I have been pondering this question since I have two dogs and I train with them on specific things on a weekly basis.
The second portion of this question is: Is it okay to train two dogs at the same time? Again, something I have been playing around and exploring lately.
I have come to some conclusions and for the most part the answers to both questions is no!
Training requires such carefully laid out lessons and much concentration from both parties such that having two learners and one “teacher” is really asking for trouble and frustration.
As I write this, both Deuce and Rioja are being “trained” to learn to be totally chill in their crates without chewies… so in essence I am breaking my own rule, no? Training, just as everyday life, is fluid and with variations. Circumstances must be addressed individually.
It is important to me that my dogs really learn to enjoy quiet time in their crates because when I have a class or a client at my home (aka: C.H.A.C.O.’s training hub) they must remain calm and quiet for up to two hours.
Whenever they go to their crates, they get something interesting to eat or chew. However, the chewy might not last for that long of a time so here is where making them comfortable in their crates without a chewie is essential.
Now back to the training. I have developed a really nice format of working with bothdogs separately while the other one is also busy and not in the way of the training of the other. There are several strategies that I use such as Kongs in the crate for one dog for breakfast, while I work for a brief period with the other and then I switch dogs. Or, I use a manners-minder, which in essence is a kibble-dispensing machine (or toy if you like) that keeps one dog busy and expectant of the next kibble being dropped while I work with the other. I did have to teach them to ignore the noise the dispenser makes and now they can work with me without being bothered by the noise or wondering if the
other dog is getting some tastier- which they are not! Yes indeed, in training you sure need to cross your “t's” or it will come to bite you in the… you known … (butt).
However, some of my goals require that I work with both dogs at the same time and that I multi-task. Yep, this format also requires prior planning: being clear about my goal for the training, acknowledging the possible hiccups that I might encounter working with two different dognalities and the intricacies of moving forward at a pace nd understanding what both dogs can handle.
Here is a really bonus about this training plan. A training plan is all the specifics about the lesson such as: goals and a step-by-step on how to achieve those goals. A training plan takes place before the actual training with recordkeeping for future trainings after the
session.
Below is a training plan that has allowed me to have fun exercising and training my dogs in just under 30 minutes.
I end up with two content and tired pups – ready to take a snooze and giving me time to get some “real” work done. Deuce and Rioja are both ball crazy and tug crazy, they also love to run and just be kind of goofy.
One of the challenges I was having when Deuce and I play soccer is that Rioja loves to take the ball away from Deuce.
Yes, it is kind of cute but also very annoying to Deuce and to me. In essence it was Rio calling the shots. There is something really important about playing games with dogs: you control the dog (arousal levels & good play “etiquette”) by controlling the game always! I suddenly realized that Rioja was not playing nice.
I sat down to work out a training plan so that we could continue hanging out together while Rioja sharpened her play etiquette. Here it is; the finalized version of it… I have a tug in my hand while I position the soccer ball for Deuce in front of him. As he lays waiting with eyes glued on the ball, I kick the ball for Deuce while Rioja is close to me in a sit/stay.
She has learned after just a handful of trials that Deuce chasing after his ball means that she gets to tug with me.
Because of this, she approaches me and waits for me to give her the let’s tug verbal cue “take it”. In this example, we have a compound cue: Deuce running after the ball and me saying “take it”. If I do not say take it she should not engage with the toy. See how it is possible and also beneficial to multi-task sometimes?
As Rio and I are playing a fun game of tug, Deuce has returned with his ball to the kickoff
location - this took literally months of careful training as he was not retrieving the ball
but just wanted to chase and more importantly block the ball, Border Collie style, so that
it would stop moving.
Here and there I throw a monkey-wrench to the steps above to continue to push the envelope on what I want my dogs to learn and to keep things really fresh. Sometimes Rioja gets to run wild with the tug toy. She would just take off giving Deuce and me another opportunity at kick-off.
Rioja is now returning faster and at her own volition with the tug toy to play more- a sign of a well “installed” game of tug (installed = taught or learned).
This morning I realized that my plan is working! Rioja is not chasing after Deuce’s ball anymore – while Deuce defers to her every single time… wow Deuce, you are a gentleman! And, she is also getting to do an activity that she finds reinforcing.
Training plans don't always work so smoothly and for the most part, there is always some issue to resolve. I love the troubleshooting aspect of training! It’s fun and a good challenge, yet not as much fun as seeing that your dogs can learn specific skills as I learn to multi-task efficiently.
