This summer, we have two labs visiting Jubilee. It has been surprisingly very successful. Jubilee is much calmer and listens well around the other dogs. I would like to be able to call one dog and not have all three of them come. Any suggestions how to train this? I tried last night, and it didn’t work very well.
Need multi dog training advice
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Beanwood
Administrator
We currently have FIVE labs! 
Four of our own, and one who is just staying with us for a bit. Getting dogs to respond to individual cues is a bit of challenge. We haven't got that sussed yet! What does work well is boundary games, so each dog has a bed, or mat and knows that is their place. Once I have got all dogs in their beds, I use their name and work on something simple and not arousing...like middle for example. At frequent intervals I quietly drop treats for the other dogs on their beds.
This is quite a good article...
Karen Pryor training multiple dogs
Four of our own, and one who is just staying with us for a bit. Getting dogs to respond to individual cues is a bit of challenge. We haven't got that sussed yet! What does work well is boundary games, so each dog has a bed, or mat and knows that is their place. Once I have got all dogs in their beds, I use their name and work on something simple and not arousing...like middle for example. At frequent intervals I quietly drop treats for the other dogs on their beds.This is quite a good article...
Karen Pryor training multiple dogs
I can tell you what worked for me. I sat the two dogs up one behind each other and called one dog to me. He then sat in front of me and I gave a treat to the dog that wasn’t called and hadn’t moved before I gave the dog right in front of me. So not coming to me was rewarded before the one I that moved. I started it over very short distances, just a stride or two and gradually lengthened the distances. In the end I was throwing a treat to the dog staying while the other was coming. The dogs found it great fun and got the hang of it very quickly. I call it the leapfrog as they take turns to be first on the line. Totally made up but works for me for cue discrimination.
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
I do a combination of @Beanwood's and @Peartree's. I only ever call them separately when they're in "work mode". I don't think it's unreasonable that they all come when you call just one during "downtime", as they aren't under orders at that point, so can do as they please (within the normal construct).
So on their beds, lots of reinforcement, and then call one off. If there is one more likely to break, I will call that one more often, maybe even after every other dog. If they break, when not called, I just put them back on the bed and make it easier. I've worked up to having this outside, being able to call a dog, throw a ball for them, dance around etc, have them walk away with me, do a few exercises etc, while the others stay settled.
I also sometimes do it when leaving the garden to go for a walk, although this isn't as strong. I sit them up one side of the gate, open it and walk through, then call them one at a time. To be honest, I haven't done this ins a while so it might not work anymore! My normal gate routine now is that they all stay my side (standing is fine) while I open the gate, then either I go through and then release them, or else I send them through ahead of me. in either case, they wait for me on the other side before we move off.
So on their beds, lots of reinforcement, and then call one off. If there is one more likely to break, I will call that one more often, maybe even after every other dog. If they break, when not called, I just put them back on the bed and make it easier. I've worked up to having this outside, being able to call a dog, throw a ball for them, dance around etc, have them walk away with me, do a few exercises etc, while the others stay settled.
I also sometimes do it when leaving the garden to go for a walk, although this isn't as strong. I sit them up one side of the gate, open it and walk through, then call them one at a time. To be honest, I haven't done this ins a while so it might not work anymore! My normal gate routine now is that they all stay my side (standing is fine) while I open the gate, then either I go through and then release them, or else I send them through ahead of me. in either case, they wait for me on the other side before we move off.
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
Hmmm - I never tried it!
I often have three but it’s always been ‘one come, all come’ here.
That’s what we are doing now. They are very good about taking treats nicely even when they are crowded together. I have been lax with Jubilee’s training with our visitors here. She likes to learn new things and I was trying to come up with something the whole gang could do. I’ve always admired how the Cruft gun dogs take turns and thought it would be a fun challenge.Hmmm - I never tried it!
I often have three but it’s always been ‘one come, all come’ here.
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
@Selina27 Well I might have been a bit sneaky...
No, I haven’t said anything about her. I was offered the chance of a puppy before the litter was born, but I had very specific requirements which I didn’t think would be met. Luckily there was a little black girl for me and I still wasn’t completely sure even when I picked her up, for various reasons too complicated to go into here. The breeder said I could have two weeks to make up my mind and if I wanted I could return her for a full refund.
The two weeks are up tomorrow and I named her finally three days ago so I think now that she’ll have to stay.
When @Beanwood was having such a torrid time with Otter it just didn’t seem right to post about my new arrival.
No, I haven’t said anything about her. I was offered the chance of a puppy before the litter was born, but I had very specific requirements which I didn’t think would be met. Luckily there was a little black girl for me and I still wasn’t completely sure even when I picked her up, for various reasons too complicated to go into here. The breeder said I could have two weeks to make up my mind and if I wanted I could return her for a full refund.
The two weeks are up tomorrow and I named her finally three days ago so I think now that she’ll have to stay.
When @Beanwood was having such a torrid time with Otter it just didn’t seem right to post about my new arrival.
well done
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Ah I see, makes sense. But can she have her own thread now then?
Beanwood
Administrator
No! More puppies please! Whilst it has been difficult, Otter is simply amazing, adorable, wonderful. Puppies make the world go round.
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Yay, another forum puppee of the hairy kind!!
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
Return her - as if! 
She’s lovely.
She’s lovely.
- Location
- East Sussex
Aw - Puppy!!
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
I used to do the leap frog game. However, I taught them by telling one to sit (good dog) and the calling the other.