Training more than one dog how do you plan it

[Mad Jasper]

Hi

I know I have brought this up before but I would be interested in hearing how you plan training 2dog ?

I work full time and the wife doesn't so she is with them during the day.

I am thinking out for exercise together on leads for the pair of them in the morning and training at night.

In the evening take them out individually for 20 -30 mins each

Anyway I would love to hear how you experienced multi dog trainers do it lol

[alpha]

My lot seem to think that we just go into the field and I shout "SCATTER".......

[arwesa]

don't plan it like that so much as just try and think what each individual dog needs, and if it happens some of it can be done together then it is...if not then not, also makes a major difference if theres someone else with you...e.g. to hold one whilst you're focusing on other...sometimes a young dog seeing the older dog doing something helps

[keirk]

My lot seem to think that we just go into the field and I shout "SCATTER".......

LOL

[Naj]

Depends what your access to suitable ground is. I give a lot of individual attention to young pups, encouraging them to be clingy & follow me, & as they grow older the initial training I do individually. But I live in the middle of a field. When I had a situation more like yours I would exercise the dogs together morning & evening & then give the pup individual training. Once the basics were instilled then I would absorb the pup into the group for much of the time. I base most of my retrieving work around quartering with spaniels, & I start them young, so very soon the young spaniel is getting into the routine of quartering in front & then rotating at heel with the others, & learning to take its turn with retrieves. As Arwesa says, anything specific that needs ironing out I do individually.

Naj

[Mad Jasper]

Thanks peeps

I have access to large woods across the road which is where I am doing the more formal training.

My springer is 5 and pup 8 months so have different requirements regarding exercise.

I am trying not to complicate things and would love to exercise them both together as this is much easier for me and helps with reducing time away from my dad and husband commitments. I guess I worry about not being in control with the pup tearing about and having to keep an eye on both dogs.

Naj when you exercise you dogs do you take them on lead walks morning and night to keep them fit and do short training I.e quartering retrieve etc separately??

I have about 1hour is the morning as I work full time and obviously the evening

Any suggestions with training and time management

[SLB]

At the minute Pennie is just learning her basics, and as we've had atrocious weather lately it's been inside. I have a babygate that separates the kitchen and the living room, so I just alternate each 5 minutes which dog is in the kitchen etc. Then they get separate walks when I have the time. And Louie has training class on Wednesday and Pennie on Tuesdays.

[Hepe]

I rarely do any "walking" at all, instead i slowly move around, training a bit here and there where the terrain fits my training plans - or i adapt my training to the terrain if i'm really lazy. Inbetween the training snippets they are allowed to run around but very often they keep asking for me to go on with the training instead. My oldie which i'm not training is the only one enjoying walks doing nothing so he's allowed to tag along and do his own stuff while we train. Works for us. And yes of course, i let them out to do their business but that's more close to the house for 10-15 minutes. I also train them separately but again, no real "walking". What i WILL do is get a bicykle and use the soft paths in the woods around here to get us some stamina, especially me.

Helene

[Naj]

Naj when you exercise you dogs do you take them on lead walks morning and night to keep them fit and do short training I.e quartering retrieve etc separately??

I have about 1hour is the morning as I work full time and obviously the evening

Any suggestions with training and time management

When I used to work 9 'till 5.00 I would take all the dogs out morning & evening, let them have 5 or 10 minutes free-running to let them burn off a bit of steam & empty themselves then call them in to heel & quarter each one in turn for 15 - 20 minutes, incorporating retrieves/stops etc as I went depending upon the level of the dogs experience/training. When all the dogs had a hunt I would turn & head back for home by a slightly different route & hunt them all back in rotation. An 8 month old pup would be well up to being quartered in this fashion, although I would probably have it on the lead at heel rather than loose, like the older dogs. They quickly learn to switch off at heel. This process keeps them fit & trained even though you have limited time.

Now I can just run the dogs straight out of the yard & into the fields without the need for a lead, so I have to make a special point of giving them some lead training. I still train them on the job but give them a lot more free-running exercise, chasing balls etc., especially in the close season - which isn't for everyone but suits me - although they are always being conditioned in one way or another, whatever they are doing.

Naj

Naj

[Polmaise]

Thanks peeps

I have access to large woods across the road which is where I am doing the more formal training.

My springer is 5 and pup 8 months so have different requirements regarding exercise.

I am trying not to complicate things and would love to exercise them both together as this is much easier for me and helps with reducing time away from my dad and husband commitments. I guess I worry about not being in control with the pup tearing about and having to keep an eye on both dogs.

I have about 1hour is the morning as I work full time and obviously the evening

Any suggestions with training and time management

If you have an hour to spare?, with two dogs ,then that could be 1/2 an hour with each one
Quality is always better than quantity,when training.
It depends on what you have, so make best use of what you have.
My last place was in a housing estate, now I am on a country estate!..the dogs and you will work out the routine
As for excercise?...well thats just play isn't it?...or is it play and training?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSusqSxkbes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_bs3N0-kKo