Need Advise: 2 Dog Lead Training

[lcarothers]

Hope some of you have addressed this training situation.
I am wondering if at 6 months I am pushing Rosie too hard, if my expectations are too high for her age. She is doing exceptionally well with her lead training on a single lead when alone.
I am attempting to train her to accept a 2 dog lead, to have her respond well to commands when she is on the 2 dog lead with Bubba (male, 23 months). Her response is to zone out and completely "forget" her lead training while she is attached to Bubba. You can picture the senerio, Bubba in position, Rosie wandering off left, right, under and over.
If I have them on 2 seperate leads together I am getting fair to good response, with few corrections. (please note the fair/good, not exceptional as I note she is when alone.)
You also need to know that with their current behavior, I am certain she will be the dominant dog of the two.
This is something I have mentioned to my trainer in passing, but not addressed. We have briefly discussed training sessions with the two together, but after her initial ob training.

Has anyone had experience with this?

[Judi W]

The only time I use a coupler is with competition brace obedience. I would never use it in any other area nor do I do brace competition with a dog that does not already have at least a CD.

Couplers have the dogs correcting each other so they learn to ignore the collar pressure out of necessity. Use seperate leads so you can correct as necessary and only the dog that needs it gets it.

And yes, she cannot possibly have the level of training at this age to know position especially when there is another dog in the way. Doesn't mean you can't walk them together, but use two leads and don't try to make position formal, but rather simply manners.

[Canadianrotti]

I asked our trainers this question as well and there response was "get both dogs very comfortable walking beside eachother on seperate leads before you tie them together." It will take some time to have them both walking very well on seperate leads before you can have them on a single lead.
I have yet to try this with our dogs, Raelin is only 6m/o and still needs more training on walking beside our dogs on seperate leads.
good luck

[lcarothers]

Thanks for the good luck wish, I need it!
I thought I was pushing her too early, the advise on the pressure correction from the other dog hit home.
After a mc accident I have limited use of one arm and I thought the 2 dog lead would be easier to get them where we're going, ie. the beach, before I go to their long leads.
I'll continue to use the short individual leads together as advised but will occasionally introduce the 2 dog lead if I get a more positive feel from her when they are together on individual leads.