Walking two at a time - Success!

[Oskar der Drachen]

I just had the best walk ever!

I have been training 3 month old Bear on the leash. Just a padded collar no choker chain yet of course. He's getting pretty good at it.

I have been training Fred my big 8yo Lab cross to heel to the right, because my goal was to train Bear to heel on the left so I can walk both at the same time.

Fred is a good heeler, but he came to it late so he is not *great* at it. No pulling on the lead though.

I put some thought into it and I came up with a cross rig idea. I put Bear in a harness and his padded collar, and Fred has his choker.

Then I rigged a length of chain with a snap hook on both ends, long enough to reach both dogs on either side of me. I snapped the connecting chain to Bear's harness, and his *leash* to his collar.

Then the connecter goes to Fred's choker, but to the stationary loop of the choker. Fred's *leash* goes to the running loop of his choker.

The effect is that the dogs are regulating each others speed and distance from me, and I still have positive control on the collar of each dog.

It took a few times up and down the yard with bologna as a lure, but we got it! Down to the Park and back this evening with a free run at the park. By the time we got back to the house the dogs were walking even with each other (I was giving Fred a "slow" command). Really great. Not a classic Heel position as the dogs were out a little too far in front of me because of the chain. I can correct when they are used to pacing each other either side of me.

Bear was corrected in distance and speed by steady Fred pulling on his harness, and his neck took none of the cross strain. Both dogs seemed to enjoy it as well as it was easier for me, and I didn't have the strain in my voice from trying to regulate Bear in his wayward puppy path.

I was able to be nice and upbeat cheerful in commands and voice the whole time.

Got the idea from the sled dogs on the National Geographic channel yesterday... Who said TV was bad for you?

Sweet.

[MaggieRoseLee]

Good job, now we need pictures

[doggiedad]

nice collar rigging and nice job training.

[Oskar der Drachen]

Originally Posted by MaggieRoseLee

Good job, now we need pictures

I'll take some pictures this afternoon the rig by itself, and the rig on the dogs...


Hopefully! When they're on the leash it's "Go Daddy, Go!!!"