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Couplers - yay or nay?

JamieHalverson

Well-Known Member
Just curious, any of you use couplers when walking 2 dogs or do you use separate leashes? I have never used a coupler as I like the control 2 leashes provides, but I end up with so much leash, especially with 2, six foot leashes and when walking the beasts together, they are in a loose leash heel, they don't need 6 feet of leash. I did just get some shorter leashes, so if I don't end up trying a coupler, that should help, but just curious if anyone uses and likes them.
 

Hiraeth

Well-Known Member
I've used them and have had success with them as far as teaching LLW with a larger trained dog and a puppy, but it's really dog dependent when it comes to using them with adults. I wouldn't attach a young adult dog to a senior dog who walks at a slower pace, or a large dog to a small dog who is going to get dragged around. Or a reactive dog and a non-reactive dog, as the reactive energy could easily translate through the coupler to the non-reactive dog and create some unwanted behaviors.

I prefer 6' leashes and it's what I'll always use. I manage four 6' leashes, two in each hand curled back in on each other, but I can understand that being a pain in the butt in most people's eyes. Using a coupler for two stable adult dogs of somewhat similar height and walking speeds is a great alternative :)
 

JamieHalverson

Well-Known Member
I prefer 6' leashes and it's what I'll always use. I manage four 6' leashes, two in each hand curled back in on each other, but I can understand that being a pain in the butt in most people's eyes. Using a coupler for two stable adult dogs of somewhat similar height and walking speeds is a great alternative :)

Yeah, my pair are 3 years apart and currently within 20 pounds of each other. Lillie will get quite a bit heavier, but they are relatively close in size. Both leash trained, minus some antics once in a while... I like holding their leashes in one hand, with both of them on my left with only a couple feet of leash, so folding two, six foot leashes back on themselves is just not really comfortable and I feel like I'm constantly messing with leashes.

I also just had a minor surgery on my left hand, and need to make sure I'm not grabbing a leash with that hand for a while. I've found myself accidentally using the hand more than I should be, so I think just having one, short leash with a couple to hold in my right hand might alleviate some of that.
 

ruby55

Well-Known Member
I've never tried them with these guys, but I used to work with golden retrievers years ago. It was nothing to use 2 couplers plus a couple of seperate leashes, walk at least 5 dogs at a time. I wouldn't dream of trying this with these monsters, even though they all have pretty good leash manners. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with these beasts on a coupler at all.
 

Smokeycat

Well-Known Member
It's not a coupler but I use a leash with one handle and 2 5' leashes. Jiggers does get jerked around occasionally typically when Kryten suddenly stops to mark something but I've found that it is easier to control them and they are better behaved on this leash than when I use 2 separate leashes. It's as if the feedback from each other helps to remind them to ignore their specific bad behavior triggers.

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk
 

JamieHalverson

Well-Known Member
It's not a coupler but I use a leash with one handle and 2 5' leashes. Jiggers does get jerked around occasionally typically when Kryten suddenly stops to mark something but I've found that it is easier to control them and they are better behaved on this leash than when I use 2 separate leashes. It's as if the feedback from each other helps to remind them to ignore their specific bad behavior triggers.Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk
Yes! What a pleasant, completely unintended effect, when I got zero and I mean zero tension in the leash from Yogi while using the coupler. I don't normally get much, but he has a tendency to try to keep just enough pressure on the leash to be annoying. He will correct when asked, but then goes right back to a very slight pull.

Apparently, Lillie is a better trainer than me. I had her on the inside and Yogi on the outside. Whenever Yogi put pressure on the leash, Lillie got the tension before it traveled up to me and she was not budging. She is an angel on the leash and knows where she is supposed to be, Yogi fell right in line as he could not budge her even an inch. He kept looking at me like wth, but I felt not one iota of tension and to Lillie his little pulling act was of no more consequence than a buzzing fly... It was probably the easiest walk I've ever had with two dogs.

And yeah, I waste no time, and we needed dog food anyway so I picked one up before our evening walk to try it out.
 

BAMCB

Well-Known Member
I used it with my JRT's sometimes and not much of a fan. They almost egged each other on. If one caught scent of something and would follow it then the other would say "great idea!" And then they were both pulling. Lol I'm very glad to hear it worked for you though. Pleasant walks are so awesome!
 

JamieHalverson

Well-Known Member
I used it with my JRT's sometimes and not much of a fan. They almost egged each other on. If one caught scent of something and would follow it then the other would say "great idea!" And then they were both pulling. Lol I'm very glad to hear it worked for you though. Pleasant walks are so awesome!
Well, I may be singing a different song if they get up to hijinks, but so far so good! I have to say, Yogi did not enjoy this walk as much as Lillie and I did lol.
 

scorning

Well-Known Member
I use a coupler sometimes with my Great Dane and Doberman, it works well for casual walks. I usually pair it with a waist leash that has a handle near the leash clip, in case I need more control. With the size difference, the Doberman has to be in the middle next to me, otherwise she gets pulled around too much.
 

teodora

Well-Known Member
yep i used one with my girls until i left it on the crate and Sophia decided to eat it. I did like it. My girls are same size, same pace (approximately) and they've been great with short walks side by side.
 

JamieHalverson

Well-Known Member
I have to say, I was very surprised at how long the coupler itself was, fully 2-3 feet in length. Luckily I had just a leash handle with a clip on it, so I attached that and off we went.
 

JamieHalverson

Well-Known Member
I use a coupler sometimes with my Great Dane and Doberman, it works well for casual walks. I usually pair it with a waist leash that has a handle near the leash clip, in case I need more control. With the size difference, the Doberman has to be in the middle next to me, otherwise she gets pulled around too much.

I thought about using my waist leash, but decided after they acted like idiots the other day on the leash, we are not quite ready.
 

JamieHalverson

Well-Known Member
Never mind, I know how to google, lol. I want them to walk next to each other. But the coupler I got has a slidy thing you can adjust to change their distance, so it can be used the same way as a double ended leash.
 

Hector

Well-Known Member
Never mind, I know how to google, lol. I want them to walk next to each other. But the coupler I got has a slidy thing you can adjust to change their distance, so it can be used the same way as a double ended leash.
True, but the only difference is that you can't control them individually on a coupler like you can on a double ended, I think.
 

DennasMom

Well-Known Member
I would occasionally loop the handles of two leashes together to make a double-ended 12ft leash... then I could just drape the leash around my neck like a scarf and grab either end as needed to maintain both pups in position - I kept one on either side of me most of the time - they could be a little competitive at times, so me in the middle kept them better behaved. :)

I also liked for them to be attached together, so if I dropped the leash, my "good" dog (the one that would come when called) would be a good anchor for the "one-way" dog (the one that did NOT come when called). :p
 

LuthersMom

Member
Not knowing your situation, a coupler didn't work for me. Not only are my dogs far different sizes (which wasn't a hindrance to using a coupler with other breeds), but my dogs are two far different energies. They got frustrated at each others pace, no matter how often we practiced. Now, if we go out together, I use two leashes. I also found it helpful if I need to tether one dog for any reason with a carabiner I keep on each leash.