Training in multiple dog homes? How do you guys do it?!

[da-bear]

Both of my dogs (one big-paw, one not quite so big) are pathetically trained.  The smaller dog (Stella) is amazingly smart and knows many more commands than Millie, but i find it so hard to train at home with the both of them.  I've read books where they tell you to shut one dog in a room while you train your new dog but one dog will whine and cry if she is missing out on the action.  Doesn't matter if she gets to go next or already got her training bits. 

How do you guys do it?  They compete for the treat and i think it is distracting to them when i try to have a training session with the both of them.  Any ideas? 

By the way:  It looks like "Stay" is finally sticking for us (its been a real battle) and i'm really excited about it.   

[brigid67]

Your preaching to the choir.....my new pup is out of control and the poms only train when and if they feel like it - treat or not.... I thought about hiring a trainer but everyone here in vegas is about 800.00 or more...that is a lot for me right now.
Timmie

[DaneMom]

wish i could help by i am also going through the same thing with my dane. she is bull headed but very smart. she learned to sit and lay down in 10 min but wont stop pawin or jumping..hmmmm m selective learning?LOL

ANGEL

[lins_saving_grace]

It takes a lot of patience and many attempts. 

Like you I concentrate on one dog at a time while the other watches.  I go from Lady to Grace teaching the same trick.  The one not getting a treat will realize she's not left out and that she will get her turn.   That's a trick in itself too...teaching them they aren't left out and to wait their turn.  I don't know how I got so lucky.

The tougher the trick the longer it takes and some dogs don't want to do certain tricks. Lady hates roll over and play dead...but Grace loves them. 

[lins_saving_grace]

too bad you're not closer....I'd love to help. 
Just be patient and firm with the one who's turn it's not and they will learn.  The whining gets to ya I know.

[kildeskennel]

If you have more than one set of hands you can work them both at once on lead like you would do in obedience classes, however if only you, work them alone and lock one out or in.  I like working them together they have to learn not only individually but also as a unit to listen and obey the commands you give.  Shana

[lins_saving_grace]

I like working them together too...simply because they learn by watching each other too.

[ann]

      its a bit harder but can be done i took my to classes seperate...and at home i'll put 2 outside and work with one its worked well for me...i can get them to all sit lay and come at the same time.......... i do however have a problem when someone comes to the house they mug them they don't jump up but start to bark and growl at each other and i can't realy walk my boxers together just my akita and a boxer......... .

ann

[Joji]

I work with both of mine together also ... most of the easy commands (sit, wait, down) were a snap because the younger dog learned from the older one. Working on heel was a little harder having the "baby" around. The younger saw the older one on a leash and thought it was her golden opportunity to tackle him while his attention was diverted and he was restrained!  Whatta sneak!

[MuttigreeMom]

My two also hate to be seperated, but I found a way around it.

When I'm working with one, the other gets locked in the cage (or another room) with a kong stuffed with either peanut butter or cream cheese. Whoever has the kong doesnt even know the other one is missing because s/he's too busy stuffing his/her face.

Then, when I'm done training the first one, the other gets locked up with the kong and the one who was locked up first gets trained. Worked lovely.

[Anky]

Depending on what it is, depends on how they're seperated.  My dogs are all trined with NILIF, so they have to sit before they get anything.  If I have treats, the oldest dog sits, and the puppies, well they aren't really puppies anymore..... but they sit as well.  When it comes to recalls, leash work, stays, I don't really want the distractions, so I'll put two outside, or take one to the park, or something.  Sanity can leave whenever and the other two are OK (Because He goes back and forth between houses anyways), Hobo can leave and Araby's fine, but if Araby leaves Hobo flips out.  Luckily Araby is pretty well trained, so she doesn't have training sessions on her own very often. 

Giving each dog individual attention is SO important I can't even stress it.  If you don't they get this pack mentality, like "Who needs you?  I've got them!"

Ang

[waffles717]

;)I think this is a The Trouble two's has any else's large breed doing this? her biting is over well molly please let's hope molly does not bite!! We will make sure of it!!I am Kennel them Side By Side!!will have Great Shot's!!l,m,l!

[da-bear]

Thanks for all of your advice!

In response to Anky - I use the NILIF techniques, too.  I'm pretty sure one dog has helped the other with that concept, so that's worked out well.
I'm in a similar situation with seperating them, though.  Stella FREAKS OUT if either of us leaves the house and has started teaching Millie that if someone leaves that she should freak out, too.  This is very frusterating as when someone goes out to just throw the trash, Stella is jumping on the couch scratching at the window, whining and crying.  This mostly happens when my boyfriend walks out the door - if i'm still inside, it makes no difference, she still gets stressed out. 
What do you do when Hobo gets like that?  I've tried giving them treats and things when my BF leaves so they associate it with something good, but i'm afraid of treating them when they're in that state because it might reward the stressed behavior.
maybe i should start another thread about this...

[Moni]

When I'm working with my crew, I put the others on downstays or in "places" (couch, chair, blanket..etc)while I'm working with an individual dog.  Repetion works wonders.     If they get up or out of their "place" I just say "AHT!" and put them back.  If that was too difficult for the other dog, then I'd leash them to their spot.  Try to work so that its easiest for the dog to succeed than to fail.  If something is too hard, take a step backwards and end on something the dog CAN do.   

I always try and keep everyone within sight of the dog I'm working with, if I crated or locked them away they would get extremely upset.  So I figured I'd kill 2 birds with one stone.    It helps doing it this way then they all learn to listen to you while they're together instead of paying attention to each other(a plus when having a 6-pack  lol)  Now I can play fetch and have them all stay while 1 fetches.. or 2 or 3...  But it takes baby steps to get there. 

An idea to help Stella to calm down would be to have a special bone, hoofie, chew or kong that she only gets when he's going out the door(it has to be extra amazing in her eyes to).  Then when he comes back in, pick it up and put it away.  If that doesn't work try a sound to break her attention and then when she looks to you, find a toy or something.  The trick to training dogs isn't to get them to NOT do things, its to teach them what you want them to do instead.

The most important phrase I ever learned in dog training is my personal doggie motto.

"Interupt, redirect, & praise"

By doing that you can untrain just about any bad behavior. 

[waffles717]

 Maggie is 8mo,we are getting molly tue we wonder how she maggie will act?she love's other's dog's we also have two toy poodle's she love's them,we wanted her to have the same breed,to run with,any suggestion's for training,maggie is doing good,intrudtion,? We plan on kenneling her too,let her sleep next to her,hope they get close!!maggie is even listening to us when we tell no!! that is amaxing!! she is smart!! :-*wait to you all see molly!love marylee!!