Training two dogs at a time

[Barrett]

I am getting Lucy ready for obedience classes. Classes are full so she cant start until February and I am worried that she would lose too much training and socializing by then. She will be excatly 16 weeks old by the time she starts. I have been working on her commands since she was 9 weeks old and she can already sit, down, leave it, and stay (for only one minute). My problem is trying to get Bailey and Lucy to do their commands together. They can each do them on their own perfectly but together, sitting right next to each other is not working very well. Lucy just wants to play instead.

What do you multiple dog owners do when you train two or more dogs at once? I am also worried about leaving Bailey home when I take Lucy to class, should I try to get them both in class together?

[Carrie]

I don't see how you could take them both to class together. You might have to do the baby first. 16 weeks will be OK if she's had some socializing otherwise. Usually you don't start till the vaccines are done anyhow at about that time.

It's not easy to train my 4 dogs at home all at the same time. LOL. Well, actually 3. Bonnie's trained well enough. So they each know some commands. I don't work that much with my Chi's because they're small and not much trouble. They come when they're called and don't do much that bothers me. They're just great little companions. They know their basics though, can walk nicely next to me etc.... Lyric takes most of my energy as far as training goes. I need him to be very, very well trained.

But they all will sit and down together. They have to wait for their treat till the last rear end goes down. That's just the way it is. When all 3 butts are on the ground, out come the treats. But they're each marked the second their rear hits the deck. That is....."Chulita, goooood sit. "Lyric, gooooood sit" Then we may be waiting for Jose. LOL. Then when Jose sits, usually very soon after the last guy, then it's "Jose, good sit." Treat, treat, treat. One more treat for Bonnie. She doesn't have to do anything for her treat.

I practice out on the trails or golf course on our walk. They are all called to come. They sit in front of me. They get praised. But first they had to learn individually.

Another thing we work on is dinner time. If I have someone over and we eat at the table, all the dogs have learned to go lie down on a rug about 6 or 8 feet away and stay there until dinner is over. They do not get up. Because I started when they were young and didn't have all these dogs all at once, it wasn't that hard. But I do have to jump up from time to time to remind one of them, usually Lyric. The others have this down pretty reliably.

Anyhow, the dogs need to get a handle on some of this individually first. Then you can try them together on a few easy commands. But the classes, I'd suggest one at a time unless your hubby could go with you and you do one dog and he does the other.

Let us know how it goes.

[minpinsrock]

I know I had a time tring to get buddy and Cheyenne to sit down together the other day....but I bride them with treats and they eventually did....Do you use treats as rewards for sitting?

[Rip's Girl]

Well, your dogs are similar in age to my dogs, I imagine.. Bailey is over 1 year old (??) and Lucy is 4 months old..

I wouldn't take both to class, unless your husband wanted to handle one of them.. If Bailey is already well-versed in basic obedience, I'd run Lucy through a basic OB class and then take on a more advanced training course with Bailey, while Lucy was still perfecting her commands.

[Barrett]

Well I use their kibble for treats...I don't want them getting over weight. I had a little problem with Bailey guarding food bowls from Lucy so I make them both do a trick for each kibble during meal times. They can both get training time in and learn that I am in charge of food all at the same time to stop Baileys new jealousy. Bailey is quick to do her commands and does everything perfectly. She has finished all advanced classes and even has her CGC. Lucy of course is only 13 weeks old and is learning control. I will have to work on her more without distractions before I expect her to listen with Bailey in the room. She has grown so much and I forget she is still just a baby. I think I get carried away worrying about training and socialization before she hits four months. I read that 6-16 weeks are the most critical time for a puppy to learn and I don't want to ruin her chances of being a well balanced pup.

[Rip's Girl]

Also, on getting them to sit together.. Definitely work with Lucy and get her to do a solid "sit-stay" for a few seconds before you start having her work with Bailey. Bailey is a huge distraction to her and Lucy is probably a huge distraction to Bailey, so it'll take some time for both of your girls to get in the habit of obeying you while the other is watching.

