DogBoston

Hi Jo,
I live in the city and have two big, generally well behaved, male dogs. I used to take long walks with them together every day until the younger one hit puberty. If they see another male, they naturally want to fight and are emboldened because they are in a “pack”. I have no problem pulling one male out of a fight, but two is a real juggling act.

I started to walk them separately, but this is almost as difficult as a dog fight! Neither one likes being left alone, and they make a very big deal out of it. Now the youngest has figured out that he can turn a doorknob with his teeth, so closing one in a room while the other is leashed up is not an option anymore.

I have just been letting them out into the back yard and not walking them very much anymore as a result. I feel guilty about it though, since I can see that they get bored, and know that they could really use more exercise.

I’d like for the one to behave and quietly wait his turn while I take the other one out. I am starting to feel like this is an impossible dream though. I sure would appreciate any good advice you have to offer as to how I can condition them to do this. Like I say, they are mostly well behaved, so I know that feeling left out must be very difficult for them
Kristal

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Hi Kristal,

I’m a BIG believer in one-on-one quality time with each of my dogs — and it’s something I started when they were younger. I got them into the habit by training various behaviors with one dog at a time, when the others were either on the other side of the door or in a crate.

You can do the same thing now, and work your way toward the single dog walks.

Start slowly. Tether the dogs on opposite sides of the room and take turns working on behaviors with each in turn. If one gets all crazy, don’t start working with him until he’s quiet — this will reward the quiet behavior while waiting for you.

When they have no problem waiting while you work with the other one, try taking one in the other room to work for a few minutes while the other is tethered safely. Work only for a minute or so, then come back to reward the one left behind… then switch off. Slowly make the time that you are working with one or the other longer and longer. When they’re fine at working in this way, then take one outside the door, work for a minute or two then reward the one left behind, as above.When you get to the part where you take one dog outside, give the remaining dog a cookie or chewie when you leave with the other.

Depending on your dogs and how often you practice, you may find that within a week or two you’re able to take a short walk with each one separately… the first walks should be VERY short, just 5 or 10 minutes, and as before, increase the time very slowly…

Good luck!

Jo Jacques, CPDT, CPCT
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Dog-Friendly Training and Behavior Consulting
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