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LIVING WITH A MULTI DOG HOUSEHOLD

Writer's picture: Charlotte WagnerCharlotte Wagner



Living with multiple dogs can be a blessing - and still completely overwhelming at times! It's time to start working your dogs as a unified pack! Just as orchestra members each need to know how to play their instrument, each dog must have basic skills down. And your job is to be the conductor - orchestrating you four legged musicias into unison.


TRAIN INDIVIDUALS BEFORE YOU WORK THE PACK!

Your goal is to control your dogs as a single unit. To do so, each dog must know how to consistently respond to cues before working the whole pack. The group is only ever as good as it’s weakest link!


“EVERYBODY”

The “everybody” cue is used when addressing more than 1 dog. It’s similar to how parents use “kids” to collect their children. You can use any phrase that comes natural: “guys”, “pups”, “dogs”, “girls”, etc.


Teach each dog an “Everybody” command. Give the cue (repeat if necessary), mark “yes” and reward for eye contact. Repeat and work with the next dog! Once each dog has been worked individually, try the exercise with multiple dogs.


REWARDING BEHAVIOR

The more you reward your dog for making good life decisions, the better your dog will be. Saying “yes” and rewarding your dog for naturally occurring behavior (capturing), is a great way to let your dog know “you got this, do more of that, that’s better!”

To minimize tension in your home, work on: settling down, avoidance of conflict, walking away, impulse control, responding to subtle cues from other dogs, calming down, and being quiet.


OWNER HANDLING SKILLS

  • Be patient, consistent, and establish clear rules, and boundaries. All family members must follow the same rules!

  • When working the dogs together - have them fan out in front of you. This way you can body block (with a forward step) if need be.

  • Do not allow mugging or crowding. Make sure each dog waits their turn for a reward. If one tries to move in, say “no” and remove the treat. Try again!

  • Make sure to reward each dog and repeat commands initially in order to increase motivation while working together. Rewarding the same dog over again will decrease the motivation of other participants.

  • Use safe management to help prevent your dogs from exhibiting unwanted behaviors. Baby gates, tethers, crates, exercise pens, and fences are great! Each dog should be happy being confined when the other dog(s) are training.


BASIC CONTROL BEHAVIORS

  • Name - eye contact, look for owner and direction

  • “Everybody” cue - the whole pack should be focused

  • Leave It - remove yourself

  • Wait - mind the barrier/threshold

  • Stay - hold the position

  • Come - move towards me, arrive

  • Let’s Go / This Way - loose lead walking and turns

  • Place - Go to your bed/mat

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