The second portion of this question is: Is it okay to train two dogs at the same time? Again, something I have been playing around and exploring lately.
I have come to some conclusions and for the most part the answers to both questions is no!
Training requires such carefully laid out lessons and much concentration from both parties such that having two learners and one “teacher” is really asking for trouble and frustration.
As I write this, both Deuce and Rioja are being “trained” to learn to be totally chill in their crates without chewies… so in essence I am breaking my own rule, no? Training, just as everyday life, is fluid and with variations. Circumstances must be addressed individually.
It is important to me that my dogs really learn to enjoy quiet time in their crates because when I have a class or a client at my home (aka: C.H.A.C.O.’s training hub) they must remain calm and quiet for up to two hours.
Whenever they go to their crates, they get something interesting to eat or chew. However, the chewy might not last for that long of a time so here is where making them comfortable in their crates without a chewie is essential.
Now back to the training. I have developed a really nice format of working with bothdogs separately while the other one is also busy and not in the way of the training of the other. There are several strategies that I use such as Kongs in the crate for one dog for breakfast, while I work for a brief period with the other and then I switch dogs. Or, I use a manners-minder, which in essence is a kibble-dispensing machine (or toy if you like) that keeps one dog busy and expectant of the next kibble being dropped while I work with the other. I did have to teach them to ignore the noise the dispenser makes and now they can work with me without being bothered by the noise or wondering if the
other dog is getting some tastier- which they are not! Yes indeed, in training you sure need to cross your “t's” or it will come to bite you in the… you known … (butt).
However, some of my goals require that I work with both dogs at the same time and that I multi-task. Yep, this format also requires prior planning: being clear about my goal for the training, acknowledging the possible hiccups that I might encounter working with two different dognalities and the intricacies of moving forward at a pace nd understanding what both dogs can handle.
Here is a really bonus about this training plan. A training plan is all the specifics about the lesson such as: goals and a step-by-step on how to achieve those goals. A training plan takes place before the actual training with recordkeeping for future trainings after the
session.
Below is a training plan that has allowed me to have fun exercising and training my dogs in just under 30 minutes.
I end up with two content and tired pups – ready to take a snooze and giving me time to get some “real” work done. Deuce and Rioja are both ball crazy and tug crazy, they also love to run and just be kind of goofy.
One of the challenges I was having when Deuce and I play soccer is that Rioja loves to take the ball away from Deuce.
Yes, it is kind of cute but also very annoying to Deuce and to me. In essence it was Rio calling the shots. There is something really important about playing games with dogs: you control the dog (arousal levels & good play “etiquette”) by controlling the game always! I suddenly realized that Rioja was not playing nice.
I sat down to work out a training plan so that we could continue hanging out together while Rioja sharpened her play etiquette. Here it is; the finalized version of it… I have a tug in my hand while I position the soccer ball for Deuce in front of him. As he lays waiting with eyes glued on the ball, I kick the ball for Deuce while Rioja is close to me in a sit/stay.
She has learned after just a handful of trials that Deuce chasing after his ball means that she gets to tug with me.
Because of this, she approaches me and waits for me to give her the let’s tug verbal cue “take it”. In this example, we have a compound cue: Deuce running after the ball and me saying “take it”. If I do not say take it she should not engage with the toy. See how it is possible and also beneficial to multi-task sometimes?
As Rio and I are playing a fun game of tug, Deuce has returned with his ball to the kickoff
location - this took literally months of careful training as he was not retrieving the ball
but just wanted to chase and more importantly block the ball, Border Collie style, so that
it would stop moving.
Here and there I throw a monkey-wrench to the steps above to continue to push the envelope on what I want my dogs to learn and to keep things really fresh. Sometimes Rioja gets to run wild with the tug toy. She would just take off giving Deuce and me another opportunity at kick-off.
Rioja is now returning faster and at her own volition with the tug toy to play more- a sign of a well “installed” game of tug (installed = taught or learned).
This morning I realized that my plan is working! Rioja is not chasing after Deuce’s ball anymore – while Deuce defers to her every single time… wow Deuce, you are a gentleman! And, she is also getting to do an activity that she finds reinforcing.
Training plans don't always work so smoothly and for the most part, there is always some issue to resolve. I love the troubleshooting aspect of training! It’s fun and a good challenge, yet not as much fun as seeing that your dogs can learn specific skills as I learn to multi-task efficiently.
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