Homes with more than one dog.

[lynzy420]

Just reading the little bit I did has me all choked up...YES they do grieve, witnessed it myself...it was so sad...my Blue literally howled for almost a week in anguish for his nemesis (yet his leader) Shine...it was awful...the girls we had then all snuggled together and watched as Blue howled and CJ paced and cried...it was a nightmare for my kids to see their dogs like this...however; they are very passionate now about their pets...because they know what we all know...they do have feelings and emotions.

[Britster]

I don't think it's as appalling what the trainer said as some of you are making it.

I think it's very important for each dog to have alone time. They should be able to function without each other.

A close friend just got a second dog and they were getting too "obsessed" with each other at daycare. So she started bringing them on separate days.

I also have seen people at the dog park who have littermates and they will bring one up for 30 minutes, take that one home, come back up with the other one... just to give them time without each other. Makes perfect sense. Doesn't mean they're supposed to be separated all the time... but it wouldn't be a bad idea to take them to training classes individually.

However, about the grieving thing, I don't agree with that reasoning. But I think taking them to their own training classes may be beneficial.

[chachi]

Originally Posted by Britster

I don't think it's as appalling what the trainer said as some of you are making it.

I think it's very important for each dog to have alone time. They should be able to function without each other.

A close friend just got a second dog and they were getting too "obsessed" with each other at daycare. So she started bringing them on separate days.

I also have seen people at the dog park who have littermates and they will bring one up for 30 minutes, take that one home, come back up with the other one... just to give them time without each other. Makes perfect sense. Doesn't mean they're supposed to be separated all the time... but it wouldn't be a bad idea to take them to training classes individually.

However, about the grieving thing, I don't agree with that reasoning. But I think taking them to their own training classes may be beneficial.

I agree with you. This thread made me sad thinking about mine and how one would be without the other I hadnt really put thought to it and mine get very little alone time so maybe I need to do something about that

[sandy simpson]

Grief is a part of our human life and also of dogs. I work with hospice patients and you do not avoid this process by choosing not to be around the person. Same with the dog. Any dog raised with another will have grief when the one passes. My brown mini poodle howled when my little silver poodle passed away. When my Yorkie, Teddy Peanut passed, my Yorkie Spud was not himself. We got a new Yorkie, JoJo which helped Spud. Dogs have strong bonds with their human friends and we can expect them to grieve just like we do. Lots of love and attentiion really helps.

[Maximo]

I give my boys individual time, individual outings. As others said above, I think it is beneficial in many ways....but not relative to grieving a loss. They will grieve no matter what.

I often worry that Teddy would be devastated without Max. When I took Max in for surgery, Teddy was so upset that he didn't want to go walking -- his favorite activity. He pulled me back to the house and waited by the door for Max to return.

[MikaTallulah]

All of mine are perfectly fine when they are separated. But always throw a party when reunited!

[1Ieisha]

My two, get time apart, because Snow was an only dog for 4 years then I got Max. She seemed a little overwhelmed with having a new little critter running around the house nonstop. So I'd just separate them, I'd take her on walks by herself, and him by himself. Cuddle them separately, etc. I still do it to this day. But, they do love each other and they really enjoy being around one another. But, I think they both value their alone time.

[Nancy1999]

I’ve read this many times, and do try to spend some alone time with each dog. I’ve heard of many dogs grieving horribly when the dog they spent their entire life with dies, I guess it depends how closely they’ve bonded. When there is more than one dog in a pack, I don’t think it’s as important, or if there is a great difference in ages. When you go to the obedience glass, why not take one dog one week and the other dog the next week? They aren’t really training the dogs in class; they are training you to train the dog, so you could practice with both dogs during the week.

[sophias mommy]

Thank you for all of the responses. We have decided to no longer go to obedience class. Not just because of this though ( squirted Brody with water, telling us training isn't working because we're using harnesses and not collars and being very adamant about us using one, etc.)

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by sophias mommy

Thank you for all of the responses. We have decided to no longer go to obedience class. Not just because of this though ( squirted Brody with water, telling us training isn't working because we're using harnesses and not collars and being very adamant about us using one, etc.)

Yes, I agree with you, you need to find someone who's experienced in positive reinforcement, it takes longer, but it doesn't bring out bad side effects. You don’t need a collar in order to train a dog, they are taking too many shortcuts. Too many humans want to see results fast, and this type of training often brings fast results, but it's not always long lasting and can produce an anxious dog. Hope you can find a trainer that you like.

[sophias mommy]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Yes, I agree with you, you need to find someone who's experienced in positive reinforcement, it takes longer, but it doesn't bring out bad side effects. You don’t need a collar in order to train a dog, they are taking too many shortcuts. Too many humans want to see results fast, and this type of training often brings fast results, but it's not always long lasting and can produce an anxious dog. Hope you can find a trainer that you like.

Yup, I agree. I hope I can find a trainer that we like too. I'm really disappointed with how this class turned out

[Teegy]

and did you ask her if she is going to take one of them for a few days. That's ridiculous. I didn't live at home anymore but when my dad died I was completely devastated. She's talking out her beep beep. Yorkies are social creatures and I cannot imagine keeping my two apart. They may be together every day, but they have we naps separately and they have individual play times, then they have together wrestlemaniac days.
What is your purpose of training class? perhaps you could find another group

[Teegy]

I've never done doggy classes all my friends have though, don't believe my dogs require it they are healthy and happy and hey they don't behave all the time but 95% of the time they are brilliant. It is totally about patience and they aren't going to learn all the rules in 5 minutes. Heck I don't abide by all the rules and I've been around a lot longer than these wee munchkins

[sophias mommy]

I was hoping to do training class to get the "talking" under control. Specifically they love to bark when they see other dogs, they bark until they get to say hi to the other dogs. We've been going to the park a lot and they have really improved.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by sophias mommy

I was hoping to do training class to get the "talking" under control. Specifically they love to bark when they see other dogs, they bark until they get to say hi to the other dogs. We've been going to the park a lot and they have really improved.

I'm happy to hear the park is helping.

Sorry that the class did not turn out so well. In my humble opinion, a trainer is not qualified to train a small dog unless they have raised one, and hopefully more. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to dogs. The collar thing frustrates me to no end. I've had people insist that I put collars on my boys to train. Forget it.

I am an advocate of positive reinforcement training -- and that doesn't always mean sticking a treat in the mouth and forgoing corrections.