can't we all just get along?

[wildwings]

My 2 labs ( 2 year old male, and 1 year old female) seem to loose their sense of hearing when they are together. The older one will usually listen to me, but not near as well as when we are alone. The younger one seems to almost ignore me when the dogs are together. Because of this, I haven't had them together much. I'm trying to get them used to each other, because I want to hunt them together. This year, the younger isn't far enough along in her training, and I don't plan to hunt her much, if any. SHe is making great strides in her obedience. But when they are together, alot of her obedience goes out the window, and they just run and chase together. the don't seem to be fighting, and never growl or bark at each other. are they just playing, and they will grow out of it? Are they determining dominance? THe female is a tiny 40 lbs, and about half the size of the male.

[fabsroman]

My 2 year old lab is great when he is by himself, but once he gets around other dogs he is a disaster. He used to be a lot worse than he currently is.

I trained two golden retrievers that had lived together for 3 years before I started training them. It was always harder to deal with training both of them at the same time, but it wasn't impossible. Once I got them to honor one another (i.e., retrieve only when their specific name was called), life got a lot easier.

The one year old is still young and playful. The two year old is probably playful too. At least I know my two year old lab is plenty playful, but he is a lot calmer than when he was one. I think they will grow out of it.

Personally, I would continue to train both of them separately until you have them completely under control. Hunting them together might have to wait until you have a little more training under their belt and you work them together during this upcoming spring/summer.

[gspsonny03]

I would almost bet that during the off season, while you have the dogs out in the yard or where ever you play with them, that the dogs are allowed to run and play and have a good time. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying there is anything wrong with this, but keep in mind that what ever they are allowed to do in play is acceptable for them to do while hunting, at least in their mind. They are both very young dogs and there is a lot of puppy still in them. I agree with Fabs in the fact that I don't think that I would try and train them together at this point. I think it would be much easier if they were by theirselves. They will pay more attention to you at this point. Keep in mind that sooner or later you will have to hunt with other dogs and your dogs will need to be able to hunt with distractions, ie other dogs, so eventually you will have to work them together as soon as you think they have their obedience training down. I would also suggest an E-collar. Read the manual, teach the dog to obey it, but only after they know what is expected of them. I really think they will mature out of this and eventually get down to business. The best way to do this is to put birds in front of them. Make them want to hunt birds so bad that they don't want to play. I also wouldn't wait on the one year old dog. Get her out there and into birds. The more the better. You need to get them to realize that hunting is also fun. When you pick up your gun or grab that e-collar they will know that they are in for a day of great adventure and they will go nuts trying to get to the pickup. Hope this helps. Good luck

[wildwings]

When I have the dogs together, I try not to let them run/play. Notice I said "try." They seem to be obedient on their own. I agree, though...... they do need to learn to get along. As far as the hunting, I have some quail I hide, and let the pup find them. I don't want to take the chance of her catching one. I'm working on the FF with her, but she has some really agressive teeth, and I don't want to take the chance of her chomping one, and causing a lifetime of hardmouth problems.

Thanks.

[Lilred]

I come across that ALOT trainin beagles. You can have 6 well-trained pups runnin at the same time and all it takes it 1 goof-off and they all act like a bunch of fools (well..most of em anyway).
With your 2 dogs..an e-collar is a great idea. That is the simplest and most effective way to break that.

My situation might be similar to yers tho..maybe this'll help too. My dogs are kept in a kennel...and sometimes they stay there fer a few days..esp iffin it's rainin er I got somethin goin on that prevents me from lettin em out. So when a pup gits outta there...he is excited as all git out. So instead of takin em directly to the hunt er the trainin session..I let em "git it out of their system". Once they run around the yard like their tails is on fire fer about 20 minutes...then they go right to werk with little er no problem. My older dogs do that too sometimes..but when it comes to work..they know it and they never skip a beat.
Dogs can learn the diff. between werk and play time..but it does have to be taught. I engrain it it my dogs. Sometimes havin 10 er 12 dogs runnin at a time can be a chore. Esp. when mixin young pups with old dogs. So fore I ever consider addin a pup to run with a large pack like that..I make sure they are trained proper and he/she is ready to hunt.

When I'm ready to put some dogs in the dogbox...they know the difference. They know that when the tailgate drops the bulls** stops. When they ride somewhere they know not to run around like a bunch of fools..and most of the time..the pups grow out of it anyways.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[rick savage]

pups will be pups no matter what the breed, give them timeand keep them working. dogs will learn when it,s time to hunt. our dogs know when we break out the cut vest it,s all business. good luck