Training 2 dogs....

[etolar]

We currently have a 2 yr old Golden Retriever (mostly self-taught with PetSmart classes for socialization) and an 11 week old Great Pyrenees puppy (currently enrolled in a puppy class).

Our golden, Indy, has all the basics except loose leash walking/heel (and that my fault, I just didn't start teaching him that early enough and then he got big and it got hard to keep trying).

The puppy, Odin, knows sit and come, is 50/50 on stay, somewhat knows his name, and is trying to figure out what I mean by "down".

Individually, they are angels in that they are both smart and make every effort to think things through and try to understand what I'm asking them to do.

Together, it's a zoo. For example, lunch time for the puppy....

"Indy, sit, stay." -- Imdy sits and looks at me patiently.
"Odin, come." -- Suddenly 2 dogs at my feet.

Indy's "release word" is either "OK" or give him another command -- I can't figure out how to teach him that he should only acknowledge the other command if it has his name attached to it.

We have similar problems if I'm working with Odin and my bf is with Indy....

We'll get them both into advanced training once Odin is done with basics, but I'd like to get a head start on this while the puppy is young so any advice would be helpful. It's driving me crazy.

[etolar]

Oh, and any advice on making them acknowledge a "Come" when they're outside playing together? I'm glad they love each other, but I need them to come no matter what.

[erdog3]

The first thing I picked up on here was the similarity in their names. You could well be confusing them. Try this: go outside with them, let them get distracted then call one name, in your usual voice, see who comes.
You are probably using too many different commands for them to keep up with, don't forget they don't actually understand the word, they go on the tone of your voice and the reward or treat associated with the repeated word and it's tone, confused!! Imagine your dogs.
I have the words: Sit, Down, Stay, Come, Fetch, O.K. (for release), and a few others, each word has it's own meaning entirely, I always use their name first before any command. Don't confuse them with their name meaning a command.
You now have two dogs, their names will become very important in the training methods you use. Also try to teach your puppy on it's own, the older dog will distract him/her, all he will want to do is play, not listen to you.
Food time is a terrible time to teach commands for the best of us. Try focusing your attention on the pup at this time, feed your adult dog separately till the puppy understands what you want of him.
Also don't forget to lead train your pup early, you don't want the same mistake over again.

[lou3]

yes two similar names like that is not ideal, the dogs recognise sounds in the names not the actual names. its also important for all your commands to be very different.
teaching loose leash walking to an older dog is very easy, use a slip leash or half-chain collar (fairly tight fitted), walk on a short leash and say heel, every time the leash goes taut give a quick jerk and release and say heel again. At first it will feel like you are pulling and saying heel every other stride but they pick it up really quick. I had my friends lab who was the worst puller in the world walking on a loose leash within ten minutes. A nice treat every few strides they get it right is useful. Go for low fat varieties with a golden though
Lou

[Dax]

Pinch collar or halti sounds like they could help with the big one pulling. You could try working both dogs on stay/come at same time. You'll need a little help with this. Someone to hold the dogs and release one at a time with their name. Don't use similar sounding commands with name. Maybe something like IMDY - front & centre - or any thing else that is unique to each dog.

[peptodog]

If you are using a choke caller i'd get one of those plastic ones i find those are the best. BTW does any one think i will have any trouble with the these two names Sammy and Kramer because my current dogs name is sammy and i might adopt a puppy and ill name it Kramer.

[etolar]

Yea, we consciously chose a name for the puppy that didn't have an "ie" or "y" at the end, but somehow missed that both have D and N sounds....too late now...

And I do use a pinch collar on the big dog. I should explain that he's not horrible on the leash. When I correct him, he backs off. He just hasn't learned yet to _always_ stay with me -- so if he sees something he wants, he tries to go for it and even with the pinch collar, at 90 lbs he can take me for a bit of a walk. I'll try correcting him a little sooner (i.e. when he first starts to get strong) and use treats from now on.

I know in general tone matters, but my golden is very smart (maybe too smart and eager to please?) and at this point has quite a large vocabulary (sit, down, stay, stand, up, shake, get it, bring it, leave it, take it, give, toy, stick, ball, outside, out, upstairs, bed,...)

So I'm not horribly worried about the number of words confusing him -- although I am trying to keep it simple for the puppy and not throw too much at him at once (while still trying to not get repetetive which just makes him bored with me).

We also do work with them individually -- it's really when they're together that everything turns into a jumble. It'll probably get somewhat better as we do more with the puppy.

Any tips for off leash training? Our yard is fenced, but sometimes it takes a lot of begging to get them to come in if the weather is nice.

[HeartSong]

At least the beginning of their names are different. If there is a problem with them confusing each other's names, try to stress the difference in their names when calling them "IIIIndy", "OOOOOdin" then there shouldn't be to much confusion. I have two dogs named Ginger and Gemini, different enough but as soon as I get the "ge" out they both look at me or come running.

To teach them to respond only when they are addressed, don't wait till they are together but teach them this lessen when they are alone. Put say Indy in a sit and then say "Odin come," if Indy moves, immediately correct her and put her back in a stay. If she doesn't respond, reward her for staying in the sit. Do the same for Odin, then once they are both good at it alone, try when they are together.

I'm not sure about the coming in when it's nice outside, it's hard to get past the "aawwww but ma-oommmmyyyyy, it's so fun out here." Try to have something inside that is just as fun or maybe more so that being outside. Their favorite treat or toy, special play time, or something like that.

Good luck, two dogs may be more work, but they are more than twice the fun!

[etolar]

Originally Posted by HeartSong

Good luck, two dogs may be more work, but they are more than twice the fun!

Yea...and they are soooo cute playing together. The puppy can chew on Indy's ears or legs and he just lays there and lets him if he's too tired to play.

Odin's a goof though. He's figured out that we'll come running if he cries when they're playing so if Indy goes too hard for a leg, he'll yelp (and Indy stops as he should), but then he'll keep lightly whimpering and limping until we come -- at which point he trots off and tries to get us to play too....

Trying to use the other's names when they're not around is good idea. Then at least I only have to watch one dog -- not worry about telling one not to come and rewarding the other.