Our number #1 question on the website is how do I best walk two dogs together? We are strong advocates of walking dogs with a coupler. The largest benefit is you have only one leash and you aren’t constantly doing the “leash dance” where you are wrapped up in two leashes and maneuvering dogs. Most dog owners are reluctant to try a coupler because they don’t think their dogs will walk together very well. If one dog is older or has an injury, then we’d rule out the coupler. In most other cases, it should only take three walks for them to adjust to it.
The coupler has a circle on the top and two pieces of material or rubber that attach to the ring. With cloth couplers, you can adjust the sides of the coupler to different lengths to accommodate different size dogs. You choose the size of the coupler based on EACH dog’s weight. Every manufacturer has done an excellent job of building the couplers with enough material for each size of the dog (small, medium, or large).
If the dogs are two different size, we advocate the sporn adjustable coupler. It has the most adjustment capability for two disparate size dogs. You can buy it as a stand-alone coupler that attaches to a leash. Or you can buy a leash that splits.
We think the wacky walkr couplers are the best on the market. The elastic stretch gives your dog plenty of room and it reinforced with a nylon cable, so it will never snap or break.
The coupler has a circle on the top, elastic rubber attached to that, then a black nylon strap. The nylon strap can be used as an extra handle to grab each dog individually and to pull them in fast. The also have high quality swivel clips so the dogs can turn and don’t tangle.
If you add a wacky walkr leash with the coupler, you get a perfect walking system. The leashes have an extra handle on the bottom of the leash with a swivel clip. You can choose an urban leash (1.5-3 ft) or a standard leash (3-6ft) to add to the coupler. The urban is recommended if you would like to keep your dogs close. It still gives them plenty or room.
Whenever you walk two dogs together with a coupler or without, it’s always an issue when one dog wants to stop. We can’t solve this issue but the extra handle on the coupler does make it easier to stop the non-stopped dog and let them finish their business. We also recommend if you have a boy dog that you put them on the outside so the can lift their leg to the right.
Here’s a link to two videos:
http://www.keepdoggiesafe.com/wwcouplermed.html
Please don’t hesitate to email, blog or chat with your questions or comments.
Happy Walking! And thanks from the world of pet lovers for giving two dogs a good home.
Top Dog.
I have two small 1yr old Yorkies. One is deaf and scared of everything because she can’t hear. Would coupling them for a walk be a good idea? I thought one could lead the other and make her feel more secure. She always stops to watch me because she can’t hear. Or will this just frustrate my other dog? I don’t want to stop walking her. Suggestions?
It probably wouldn’t be a good idea. The older dog would feel a loss of control and probably needs to go at her own pace to feel safe.
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I would recommend walking the two dogs that can walk together the best with couplers. Eight dogs is quite the challenge, this way you would have two leash handles in two hands and four dogs on each arm. The tripler would be too tough to manage in this scenario.
We now carry the Bergan stretch leashes, they are designed so you can add as many segments as you need to one handle. Keep in mind that two dogs is the best number for not tangling, the third dog always adds complications, we would recommend that you walk two dogs on each coupler and hold two couplers in each hand.
Please send us a picture of you walking your dogs.
If one dog is much faster than the other due to age or health issue, then the coupler isn’t a good walking method.
It will make the slower dog keep up with the faster dog and could tax their heart.
This is an interesting discussion .. what makes a walk fun for your dog. They do love to explore but too much exploring can put them in danger. The Wacky wacky coupler is a touch short.
We would recommend you try the new Bergan couplers, they are designed with more room for them to explore but not too much for them not to be safe. The remarkable dog coupler is also a good choice and has the anti-tangle feature.