My #1 Tip for the Best Walks with Multiple Dog Guardians

In today’s world, it seems that everyone has a hectic schedule. So when I tell my clients they should walk their dogs one at a time, I often get a look that says, “Are you crazy? Who has time for that??”

Having a multi-dog household myself, I completely empathize. But here’s the thing: when we take both (or more) dogs on a walk, there’s a level of competition (good old sibling rivalry)—who’s going to walk in front, who’s going to smell that leaf first, who’s going to pee on that bush first? But wait, now they have to circle around and pee over their housemate’s spot. If one dog shows any emotion at all to a person or another dog walking by, the other jumps in, and before you know it, they’re feeding off each other’s feelings… phew, it’s a LOT! If you come home from your walks feeling like pulling your hair out even more than before you left, I encourage you to give single dog walking a try.

Taking one dog at a time may still present some challenges but on a much lower level. This one-on-one time lets you concentrate on leash and trail manners with your companion, allowing you to focus on the individual behaviors they may struggle with. You can incorporate some other training exercises as well as fun focus games and lots of sniffing to make this an all-around enriching experience. Dogs can learn much easier without the distraction of worrying about what their housemate is doing. This doesn’t have to be permanent; as your dogs make progress with the behaviors you’ve been working on, try a group walk again. If they have progressed to a level you’re happy with, continue on. If you find that behaviors have regressed and things aren’t as relaxing as they were with just one dog, then go back to walking one at a time for a few more weeks before trying again.

I try to take turns with our dogs. One day, it’s Tonka’s turn; we get Piper’s lick mat ready for her and bring out her favorite toys that she only gets for this occasion. This makes it a positive time for Piper that she looks forward to. We then get Tonka geared up and head out to the trails. When we return home, I grab Piper, and we do some one-on-one training games and have a sniffari outside around our house. The next day, we flip it, and it’s Piper’s turn to hit the trails. Tonka gets those special things he only receives for these occasions. Another positive to this approach is that dogs LOVE one-on-one time with you!

As I’m writing this, I think to myself, “Sounds simple”—but believe me, I know it’s not! There are only so many hours in our day, and it is very hard to leave one dog home when you’re going out on a dog walk—it seems pretty counterintuitive! I am just as guilty as everyone else when it comes to this! However, both dogs benefit from this approach: one gets lots of one-on-one training time while the other enjoys a walk where they always get to be in front and pee first on every bush!

Jill Kudera: CPDT-KA Certified Professional Dog Trainer

Licensed and Insured

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Canine and Feline CPR and First Aid Certified