I have two Huskies, Kohdi is  1 year and 10 months, Mishka is 10 months. Kohdi is ideal (pretty much) as far as walking with me, he doesn't pull and walks right next to me. Since I've gotten Mishka, I've been walking them together and Mishka has been and still is a puller. For about 2 weeks now, I've begun walking them seperately on my evening walk because Mishka is not done growing (hopefully) and Kohdi has been getting cheated out of his very long walks. What I've noticed, and been very surprised about, is that when Mishka walks alone with me, she is like Kohdi, she doesnt pull and walks right next to me. Yet, in the morning when I walk them together again, she's gotta be in the lead and she pulls. I guess my question is, Mishka seems to know how to walk properly since she demonstrates that with me when she's alone, how do I get her to bring that mindset over to when they are walking together? Because taking two walks kinda sucks.

You could try a Y split lead so they are closer together and kohdi may be stronger and keep her back and not pull. I learned after both of sierras surgeries that jack is a dream to walk alone, when they are together it becomes a competition of who is out front even if they on both on 6ft leads. I have learned to walk very fast! You could also tey keeping her on a shorter leash to keep her closer to you, eaiser to correct her behavior.

I second the y splitter. But also think you should look into a walking belt.
Sounds almost like Mishka wants to be in lead. Not sure if that will upset the other or your training but what about letting her have a slightly longer lead to be slight ahead of Kohdi?
Lastly the walking belt I had numerous times taken all three of the pups I had on a walk usually with two on one leash in a splitter attached to the walking belt and and the third on another leash all attached to the same caribiner on the walking belt. left my hands for correcting.

Thanks so much to both of you. I will try the Y-split lead.

@Jenn ...Similar to your Jack and Sierra, it seems to turn into a competition, however the competition is all in Mishka's head.

@Colleen...I do give her a slightly longer lead already (its the way I walked Malukhai and Anuschka so it feels more natural to me) and no, Kohdi could care less Mishka is in front, haha, so I have no worries there. I've also tried shortening her lead as Jenn suggested (just makes her pull harder) basically she's already in the lead position, has no competition for it, but must pull and pull hard. Its a bit more difficult to train/re-train because to do it together is a PITA with Kohdi "suffering" through it as well, and I cant really train her alone because she's already doing everything right when we're alone.

I will consider the belt too. Its something thats already been suggested to me but for some reason I have a vision in my head of walking along, Mishka pulling, then me on the ground, watching Mishka running off dragging my pants behind her, LOL. Im pretty lightweight, Im much stronger than I look though...but I think Im stronger in my arms than I would be by my waist. I'll give it a try, see what happens. Thanks again to both of you!!!

I can honestly relate to this entirely!

I definitely recommend getting a waist belt, but if you wanted to give something similar a try prior to purchasing one you can loop the leash (put the clasp part through the handle for your hands)  and put it around your waist- it works exactly the same way and it helps SO much, allowing you to correct their behavior since you'll be hands free!

Although it seems like they might have better luck with running off with you behind them, I can tell you it will be exactly that.. your waist is your center of balance, Think of a see- saw, it is generally the same concept. I have switched back and forth with this method when I go for my walks.

My other suggestion is to use a Halti, I use it with my boys and while it does take some getting used to and I have used it with my guys for a year, They still try to rub it off in the ground a lot of the time but as soon as I say their name they snap out of it and trot along with me. I have found this to be the most effective tool while walking both of the dogs- I literally have to walk both together as well, Loki becomes extremely vocal if I leave him behind (separation anxiety)..I know that by not leaving him home alone and always walking them together I am essentially reinforcing the behavior but I have yet to figure out a good way to teach him it's not the end of the world, lol.  But I'm hoping to remedy that eventually....

anyways,

I personally don't suggest letting either of them lead in front of the other, because I feel that reinforces the pulling behavior, which is the opposite of what you want. Instead have them walk beside you and shorten the lead. Otherwise have you considered one of those bungee leashes, or a prong collar? I heard the bungee leashes are a life saver for your shoulders and arms.. and extremely good reviews for a prong collar.

I know that a huge issue I have with my guys is that when they walk together they have an issue with paying attention to me, it's like they are in their own world at times.. I really suggest working some training into your walks, such as looking at you, turning around, sitting down, etc. This has helped a lot of the time get them to snap out of 'their little world' and actually focus on me, and when they are focusing on me they are not pulling to whatever it is distracting them and causing them to pull.

I hoped I somewhat helped and that it didn't come off as a big jumbled mess, I just know how it feels because it's something I've struggled with for quite some time and still am struggling with at the moment, but during that time- I feel I've learnt a bit that I didn't know before... Even if it is dog specific.

@JAM...Thank you SO much for your post, I really appreciate it.

