Mollys_mum Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 As some of you will be aware, we collected 'the bear' (Timber) last weekend - and (mainly) so far so good! He is so well behaved. However, lunchtime walking sessions are proving to be a big challenge for me. (I am on my own with them all day so can't call on Moll's dad for help.) We get out of the front door and the pair of them are so fired up they pull like crazy and snap at each other in a bid to be first. Then Molly, desperate to be lead dog, pulls me down the street. I swear people working at the industrial centres we pass are sniggering or shaking their heads at me trying to cope with these two as I am led down to the park. We arrive at the park, and Molly wants to dart off to the bottom of the field and Timber wants to cock his leg at a tree. Result: I get pulled in 2 directions, Molly switches direction, the leads gets tangled and I end up spinning 360 degrees (and we've only just arrived). Taking them out seaparately isn't an option at the moment as Timber is still very new to us and I don't want to create new problems because one is going out without the other. Molly has a 'walk with love' harness but the last time I used it (months ago), I put it on upside down and inside out. Basically, I am a numpty when it comes to harnesses and afraid that it'll slip off her. We have a split lead but I'm worried they'll get in each other's way and snap at each other and then I won't be able to separate them before any damage is done. Should I consider a completely new set up? Different types of leads or configurations thereof, or will they just settle into a walking routine under their own steam after a while? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robke Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 LOLOL I had that for a while, then I invested in a walking belt...life is some much less painful (and my tennis elbow is healing very nicely thank you)...mine still snap at times and still want to go different directions but at least I know have more control. What I have done at time is, because Bindi wants to walk upfront, is hear lead has an extention in it so that Alpha cannot walk upfront... hope this help a bit.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elyse Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 You might want to try the split lead - that seems like the best option, IMO. What collars do each of them have on? If it was only 1 dog, I'd recommend the Martingale collar...but I don't know if that kind of training method would work at all with 2 dogs...I have to constantly pay attention to Suka and 'check' him during our walks or else he'll pull me down on my face (again!) EDIT: As for the comment above, I tried a walking belt. I bought a really good one after using a 'makeshift' one for about half a year. The first time I tried it on, he wanted to get to THAT PARTICULAR POLE to pee. There was nothing I could do - because I'm so small, I was easily dragged there and almost did a face plant on the curb. After lying there, clutching my knee for a good few minutes (though it felt longer!)...help finally came from random strangers. During the time I was waiting, Suka kept on peeing on that same pole. Didn't pay any attention or concern to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meeshsalts Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 walking belt, that way you arms don't get pulled around but the dogs are on seperate lead so can go their own way to a certain extent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingspanner Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 Personally, I'd go for a good quality walking belt, coupled to a 2 dog gangline, with the neck line attached to the collars to keep them together, they'll soon get used to being that close. Make them sit, and do not let them go through the door before you. Once you go through the door make them sit and wait whilst you close it. If they pull you all over the place and misbehave, just stop and dont move again until they calm down. It can take a long time to get anywhere but they soon get the idea. I'm sure someone else will come along and say something quite different, but that's how I'd proceed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIOTcore Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 yep walking belt, best thing i bought! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BingBlaze n Skyla Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 a walking belt , to seperate leads so they have their own space away from each other aswell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Removed #1 Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 Personally, I'd go for a good quality walking belt, coupled to a 2 dog gangline, with the neck line attached to the collars to keep them together, they'll soon get used to being that close. This. This enables me to walk Fox and Eponine, with an infant strapped to my chest and a toddler being walked along by the hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cas Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 Walking belt and the Canny Collars work wonders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravenwolf Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 For starters, insist on polite behaviour before they're even out the door. They have to sit before going out the door and wait patiently for you to go first. I swear to you, if my two can learn this any dog can! If they learn that they don't get to walk unless they sit quietly, they'll sit quietly, don't you doubt! Keep them short and don't let one lead ahead of you. Period. I keep one dog on a regular leash, the other on an extendable. While we're on the street walking to the park they are both heeled beside me. Period. When we get to the park, one dog stays heeled, while the one on the retractable gets to roam ahead, explore, sniff, etc. So for half the walk one dog gets to be free, then halfway through I switch leashes and the other dog gets to roam free on the way back. Training it wasn't easy to start - after all, me brudder''s running around free why can't I?! - but they do learn the routine and come to accept it pretty readily. It took some trial and error too, but find out which one is more "patient" and a better candidate for waiting until the halfway point to be free. For example, Wyatt used to roam first, but Scout was really bad about leaning on the leash. I noticed that after he had his run and we were back on the road on the way home he was always much better about walking beside me. So I switched to letting Scout run first. Wyatt didn't care for having to wait his turn at first, but he calmed down and got used to it quickly and was much more patient during the first half. The result was a much better walk because Scout didn't pull the second half of the walk while Wyatt was free. So that works for me, anyway. No