum of the other.

I guess this is MY agility exercise! :lol:
Click to expand...

Barb, my leashes are 5' but I did have them shortened up in my hand. Perhaps I'll buy a couple of shorter ones. It seems easier to manage them that way. I had one on each side, but I'll try both with one hand and see how it works too.

Thanks everyone for your advice!

Suzie
 
Perhaps my leashes are 5", I'm not sure....but I do hold them both in one hand (my right), and normally the boys trot side by side. I do shorten the leashes if traffic is coming or some other distraction (e.g. annoying kids) I really do use my fingers to control the leashes....almost like a puppeteer!
 
Sadie walks perfectly on leash where as Ginny I'm still training so I've found it better to walk with one on each side when I'm alone.
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