training TWO dogs, and clicker Q?

[dogsarebetter]

I am sure it works better to train dogs separate, but I feel awful leaving a dog at home, or in the house while I train the other! I wish there was a way I could play the look at that game with both dogs at the same time!
Ruckus and Lynn are going to both be working on Control Unleashed starting today.
What can I do where I dont feel bad about working with one dog, while the other in side wanting out to play with us? Maybe give the dog who is being left out a kong? any other ideas?

Could we work on CU with both dogs if hubby was doing it with one, and me with the other?

Also for walks, someone suggested walking my dogs separate (because of reactivity). I assume that doesnt apply if my hubby would be walking a dog, and I be walking a dog.

And Ruckus is scared of the Clicker. I am not sure if CU uses a clicker but I know that it would help with other things. Is it worth getting him to be comfortable with the clicker, or just dont use it since it causes him stress.

[Brattina88]

Instead of an actual clicker you can use a single word like "yes!" or another noise maker that he is more tolerant of.

I always feel bad, too. I usually have frozen kongs with all kinds of "yummy stuff" in them for times like these. Peanut butter & bananas, chicken & baby food, etc. When I put them down, the dogs do not care that I am leaving with another dog.

[lizzybeth727]

Originally Posted by dogsarebetter

And Ruckus is scared of the Clicker. I am not sure if CU uses a clicker but I know that it would help with other things. Is it worth getting him to be comfortable with the clicker, or just dont use it since it causes him stress.

I would work on getting him used to it. It usually goes pretty fast because good stuff (really tasty treats) should follow the click every time. You can start by muffling it in your pocket or wrapped up in a towel or something so that it's quiet, and then gradually make it louder, ALWAYS treating after the click.

You can also check out Karen Pryor Clickertraining| dog training and cat training info, books, videos, events, the I-click clicker on that website is significantly quieter (and IMO much nicer to use) than the box clickers, and it's almost the same price.

[Taqroy]

My older dog Murphy hated the clicker, to the point that he would not take a treat because he thought I was going to click. But when I started clicker training our puppy he realized that she was getting treats when he was not and now he has no problem whatsoever with the clicker. It might also help that I found one at Petsmart that has a volume control thing on it and it's way quieter than the traditional box clicker (otherwise I was going to try the I-click).

Maybe you could try something similar with Lynn and Ruckus? Click and treat Lynn and see if Ruckus would be interested enough in the treats to ignore the clicker?

Also, I found that when my husband and I walk the dogs they feed off each other, regardless of who is holding the leash. Separately they are a lot easier to calm down. Both of them react to other dogs in typical annoying fashions but when we just have one it's easier to distract them. I'm not a trainer though so definitely take my thoughts with a pile of salt.

[ihartgonzo]

Definitely work with them seperately for now in super stimulating situations (as in... not holding both of them together). My dogs REALLY feed off of each other, like Taq said... one really bad experience while I was walking them together set us back a long way. It should be fine if your husband is holding one and you the other, but you might want to wait if they seem more reactive when they're together, and keep a generous distance between them at first.

Gonzo used to freak out at clickers for YEARS, until I got an iclick, which is super duper quiet but still very effective. Now, he doesn't mind any clicker. They are actually much more helpful than you can even imagine.

[Saeleofu]

I would at least start separate, but eventually you could work them together (however I don't know your dogs' backgrounds or personalities). I find brace competitions in rally and obedience to be awesome! I only have one dog though so I can't do it myself, I can only watch lol

[elegy]

i do not believe that you can work on LAT effectively if you have both dogs out. LAT is intense in the initial stages. you need to be watching your dog extremely closely and responding to minute cues immediately in order to keep your dog under threshold. i don't think that a person can do that while handling two dogs.

put lynn inside. give her a kong or whatever. work ruckus. then take ruckus in, give him a kong, and work lynn. they need to learn to deal with one dog going and one dog staying anyway. they need to have alone time with you.

and in all honesty, right now i would walk the dogs separately even if you have two handlers, because ruckus does not need the added excitement of having another dog who is also reacting to dogs.

[dogsarebetter]

thank you all! will do Elegy