cross pulling, no tangled leashes. When the dogs are heeled I don't let them sniff and mark on everything we pass, because I don't tolerate them pulling me anywhere. They start and end the walk heeled beside me, and always have to sit and wait to leave/enter the yard/house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MollynDiesel Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 Husky-On halti Other dog (chihuahua) cant pull. Yh i cant answer lol. But if you find out i'd love to hear for the future (I WILL get another husky!!!! lol) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SA DA KA Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 WISH WE COULD OFFER SOME ADVICE, HAT'S OFF TO YOU RAVENWOLF, OUR THREE BASICALLY TRAINED THEMSELVES. DAKOTA AND KAYAK LOOKED TO SASHA FOR GUIDANCE, SHE WAS ALWAYS LEAD. WHEN ONE DID TRY AND GO OFF DIRECTION, I BASICALLY USED "MUSHER" CALLS AND GENTLY TUGGED ON THE LEASH WHILE I KEPT WALKING. HERE IS A PIC OF ALL THREE ON THEIR LEASHES AFTER COMING BACK FROM THEIR WALK, SOMEONE WANTED THEIR PICTURE WHICH THEY GAVE US A COPY OF THIS PIC. YOU WILL SEE DAKOTA "BAYING" TO GO INSIDE SINCE WE WERE AT THE HOUSE. BEST OF LUCK. HUSKY LOVERS IN VERMONT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 Walking belt! I can walk all 3 of mine on a walking belt AND stay on me feet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SA DA KA Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 Walking belt! I can walk all 3 of mine on a walking belt AND stay on me feet UNLESS IT'S THAT DAMN HILL YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT IN THE WINTER TIME. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 UNLESS IT'S THAT DAMN HILL YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT IN THE WINTER TIME. :whistling: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SA DA KA Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 :whistling: LOFAO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowpups Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 A walking belt best thing ever I use halti on mine just because 3 of mine weigh the same more then me lol I walk 3 of mine if not 4 without a problem even when they see a dog unless the dam thing is offlead then its harder to stay on your feet bloody offlead small dogs I could bloody shoot them pmsl only jokin but I do hate them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollys_mum Posted March 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Thanks for all of the great replies as well as the really amusing acedotes! I should have stated: Moll's dad bought me a military webbing combat belt a week ago which I have been using as a walking belt; I don't trust it though - I keep worrying that it'll come undone, so don't use is in the way that I should. (I pretend it isn't there and walk them as though they were not attached to me.) Rob: just for you, I'll have Moll's dad video the whole sorry experience if you like. Nick: any personal recommendations on a 2 dog gangline? (And are they 'numpy' friendly?) Cas: Timber has a Canny collar but spends all of his time clawing his face (and actually hurting himself) trying to remove it, according to his previous owner. She gave it to me and said that I might have better luck with it, but I don't want to try it out yet because the poor chap has enough on his plate (Molly being a spoilt brat) to contend with at the moment. There is apparently a husky meet at Black Park in Buck's on the 3rd April which we are considering going to, but I need to get this sorted first, otherwise I could well end up embarrassing everyone else and being disowned by all the other Husky walkers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elyse Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 I honestly don't know how you guys don't fall over with those walking belts, either I'm incredibly weak, or because Suka's a bigger husky he's got more pulling power? (ie, he can easily pull my Mom over when she's bracing herself (both at a standstill)...and my Mom's 220 pounds. Suka's 76, so that's like...almost 3 times his weight! It's probably cause I'm small/weak, though, cause I only weigh 120ish pounds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollys_mum Posted March 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 I wish I weighed 120 1bs! Just can't seem to shift the weight off my bum for some reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elyse Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 I wish I weighed 120 1bs! Just can't seem to shift the weight off my bum for some reason. God, no you don't. It's HORRIBLE for walking huskies! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollys_mum Posted March 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 (thinks to self: attractive to Moll's dad or good Husky walker...attractive to Moll's dad...?) Yeahhh, you're right; better make another lemon drizzle cake today then. Lol! He'll kill me if he spots this post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elyse Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 (thinks to self: attractive to Moll's dad or good Husky walker...attractive to Moll's dad...?) Yeahhh, you're right; better make another lemon drizzle cake today then. Lol! He'll kill me if he spots this post. Haha - I've been trying to gain weight (by, literally, eating all the junk food I can. Eating tubs of ice cream without 2 days) and I barely gain a pound. I lose it the next day. Like, really, is my body against me!? I know it must sound like a dream, but really, it's not. I don't want to be fat, obviously, just not freakishly skinny! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian brown Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 I have a walking belt, I can walk all 3 of my dogs on it no problem. I have 3 separate leads so not relying on one for all 3. I also have collar to collar connectors made out of the same stuff as the leads so I can keep them in a line in front of me. I have to admit, sometimes, I do end up leaning slightly backward when I'm walking lol Here's a pic of me with my 3 at New Brighton meet, see it is possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollys_mum Posted March 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 I have a walking belt, I can walk all 3 of my dogs on it no problem. I have 3 separate leads so not relying on one for all 3. I also have collar to collar connectors made out of the same stuff as the leads so I can keep them in a line in front of me. I have to admit, sometimes, I do end up leaning slightly backward when I'm walking lol Here's a pic of me with my 3 at New Brighton meet, see it is possible [ATTACH=full]42864[/ATTACH] Jeepers, Brian! I'm too short do cope with that and would look like Neo out of the Matrix when he bends over backwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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