Only dogs who are calm and relaxed should be walked together, as dogs can pick up behavior problems from other dogs. If you have one barking and lunging dog, you can soon have two dogs with this behavior after walking them together, as they pick up behavior from other dogs.
Dogs pull on leash because they were never taught not to.
When this happens, it's time to brush up on polite leash manners. Discontinue tandem leash walks until both dogs understand how to walk nicely on leash. Using a clicker and lots of tiny yummy treats, leash your dog and practice inside your home.
Avoiding an unfriendly or aggressive dog when walking your dog. It is best for you to walk away calmly but quickly. Try to avoid getting too close to the other dog and, if possible, put a visual barrier between you and the other dog (for example, a car, gate, hedge or fence).
Start off on short walks where there are few distractions. Decide where you want the dogs to walk; either both on the same side, or one on each side of you. The advantage of getting both dogs to walk on one side, means you can hold both leads in one hand and have one free.
Redirection is one way to teach your dog to be calm around other dogs. When using this technique, you'll expose your dog to other dogs from a distance and redirect them if they start to get over excited. Teach your dog to redirect using a word or sound that means they should look at you for directions.
Slowly cut the distance between your dog and the others, rewarding him each time he passes another dog without growling. With practice, your pup will soon learn to be in the company of other dogs or walk past them without growling.
If you decide it's safe for you to walk your dogs together, there is some work ahead. Walking two dogs requires skills that you and your dogs don't get to practice when walking one dog at a time. This doesn't just apply to your dogs- you need additional skills too!
Acclimate Your Two Dogs To Moving and Moving Supplies
Instead, pack slowly and over a long period. Let your two dogs get used to everything going into boxes and moving around. They can sniff around and watch you work. Try to keep as close to their normal eating, sleeping and playing routines as possible.
The Five Second Rule: Place the back of your hand on the sidewalk, pavement, or whatever outdoor surface your dog would walk on. If it's too hot to comfortably keep your hand there for five seconds, keep your dog's paws off it.
Firstly, consider using a leash coupler or leash splitter, which attaches multiple leashes to one handle. This can help keep the leashes together and prevent them from getting tangled. This is one of the best ways to walk multiple dogs at the same time.
It's wise to walk your pooch at least once per day - but twice is ideal regardless of breed or size. According to the Kennel Club, all dogs need at least 30 minutes of 'formal exercise' – which is more intense than purely playing in the garden, for example – like a decent walk or playing fetch in a field.
Fear is a far more common motivator. Using the “I'll get it before it gets me” strategy, dogs lunge to try to make the feared person, dog, or other object go away.
Hold your dog back firmly (don't tug suddenly as this may also distress them) and calmly walk on. Block Their View Of The Other Dog- If your dog cannot see the other dog, they are likely to calm down.
Move your dog closer to the other dog one foot at a time. Keep your dog below threshold, only decreasing the distance when your dog is anticipating the treat. Once your dog can be next to the still, quiet dog, return to the 20-foot distance and have the other dog move parallel to your dog.
Excitement. Reactive dogs are often motivated out of excitement (high-arousal), which can lead to frustration. Many times humans have unintentionally created this behavior because dogs were never taught how to be appropriately social around other dogs in an appropriate manner.
Introduce on neutral territory.
Each dog should be walked separately on a leash, and each walker should have a bag of high-value treats or food broken into small pieces. At first, walk the dogs at a distance where they can see each other but are not too provoked by each other's presence.
Avoid Triggers When Walking a Reactive Dog
If your dog is dog-reactive, try to walk your dog in places where other dogs don't frequent. This may also require you to adjust the times at which you walk your dog in order to avoid others.
Walks are meant to stimulate a dog's mind and body and help them decompress. But repeating the same routine over and over can make walks lose their luster and become less fulfilling for both the dog and the walker.
By the end of your walk they will feel like they are one pack. It is important that the dogs who are out on the walk are all heeling beside the person holding the leash. Any dog that is walking out in front of their humans will begin to regard himself as the alpha of the group.