[AveryB]

My wife & I rescued a 7 month old lab, Angus about 3 weeks ago. We are now a full and happy house with him and our 11 year old lab, Tucker. Tucker is very used to and loves his walks and I was looking forward to having another dog join us. Separately, Angus generally walks very well on the leash, with some minor pulling issues that we are working through, and Tucker is very well behaved. Angus has some skeletal abnormalites that are from him being kept in a too-small crate for most of his life combined with possibly having a broken hind leg that was never set properly, if at all.

Anyways, Angus walks slower than my usual pace with Tucker. When I walk them together, Tucker has started to pull on his leash, rudely cross in front of me to smell things all over the place, and in general refuse to pay attention to me at all. He will obey when I tell him to sit, but he won't look at me at all and will eventually just lay down if I ignore his behavior and wait for him to acknowledge me. He is not motivated by food at all and will ignore even bits of hot dog to get his attention - he'd rather look at bugs on the sidewalk.

There are times when both dogs are walking properly and I've been generous with affection and praise when that happens, but those times are few and far between and actually seem to be losing frequency. Angus is now starting to pick up on Tucker's bad habits, and walking them for any distance has become a real chore. Any tips on how to get Tucker to clue back in?

 

[TooneyDogs]

Two dogs are twice the work as you've discovered. While walks shouldn't be a constant zig zag effort they should allow some time to be a dog....investigate smells, bugs or a butterfly.
When it was just Tucker, I'm sure you taught him WHERE to walk....by your side or slightly ahead. The 'rules' have changed now....it's now more of a pack and packs zig zag, range and roam....especially if the pace is slow(er).
Take up the slack in Tuckers leash...don't let him range and roam/cut in front of you (a refresher course of where he is supposed to be walking). Let out the leash at times to let him be a dog and then reel him back in when you need to.

 

[WoodLark]

When I walk my two dogs, I walk with one on either side and keep the leashes quite short (but not tight). I set the pace, not the dogs, but you might have to adjust your pace because of the one dog's physical issues. Occasionally, one or the other will suddenly stop or pull because they smell something interesting (they are dogs after all), but generally it works quite well. When we get to an area where we don't have to worry about traffic, etc., I let the leashes out to their full length (6 ft.) and let the dogs roam and explore a little. The biggest problem with the longer leashes is when they try to cross over each other.

 

[wvasko]

I look at it from a different point of view, I would rather keep older dog with whatever routines the dog was use to. At eleven years of age he deserves it.

I was looking forward to having another dog join us. Separately,

Just because you feel good about 2 dogs walking does not mean that the old dog feels the same. Eleven years with you and now he must share. To say nothing of possible aches and pains he might have and whatever mental programs he's going through. I would give each dog their own quality walk and they can do their own bonding etc in home. I could be all wrong but it won't be the 1st time.