I will try the Halti. I tried the Y-splitter and I think under different circumstances it would have been great. It was a bit of a mess though, although I admit I probably didnt give it enough of a chance. It's just that I've always had two Huskies, and I've never had this *problem* before. I realize every dog is different but...I feel I SHOULD be able to walk these two just like I've walked my others. What I've been doing most recently is shortening Mishka's (the problem child, haha) lead thus *forcing* her to walk in rythym with Kohdi. I feel, through repitition, she will adjust accordingly. She's a strong little one though, LOL. She's actually been doing pretty good. This competition with Kohdi though isnt limited to walks, its with everything. I don't know if its something thats just *in* her or if its changeable. In my opinion though, with time, she will change. Kohdi doesnt even want to compete with her, hopefully she will realize that.

The Halti has been suggested to me by some friends. I may try that route. Again though, what I want is for them to just walk in harmony like my past Huskies, who I didnt need all these different devices for. Kohdi is like your Loki, he becomes extremely vocal when I take Mishka without him. I didnt even realize it til I heard this pathetic pitiful moaning one night while coming down my street...and I was a bit of a distance away, I kept hearing the most pitiful howling/talking and as I neared my house, realized it was Kohdi!!! it actually broke my heart to hear him like that he's gotten quite attatched to his lil sister. My main reason for starting to walk them seperately was because Kohdi was already used to 5 mile walks, and since I got Mishka, his walks were shortened to accomodate her (growth plates and all) I've since stopped that though, they have to walk together. So the Halti is something I'll probably have to try, at least for a little while.  The prong collar...its going to sound silly but, I just dont like the way they look. I too have heard excellent reviews about them, even had a friend who used it on his Husky...I just dont like the way they look. My father even offered me his slip collar to borrow(the one that the dog whisperer guy, Caesar, designed/sells) and...I dont know, just seems like I should be able to accomplish my goal without something like this. Like I should be somehow working on Mishka's mindset (the competing) instead of the physical things?? Does that make any sense?

The reason I've been letting Mishka have a slight lead is because its more *comfortable* for me, and I think them as well. My last two Huskies were walked that way, each one taking lead throughout the walk at their discretion, its just become natural to me. I'm not one that needs my dogs to walk right next to me at all times like little soldiers, I want them to be able to sniff around, walk slower when they want/need to, that kind of thing , but yeah, I totally understand your thoughts on why not to do it because I had that in the back of my mind already. And I understand the "walking in their own lil world" thing too, LOL...what I do though, and I did it with my last two as well, is I will talk to them every so often, cuz I too go into my own lil world on the walks, and have found myself having to snap out of it. Anyways, when I talk, their lil ears move backwards and they listen. Not sure if it has the same affect as what you are saying with having them sit, or turn around, but they do seem to respond to me.

And YES, you have been a great help...thank you I may use the halti before the waist belt, Im not sure why Im fighting this waist belt idea though, LOL, but the halti seems like a good start so I'll try it. Thank you again, I truly appreciate it.

Jimmy, I strongly recommend a prong collar... they have made a huge difference in my ability to walk Ami and Archer together (it took a bit, Archer was even younger than Mishka).

You don't need the large size - it does look like a medieval torture device the medium is fine. Also, leashes by design adapts the Herm Sprenger with both a side release buckle and either weaves a leather or nylon webbing collar through the prong so it looks more like a normal collar. And the side release buckle makes it much easier to put on and take off.

If you do decide to give it a try, remember, let the collar do the correction, don't yank on it.

Thank you Amy, I really may give it a try. I know theyre NOT medieval torture devices, she's just the SWEETEST lil dog ever and...I know I'm being stupid...I just dont want to see her in it. However, I truly may give it a try...but first the Halti, lol.

One thing that keeps popping in my head is the day I picked her up from the breeder. The breeder had her and her lil brother together by themselves. The breeder told me the other puppies were "pushing her around", because these two were much smaller, eating her food etc. and I'm wondering if this is what started her competing nature. Like, Kohdi is kinda a big push-over, lol, I've watched her take things right away from him and he allows it (95% of the time, the other 5% is like kinda scary, well, used to be...anyways...) so in a way I think its reinforced her being able to stand up for herself...finally, and thus "competing" (which doesnt sound like the right word I should be using because, Kohdi hasnt shown her he needs to be competed with but...I'm tired, lol) with Kohdi so *she has it all* and actually CAN get it all, and this bleeds into the walks.  It seems like something that can and should be changed and things like the prong collar or halti, etc. are only qwik fixes (?) am I making sense? or even being reasonable in my thinking?

