As important as it is, recall training your dog can be challenging. Recall training two dogs, meanwhile, might seem even more daunting.
However, while it’s good to do a lot of individual training to begin with when you have two dogs, recall training two dogs together when they’ve gained a little more understanding can actually be really beneficial! All you need are the best dog treats to get started.
Certified dog trainer Melissa Goodman of Mission Pawsitive has explained how we can recall train two dogs together in a new Instagram post, so let’s take a closer look here.
“Recall is one of the few things you can do with two dogs together pretty quickly, as long as they don’t fight over food,” Goodman begins. “It’s important for them to learn to respond regardless of what the other is doing.”
She explains that training two dogs together can create a degree of healthy competition, too, making them more motivated to come back to you faster. They don’t want to miss out on their reward, and remember, it’s all about that positive reinforcement!
In her caption, Goodman recommends doing a lot of individual training before you begin to train both of your dogs together, but says that you can begin recall training together as soon as they understand the concept of recall.
The way you recall train two dogs doesn’t have to differ hugely from the way you train one – you’ve got your treats to hand, your cue word, lots of encouragement and praise, and plenty of practice and repetition.
And, while your dogs could prove to be distractions for each other, you can still incorporate in distractions once both dogs have a reliable recall. Try getting one of their favorite humans to join in, playing with your pup while you call out their cue.
Keep in mind, too, that while it’s great to practice with both dogs together, provided they aren’t going to fight over food and high-value treats, it’s also important to ensure that they’re both great with recall on their own. You don’t want one to be reliant on the other!
While recall training two dogs in one go might not sound simple, you could be pleasantly surprised by the experience. While training them separately all the time is possible, recall training them both together could be more productive (and more fun!) than you think.
Read next: Five reasons why your dog’s recall isn’t working (and what you can do about it)
