[Mycathinks hesadog]

Hi all,

We are starting to look into obedience and eventually agility training with our boys. Right now they are attached at the hip, and when we split them up, one is always looking for the other.

I'm just wondering if it's better from a training standpoint to have them in the same class, or in separate classes. On the one hand, if we teach something to one, the other picks it up quicker. On the other, if me and the gf are working on training w/ each dog, they are always wondering what the other is doing, as opposed to being focused on the trainer.

TIA for your replies.

[Shaina]

Personally I'd put them in different classes if you can...it's good for them to be separated sometimes anyway, and will give you better one on one time. If you are anything like me, you will also be watching your gf and the other dog instead of focusing 100% on your dog.

Some people here (Mudra comes to mind) did put both dogs in the same class, and I think it worked out well for her too...you know yourselves and your dogs better than we do.

[Mycathinks hesadog]

Originally Posted by Shaina

If you are anything like me, you will also be watching your gf and the other dog instead of focusing 100% on your dog.

Good point. Right now I'm leaning on splitting them up, as you're correct they need time apart. Perhaps after they get throught the first complete class or two, we'll try putting them together.

Here's my quandry though: Ozzie is a superfast learner, too smart for his own good sometimes. Ralph, while he's not a lemon at all, is definitley slower to pick up. For instance, shake or paw, or whatever you call it (our cue is "respect") took Ozzie a few days before it was down pat. Ralph it took a few weeks (working w/ both in short 10 to 20 minute sessions). But when we taught them fetch (having one watch while we worked with the other) the learning curve was a lot shorter for Ralph.

I suppose this could be trainer dependant as well, as I'm self taught, and haven't had any exposure outside of books I've read.

[wvasko]

Originally Posted by Shaina

Personally I'd put them in different classes if you can...it's good for them to be separated sometimes anyway, and will give you better one on one time. If you are anything like me, you will also be watching your gf and the other dog instead of focusing 100% on your dog.

Some people here (Mudra comes to mind) did put both dogs in the same class, and I think it worked out well for her too...you know yourselves and your dogs better than we do.

Shaina
Great common sense reply, I would even go a tad further and do some separated walks, car rides anything to build up more individual strengths. They will still get plenty of time together but each dog will become balanced and not rely on the other rascal.

Originally Posted by Mycathinks hesadog

Good point. Right now I'm leaning on splitting them up, as you're correct they need time apart. Perhaps after they get throught the first complete class or two, we'll try putting them together.

Here's my quandry though: Ozzie is a superfast learner, too smart for his own good sometimes. Ralph, while he's not a lemon at all, is definitley slower to pick up. For instance, shake or paw, or whatever you call it (our cue is "respect") took Ozzie a few days before it was down pat. Ralph it took a few weeks (working w/ both in short 10 to 20 minute sessions). But when we taught them fetch (having one watch while we worked with the other) the learning curve was a lot shorter for Ralph.

I suppose this could be trainer dependant as well, as I'm self taught, and haven't had any exposure outside of books I've read.

Fetch is a different prey type exercise than the other. If you had 2 children they would have different learning curves. That's the way of the world.

[Mycathinks hesadog]

Originally Posted by wvasko

Shaina
Great common sense reply, I would even go a tad further and do some separated walks, car rides anything to build up more individual strengths. They will still get plenty of time together but each dog will become balanced and not rely on the other rascal.

Thanks for chiming in wvasko. I was hoping to hear from you. I'm also glad to know I'm on the right track. We've been making it a point to split them up for exercise and errands and the like to try and decrease thier dependance on the other.

Originally Posted by wvasko

Fetch is a different prey type exercise than the other. If you had 2 children they would have different learning curves. That's the way of the world.

I guess I should be fortunate enough that they are both very food motivated and have high prey drives.

[melgrj7]

IMO its good to do some things sperately with the dogs. I would go with seperate classes, and even do a walk every day with just one dog. It helps develop a stronger bond with each dog, rather than have the dogs bond stronger together. This is important in hectic situations, you want the dogs to look to you for guidance than to each other. I even take my dogs out to potty individually, they get car rides individually a couple of times a week. They each get a short walk and a game of fetch alone daily and some training time. They also do things together (we do a long walk together every day).

[Two Labs Mom]

Great points being made, and I would agree with all of them. I'm training two dogs myself right now, and it does make things easier to work with one at a time. I also make sure they have some playtime apart from each other each day so they are not so dependent on each other for company. I've found that during training, each is more likely to focus and look at me for direction when the other is nowhere in sight. When my son and I were doing their training together, it was difficult because they were distracted by each other and paid no attention to us. While it's good for them to be able to learn with distractions (which is what we will eventually do in a group class, although taking each of them separately again), here at home with just us, I think things are working much better doing one at a time.

[Love's_Sophie]

I train my dogs seperately and together...if the dog's are less focused when seperate, then that is what we work on more...working alone. Most dogs are going to have to work 'alone' more than together, simply because they are pack animals; they want to be with all of their pack members.

So, if you do training classes do them seperately, or in like, back to back classes; that way you are all more focused.

[poodleholic]

Originally Posted by Mycathinks hesadog

Hi all,

We are starting to look into obedience and eventually agility training with our boys. Right now they are attached at the hip, and when we split them up, one is always looking for the other.

I'm just wondering if it's better from a training standpoint to have them in the same class, or in separate classes. On the one hand, if we teach something to one, the other picks it up quicker. On the other, if me and the gf are working on training w/ each dog, they are always wondering what the other is doing, as opposed to being focused on the trainer.

TIA for your replies.

With two or more dogs, it's prudent to keep them separated at times, to prevent them from bonding more with each other than with you, and, to prevent them from becoming too dependent on each other. This becomes more apparent when training, as you are discovering.

I would separate them completely while training, and would also do separate classes. Once each dog is trained, you can work together, and also on things like tandem heeling, which really looks awesome!

[Mycathinks hesadog]

Thanks again everybody for your replies.

I've signed Ozzie up for pit bull camp, a two weekend session that serves like an intro to more conventional obedience classes. It runs for two weekends and starts on Saturday-wish us luck!

Ralph will be in the mix breed class starting in June....