If you have two dogs, walking them at the same time makes for twice the fun… or twice the nightmare. Like most dog owners with two furry companions, if you have attempted to walk them both simultaneously, chances are it often results in a tangled, chaotic mess. Unfortunately, there isn’t always enough time in the day to take separate walks with each dog, so you do your best to ensure they are getting the exercise they need, even if that means putting yourself through that craziness.
If this seems all too relatable, don’t lose all hope just yet. Walking two dogs at the same time IS possible, it just takes a little bit of time, practice, and patience. At TheUltimateLeash.com, we make some of the best dog leashes and collars for walking that help owners gain more control over their dogs when on walks. In this blog, we’ll be sharing some tips and tricks that you can do to make walking two dogs at the same time easier, safer, and more enjoyable.
Train Each Dog to Walk With You
Before you try walking two dogs at the same time, you first need to teach each dog how to properly walk with you. If one or both dogs lack obedience when it comes to leash walking, trying to walk them both at the same time is only going to make things more complicated for you. Ideally, you want each dog to be able to be comfortable with walking at either your left or right side, with you walking slightly ahead.
You can quickly teach each dog to walk properly by reinforcing good leash-walking behavior with high-value treats. Whenever your dog is walking beside you and not pulling, mark the behavior and reward them with a treat. It won’t take long for your dogs to learn how to properly walk by your side. If either of your dogs is having trouble staying by your side while on leash, check out these tips for leash training your dog.
Get the Right Dog Walking Equipment
Once both dogs are able to walk properly when it’s just you and them, you can start working your way towards the goal of walking them together. Before you do that, though, you want to make sure that you have the right equipment. Walking them on two separate leashes is likely going to result in a tangled mess. In order to maximize efficiency and avoid tangling or injuries, shop for gear that is designed for walking multiple dogs at once. Start by ensuring that each dog has a proper collar — we recommend using a martingale collar. Then find a leash that is designed for walking two dogs at the same time.
You can find great gear for walking two dogs at once when you shop on TheUltimateLeash.com. Our Adjustable Dog Brace is made for people who want to walk more than one dog using only one leash. This brace acts as a dog leash coupler. It has a built-in adjustable handle with an anti-tangle swivel. With this coupler, you can use a standard leash into a tangle-free dual dog leash. Additionally, The Ultimate Leash is a multi-function dog leash that has 11 different uses, one of which is walking two dogs at the same time. Without the proper gear, you’re setting yourself up for disaster, so make sure you find what you need!
Practice At Home
When you’re training to walk two dogs together, the process is very similar to what you would do if you were teaching just one dog how to properly walk and behave while on leash. You want to start practicing at home before you head out for a walk around the neighborhood again. Start small. If you have a room in your home with a lot of space or a backyard, practice walking them together there first. This will help them get comfortable with the new gear as well as walking near each other.
Walk slowly back and forth, putting extra care and attention into turns and stopping when things are getting out of hand. It may be a little hectic at first but this is completely normal. Be patient, remain calm. Once your dogs calm down and are more attentive, practice walking them, praising and rewarding them when they walk properly and do not pull. This also is a great time to practice basic commands, like “heel” and “leave it,” as these skills will definitely come in handy when walking on the sidewalks and paths.
Practice Outside
Once you’ve mastered leash walking multiple dogs at home, you can take things to the next level with short walks in distraction-free areas. Once you master that, you’ll be able to walk more comfortably with both dogs on sidewalks and paths that may have more distractions. Keep in mind, when you are practicing outside where there are other distractions, such as cars, people, other dogs, and other animals, you may need to continuously reinforce good leash walking behavior and stop whenever either or both dogs are starting to get a little reckless.
Its best to start by avoiding high-traffic walking routes, where you might encounter other animals or throngs of bikers, joggers, and other walkers. It certainly will take some time and practice, but soon enough you will be able to walk both of your dogs without having to worry about inefficiency, tangles, or injuries.
Walking both of your dogs is a time-saver, fun bonding activity, and productive way to exercise your furry companions as long as they are taught to do so properly. Having patience, the right gear, and practicing walking both dogs together will be worth it in the long run. A successful outing with your dogs will benefit the entire pack–including you.
Remember, if you are searching for gear that will help you walk both dogs at the same time, visit TheUltimateLeash.com — here you’ll find some of the best dog leashes for walking two dogs at once as well as other handy and effective gear. Shop online today!