[Barrett]

The reason I wanted to take them both to class is because I am pretty much a single doggy Mom 4-5 days a week. My husband is a pilot and is bouncing around the country all week and I am home alone. I don't know how Bailey will feel about me leaving her home while I take Lucy to class. I don't want her to get upset that I am seperating her from Lucy. As it is now I can't take one out of the room without the other crying. They are already inseperable...which is guess is a little unhealthy huh? Am I doing something wrong already?!?!?

[Barrett]

LOL Rips we posted at the same time. I will work on the solid sit/stay first before I put them together. I don't want to confuse Lucy and make the training game not fun for her. She is a smart little cookie and I just have to lay off them a little bit.

[Carrie]

Oh yea.....for quite a while, you'll need to work Lucy without distractions, seperating the dogs while you work with her. Later on they'll be able to do stuff together. I forget things because my dogs are fairly spaced out in age, except for Jose who's almost 3 and Lyric who's about 1.5 yrs. So, by the time I got a new pup, the other ones were getting older and had some training behind them already. Chuli's 4.5 yrs. and Bonnie's really old.

When I got Lyric, I had to take him outside by himself and if I did stuff inside, I'd take him into a room by himself. There was no way he could do anything with the others around. Now he can.

The socializing is the main important thing and yes, before she's 16 weeks and thereafter. But get lots of that in right away. Hopefully you can find some friendly dogs of friend's that have their vaccines in order. Then he could visit with them. And people....lots of people. LOL. That was difficult where I live...had to drive out of my way to socialize Lyric every day. And still, every opportunity I have to let him around people, I do. But I don't worry about every single day anymore. He's really quite fine with people and dogs.

Good luck. Let us know how it turns out with the class...if your hubby can go too, that would be neat.

[Carrie]

As it is now I can't take one out of the room without the other crying. They are already inseperable...which is guess is a little unhealthy huh?

Uh-oh.....sounds like a case of being herd bound. LOL. That's what my horses did when I'd ride off into the sunset on one of them. The other had a fit.

Well, you best start practicing. LOL. Take one outside for 5 minutes and bring her back in and increase the seperation gradually I guess.

Sorry, I have to chuckle a little how you tell things....like...woops. LOL.

[Barrett]

Thanks for the advise you guys. I'll work on them seperatly for now and slowly add distractions. LOL Carrie, sometimes I work my own problems out as I type up the questions...When I see it up on the screen I'm like "DOPE" I see whats happening here! LOL

[Carrie]

LOL Barrett...me too. Sometimes I inadvertantly reward bad behavior and then wonder why they're acting like this. Then I think (at least once in a while) duh....no wonder!

[poodlesmom]

Farley was already in obed. classes when I got Chloe. For her beginning classes she went on a different nite than he did. I think it is important for them to learn to be apart as well which will help her bond more so with you than with Bailey. Before Chloe started classes I could see that happening with them.

Once she advanced out of puppy class I scheduled it so that they had classes on the same night. Chloe was at 6 & Farley was crated in the room during her class then at 7 they switched.

We are now going on different nites which I think is great. This way each dog gets my undivided attention. They have learned that whoever gets their collar changed is the one going out while the other stays home. I have found that this is working great as each has learned to expect to be left behind at times. There are many other things we do where both dogs get to come.

As Lucy gets a little older & more attuned to the commands you'll be able to start working the 2 of them together with success. She is still a baby and everything is just so exciting to her.

[Barrett]

Gosh this is going to be hard but I know you are right. I don't want Lucy to be so close to Bailey that she can't function without her. I was worried about leaving Bailey at home while I took Lucy to class. I didn't want Bailey to get jealous...she is my first baby and we always joke that seniority is everything! LOL Plus the reason I adopted Lucy is so Bailey wouldn't have to be alone. Maybe I need three dogs so I could always take one and the other two would be together! LOL I am makeing this too hard on myself!!! LOL I'll be strong....I can do this! LOL

[Rip's Girl]

Actually Barrett that is very important if you want your dogs to be able to be independent.. Nothing wrong with letting them be good buddies, but you don't want to be stuck with one having separation anxiety should you ever need to take the other somewhere.
Ahh, double the trouble, eh? LOL. Gotta love it, though.