Mulitple dog walking

[Doglover1988]

Just wondering how you guys with mulitple dogs walk. I have 4 of them and it can be difficult at times. Each by themselves walks very well but all four get tangled together. Any tips on walking 4 dogs together? I have a 2 dog coupler that I put on Gracie and Lucy and then Maggie and Zoe have their own leashes this is a little easier than having four separate leashes but it is still pretty hard.

[bigdoglover]

Have you tried the coupler on Maggie and Zoe? This would give you one leash per hand and no tangles! Otherwise, put on your walking shoes, cause you're gonna be out alot! LOL

Sorry, had to tease....seriously, I would try the coupler for Maggie and Zoe as well.

[britishbandit]

That's kind of tricky with 4 dogs. I won't walk Tysa and PJ together, but sometimes have a friend come along so they can be out together. People seem terrified enough around here with me walking one Rottweiler, never mind two...LOL. And since I'm not very big, I can see why people would be a bit nervous, especially with PJ. Although the funny thing is, my dogs are two of the nicest walkers I've seen around here. PJ is excellent, right by my side always, Tysa needs some work, for the most part walks loose by my side.
It takes a lot of my day walking dogs....haha.

Maybe you could get a big strong belt, and put the leashes on that! LOL Sorry, I know I joke, but I really don't know what else you can do.

[Doglover1988]

I guess I should get another dog coupler. Thanks for the help. I'm interested to hear what other people with multiple dogs do. I saw quadruple dog walker too online and might order it and try it out. All my dogs get along very well so it shouldn't be a problem. They are all small to medium dogs and people usually aren't afraid of them they just give me odd looks sometimes.

[Sugardog]

When I walk my three at one time, I have an order lol.

My akita mix is usually on the inside, closest to me, then one of my other two dogs on the other side of her. The remaining dog usually walks on the other side. And they're usually all on seperate leashes or I'll make a loop and attatch my whippet mix's leash to the Akita mix's.

Or, they're walking in front of me (not pulling, just walking ahead of me) they'll just all be in a row walking. It's pretty amusing walking 2 huge dogs and one little one all at once too. I usually get some funny looks because I have a thin figure so people probably question wether I could hold them back if the large dogs decided to take off

[WolfRyder]

our older dog is a major puller when he's with the 10 month old. I usually walk him separately. Alone, he walks pretty well.

But he's competitive and wants to be ahead of the puppy and she just wants to walk with him. Thus, a "race" begins LOL

When I walk them together, I tether the cocker (puller) to a waist leash on my left (stronger hand) and the puppy (nice walker) on my right and we do okay.

If your dogs walk nicely, I'd get another dual leash. I've seen the quad lease too (and on TV a dog walker was using a multi-dog leash) but I don't know how it would be if they all decided to disobey at once and take off

[rottielover]

when I had 2 dogs, no way would I walk them together, did not want the other one to pick up the nasty habits...will explain later.
Too hard to handle when you have large dogs, Unless you are a professional trainer, and when you say boo, it's done on the spot.
Dogs are just that, dogs, even the best trained dogs have urges. Most of the time they can control it. It just takes that one time.
So I say you are really brave to try and tackle 4

[mrsgrubby]

I only have two dogs, so i walk them with one on my right and one on my left. works great.

[Doglover1988]

My dogs aren't large though so I don't have to worry about them pulling me. Gracie is only 20 lbs, Zoe is 30 but is 7 years old and very well trained she always heals right beside me, Maggie is only 12 pounds, and lucy is about 40 lbs she pulls the most but I can deal with it. I have been walking them for a long time like this with no problems they are very well behaved. Mrsgrubby that worked really well when I only had 2 dogs. I would do either that or use my 2 dog coupler.

[SpringerLover]

I only have two... and rarely walk Cassie with the two of mine but when I do... I'll put a dog on each side and then one out front usually. The only time they're walked together usually is at the fair so they're on short leashes anyways and GLs and I've never had an issue (maybe I'm lucky though)... haha

Maybe one on each side then two out front? haha... me, I'm not a fan of couplers connecting the dogs directly but if they walk well on it, then by all means keep using it.

[shaerenae]

Usually Rus and I split them up...2 and 2, and they all walk pretty well together. McDreamy is getting the hang of it, and you just tell her to follow whichever one she's paired up with. There are times (at shows, when Rus drops me off at the door to take the dogs to the grooming area) that I will try to tackle 3 at a time, when we just had the 3. Duchees, Ruby and Phantom have perfected the "3 man weave" (my basketball coach would have LOVED them!! hehe). My 3 leads end up braided perfectly...LOL We'll see what happens when I try to walk all 4 in at one time...could be a big mess!

Good luck to you!!

[Doglover1988]

Hahaha you just described perfectly what happens with my four! They braid the leash perfectly. I end up taking a long time to untangle it.

[Beryl]

Bumping this up because I got a coupler and after removing the leash, I liked having them tethered around the house. I'd like them to get use to going about in unison so I'm thinking that a 15-20 minute training time with them tethered might be a good idea.
http://www.dogster.com/video/416544/Tethered
Thoughts?

[Punkygirl0101]

I only walk 2 dogs at a time, because there are dogs wandering over here (Two chows whose owner lets them wander, two beagle mixes who always "Get out of their yard", and the random strays), so for my dogs safety I walk two, then I can pick them both up if an unfamiliar dog comes near us. (I am 6 feet tall, so I can easily hold them over my head and protect them from the other dogs).

[Beryl]

Punky - I can relate. I'm only 5'10" but I've had to do that with my 2 guys. That is why I don't walk them much around the neighborhood. A lot of our neighbors have HUGE dogs that they let run around w/o leashes.