However, I'm also willing to try qwik fixes because I also realize that the qwik fix itself, can help solve the underlying issue. Ugh, I really am tired, I feel like I'm making no sense

Jimmy - I think you may be overthinking this. I'm guessing this is just Mishka's personality with a little bit of her puppyness thrown in to boot. You just need to find a way to manage it. I tried a front walk harness with Ami but didn't like it because it changed his gait - the whole purpose of our walks is to give him exercise - meaning a good clip, and to allow him to explore the world so he is not so bored, stuck at home with the old folks. Also, I put the prong on my arm and tightened it like it would be on Ami and it really is more of a uniform squeezing than a a sharp poking of the skin.

You describe to a "T" the relationship between Ami and Archer with Archer being, as we call him, The Little Budger! Sometimes, to give Ami some peace, we separate them - Ami in the laundry room (if he's wet) or the sunroom on his thrown (when he's dry) and Archer in the kitchen. But it really kills Archer - he wants to be right where Ami is. And have anything/everything that Ami has.

I've got Archer now to the point where he won't finish his own food and then push Ami out of the way and snarf his food also. But it's really funny to watch. Archer walks over, sits about 4 feet away and just squirms, wanting to get Ami's food (Ami eats slowly and deliberately, Archer not so much )

You have to realize, also, that it takes 2 to tango...Kohdi and Ami ALLOW this to happen. I now know that when it is really important to Ami, he can, and will, put his foot down and a quivering Archer will comply (and come running to Grammy, "save me!"), so I am less guarding of Ami's space than I used to be.

Good luck! (also,the Herm Sprenger has rounded tips...

Be very careful with a halter.

For dogs who pull or are impulsive or reactive it can be quite dangerous to the head and neck.

Dogs pull on "no pull" harness and halters all the time and when they do they can be physically quite uncomfortable and harsh to there body. With these types of "no pull" tools there is no way to issue corrections , so they can be really pointless with bad pulling, impulsive or reactive dogs.

Just FYI.

A halter will be very difficult to use and potentially more dangerous if you allow your dogs to walk in front of you, along with all the other problems that cone with them in front.

Thank you Amy, I really do overthink things a lot, so I can totally accept that. I've asked friends who have used Halti's in the past, why they dont use them anymore, responses varied but not one of the reasons is something I'd want for Mishka so I've decided against the Halti.

Mishka is different than Archer in that when Kohdi puts his paw down, she doesnt retreat. She goes back for more I think that what my concern is with the prong collar as well...that she'll "take it too far". It is something I'll probably have to try though to get my answer so at the moment, the prong collar is what I'm considering for her. I've still been walking them together, keeping her lead short so she walks in rythym with Kohdi. She does pretty good as long as I dont give her any headway so I'm gonna see how that goes for a lil while. The frustrating part to all this is how beautifully she walks when she's by herself. She loves her walks too. I dont want something like the prong collar to take her enthusiasm for walks, away from her. Ugh, we will see. Thank you again Amy, your perspective has given me much to think about.

@Jeff...Mishka is both those things and yeah, what youve mentioned is the main reason I havnt done the Halti yet. I also have a friend who used one on her Great Dane and she gave me the same insight. Thank you for your advice as well.

I was actually just coming back to this thread because I'm hoping to hear some advice as well.

I've used both the Halti and the Prong.

The Halti works for one of my dogs- Kilo because he is very good natured and laid back and he knows not to pull on the leash. He has learned how to walk with the Halti at a young age and with a consistent walking routine to walk beside me and follow. I don't have any issues walking him anymore except for when he likes to occasionally try and rub it off ( I have yet to get past that) and when Loki becomes overly excited.

Loki has also used the Halti- and it works decently well for him but it isn't accomplishing what I would like to with him either ( excessive vocalization which is embarrassing, pulling, and not relaxing during walks )  , as I mentioned he literally yowls, yelps, and becomes overly vocal during walks due to being so excited and he pulls.. oh does he still pull. A few weeks ago, I picked up a Prong Collar- it's not a Herm Springer but I got it from PetSmart and it does have rounded tips. I walked Loki by myself in it, and it had been extremely manageable for myself, It seemed like he enjoyed walking alot more and I wasn't having my previous issues. I certainly was enjoying the walks. I decided tonight that I was going to walk both dogs together by myself  tonight and Loki went back to how he was and if anything I was having a hard time controlling him, I was being pulled quite a bit and I felt like a rag doll.. So I'm going to have to go back to square one with this and try again. Because I'd have to say it's our worst walk to date and I'm not sure what to think.

I'd have to say that the vocalization has to do with also a competitive nature that Loki has on wanting to be ahead, and it's due to him being frustrated that I'm not allowing that, but even when I allow him to walk a bit ahead it seems to be an even more prominent issue or when Kilo is even beside him. I would like to say it's because he is overly excited during the walk but I'm more than positive it is tied in with pulling and being ahead.

I share that because I suggest still introducing each tool as an individual prior to walking them both together instantly (even though I did do this prior to walking them together) ... and if anyone also has advice to throw my way as well- It'd be appreciated it too.