My fiance and I like to go camping, and we want to be able to take our 3 puppies with us... but it's such a pain keeping all 3 of them on leashes! So I'm trying to figure out how to train them to stay with me when we walk... or even when we're sitting by the campfire. Any advice is much appreciated!
Answers:
puppies take time and training, so be prepared to spend some time with each dog.
you need to teach a good recall on each dog, and you also need to encourage the dogs to constantly check in with you when off lead.the two behaviors go hand i hand and are simple to teach, but take time to get consistant.
carry a big pocket full of tiny treats, pea size is good. without calling the pups names, give them a treat each and every time the come to you to" check in" when you are out in the yard. I teach this in a cinfined area like a fenced yard, for the safety of the dog. They soon learn that checking in with mom is a good thing.
to teach a recall, you follow the same as above, but when you see the pup comming your way, and you are sure its comming to you, call its name and say come or here. And then reward it. It doesnt take long for the dog to figure it out.
but, here are some dont do items when teaching a reacall. Never call the dogs name or say come if something unpleasant is going to happen to the dog. This could be comming in from playing in the yard, or trimming nails, or getting a bath, or you leaving the house etc etc. Its something the DOG interprets and not good or fun.
good luck,
Candice
try walking on a leash with them at first and bring treats, praise them when they stick together and dont jet off dragging u behind. teach them to heal and stay with treats. the more they get into comands and a routine of walkign together the sooner u can take them off the leash. get them used tog etting treats on walks and they'll be more willing to adapt and walk together.
Boy with dogs that small they are apt to be seen as prey to wild creatures, I would keep them leashed when out in the woods.
There are leashes you can buy that split off like a "Y" so that you could walk two in tandem.
Before they learn to walk without a leash, I would start training them on a leash so they learn your voice commands. This is teaching them to sit, lay down, stay, wait, come all of those things that will be very important for them to know once they are off the leash. If you teach them to stay and they don't move when you have the leash then eventually they will stay if for some reason they wanted to run after something camping.
Also, when training teach them to walk by your side with a loose leash and then that will teach them to stay near you without a leash. It will take time, but it can be done.
I would recommend the site below. Brian came to the shelter where I volunteer and took classes at and uses the same trainings as above. I am working with my dog on these techniques and it is working very well!
Good luck!
I also have three dogs and the "heel" command is the key for us.they have got to respond to all of the basic commands EACH time you give it to go off leash.
Two people trying to train 3 dogs would be pretty hard. for what it is worth, my advice would be :-
1. Train the dogs separately, Together they would be distracting each other until you lose your temper.
2. If you are not too rough with them I recommend using a choker chain. Reason is that when they won't do what you want you give the choke chain a yank, the chain tightens and you let it go quickly. This puts pressure on the windpipe which shocks the dog. If it is done each time she does something wrong it will stop doing it.
3. Always have the dog on your left side at your ankles with the lead slack. Before you walk off say the dog's name to get its attention and say, "heel, come", or some other word of your choosing
4. At the same time, you should teach the dog to sit at your left heel and start the walk from that position. If the wants to bound away give the choker chain a sharp pull and get it back to your heel. When you tell the dog to "heel" he should return to your side and sit at your left heel without being told.
It will take time and patience but you cannot be soft on the dog whist he is actually being trained. Remember to have little tit-bits in your pocket. Each time you get him to sit at your heel say"Good boy" and give him a tit-bit , After a while give him a treat every second time and so on until you stop all together.
When you start the walking you will find that you will have to keep the lead tight until they have some idea what you want of them. As he improves you can let the lead slacken which will give him the ability to wander. When he does, give the choker a sharp tug at the same time say "heel"You will eventually be able to let the lead go real slack and the dog will stay by your side.
Good Luck!
that is a bad idea. I worked in an emergency vet office, and most of the hit by cars were from people who walked their dogs off leashes. Most of the time, the owner is sobbing out that the dog always listens and never runs away, but it saw a rabbit, or wandered too far, etc.
If you loved your dogs, I wouldn't risk it if you were anywhere near a road (meaning within a couple miles- dogs can run if they want to)
Plus, most campgrounds do not allow dogs off leashes- and I have seen places kick you out or call the cops (who can issue a fine) for doing so.
If you are determined to, they first need to come to their name. Then you can get a retractable leash and practice walking them- let them go out past a normal leash and then call them in. If they do not come, press the button on the retractable leash and then reel them in.
i have found that if you put the pet on the leash when you walk, keep the leash short and tight. no play room. plus keep the leash on the pet in the house for a couple of days and tie him to the furniture of hold in your hand till the pet gets use to the leash. after you do this for a while the pet gets use to what you want him to do.. he will stay close to you.. it takes a lot of work but it can be done. to find out more go to www.thecountrycupboardtoo.com
They need to be leash trained first. If they have a solid "heel" on leash, try walking with them at a heel with the leash dragging (that way if they break from the heel you can step on the leash are re-heel the dog). With 3, if there is just one that is not solid and breaks away from you (when all 3 are off leash) the other will more than likely follow (I'd recommend keeping that one on a leash until it's had more training). Work diligently in your own yard and get them solid before trying this in a public area.
always bring food if you dont put them in a leash, in that way, they are always following you...
second is, bring a horn or anything that make a sound, a bell for example, and train them to go here where the sound is and give them the food if they followed it...
last is, if they are trained enough, try not bringing any food anymore and ring the bell, they will go where the bell is because they are expecting a reward...
just train them in your house so that they may not wonder around in other places...
one fact is that it will really take time, you must have patience...if u are rily willing to train them, u should be patient and teach and train them time by time until they get it...
goodluck!
I trained my dog by walking around a big park on leash until she was familiar with it. Then I would let her off leash in one corner where it was away from the street %26 fenced. I would hold a treat down in my hand at my side, so she would follow the treat. As long as she stayed by my side, I'd give her a small treat after walking a distance. Then I let her walk ahead or behind off leash, but would reward her when she came to my "Come" call. Once I felt comfortable in that area, I expanded the area that I would let her off leash. I would always leash when we got near the street %26 parking lot. My problem now is that sometimes she doesn't keep up with me because she's too busy smelling everything! Oh, and I never completely trust her 100% -- as the Vet Tech said, it only takes one time for the dog to run after something, so I watch her very closely and if she doesn't mind, she's leashed up! There are alot of good answers - "recall" command very important!
I think it is a natural and inherent ability. Some dogs can walk without a leash, other can't walk without a leash.
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