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How to begin training for a multiple dog house

naomi_abroad@hotmail.com's picture
Posted July 8th, 2008 by naomi_abroad@ho...
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Hi Aidan,

I have 3 dogs and all are unruly in their own way. I really need to reel it in before I lose my sanity but I don't know where to begin in a multi-dog household.

I don't have the time to train them all individually. Do you have any recommendations?

Thanks,

Naomi

Comments

multi-dog training

Aidan's picture
On July 9th, 2008 Aidan says:

>>I don't have the time to train them all individually

Hi Naomi, training them all together is almost a complete waste of time, so training them individually is certainly the best (most efficient and effective) use of your available time. Use your time wisely!

And seriously, you can do a LOT in 2 minute training sessions if you have a plan and know your criteria. Just bag up some treats, write down your short-term and long-term goals for each dog and have it all handy so you can train at least one dog when you have a spare 2 minutes.

Honestly, it's a huge nett time saver in the long run to have even slightly trained dogs.

Other tips:
- train the worst dog as a priority, that's what I do! (Sorry Sabella, next to Django, anyone would look like a "worst dog", but especially you, you crazy beast!)
- train only the most important stuff (I have no idea what problems you're having, but there are probably some pretty simple things you could train to make life a whole lot easier)
- use management a LOT. Crates, tethers, barriers, doors. Use food lures where helpful.
- cut back on exercise and replace it with stimulating training such as clicker training. Clicker Training and scent-work wear a dog out more than exercise. e.g instead of taking your dogs for a 30 min walk, go for a 20 min walk and spend 3 minutes training with each dog.

I always find there are other things I can do without, like TV. Seems obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people with fat, untrained dogs who claim to not have any time for them spend 2 hours watching TV every day. Make sure your priorities are in order. Cook bulk food and freeze it, do your laundry less often, don't go to the shop just for one carton of milk etc etc

Regards,
Aidan
http://www.positivepetzine.com

temper tantrums

naomi_abroad@hotmail.com's picture
On July 9th, 2008 naomi_abroad@ho... says:

Hi Aidan,

Yeah, that's the answer I thought I was going to get but I just wanted to make sure :-)

One obstacle that I am having just to get to the point where I can work with them individually is that to work with one I have to put the other 2 somewhere else (I would imagine out of ear and nose shot so they don't hear the clicker or smell the treats) and when I do this they pitch an enormous fit. Literally, by the sound of it, you would think that they are getting murdered. It doesn't matter if I put them in a room with the door closed or if I put them in a crate, if I am in the house and they are locked up, they freak out.

Only 1 of my 3 dogs will tolerate this (the 4 yr old boston terrier, the 2 younger doxies do not). Actually, one is better than the other, but when the one starts to bark they all follow.

I suppose this is where I should start training.

>>I suppose this is where I

Aidan's picture
On July 10th, 2008 Aidan says:

>>I suppose this is where I should start training.

Yup, no doubt about it. You can either put them in separate rooms and completely ignore them until they shut up, then let them out; or you can tether them apart from each other and just work on clicking for calm.

Regards,
Aidan
http://www.positivepetzine.com

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