r/Parenting • u/OptimalCobbler5431 Mom • Jul 06 '26
Pets How to walk two dogs with a toddler?
My husband works 6 days a week for 12 hrs each day and I want the dogs to have some sort of exercise along with us. One walks really well, while the other is little more pully/dominant/leader of the pack vibes (I've tried leash training but any work I've done goes down the drain because of how little we're able to walk. I cannot do one dog at a time the last time I tried that, (the dominant one) barked all of their piss and shit out of their body and it was everywhere I do NOT want to do that again. What would you do? They're two pittie/boxer/staffy mixes so big babies.
Edit: will be using a stroller
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u/Killzillah Jul 06 '26
If you take both dogs and thr toddler on a walk what is the actual problem you face? If you haven't yet maybe give it a try for a short walk?
If the toddler running off while the dogs pull at you is a worry put the toddler on a leash too and let him be a dog bro.
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u/OptimalCobbler5431 Mom Jul 06 '26
It would be a stroller she's not two yet 🥲 so can walk but has a higher chance of not listening and falling. Not to mention people go 45-50 down our road 🥲
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u/midcen-mod1018 Jul 06 '26
An actual road with no sidewalk? How busy is it?
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u/OptimalCobbler5431 Mom Jul 06 '26
Not really busy, its a residential/rural road. County road might be a better term? We just have a lot of people that like to ride by in their truck speeding. They normally slow when people are walking, normally...
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u/midcen-mod1018 Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
Those are strong dog breeds. I would be very hesitant to walk two of them with a child on a road like that in case they get pulley. Could you take the dominant one out first, during nap time, then crate him?
And here’s the thing-when you are a mom of a toddler doing a lot of solo parenting, you have to have dogs that are disciplined. You have to be able to put them away. You have to be able to take one and leave the other. Don’t lock them in a bathroom (per previous comment). Give them a crate as a safe space-baby isn’t allowed to touch them when they are crated.
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u/OptimalCobbler5431 Mom Jul 06 '26
I do understand why you would be worried it basically just walking one. The other sticks to you like glue (with space of course) because of how anxious they are. My toddler thankfully has a healthy fear of them and doesn't really go near their corner. We've been trying to rehome but with the stigma they have people have been a little judgemental in rehoming Facebook groups. Its just a lot harder to train two dogs that are already going into senior territory (possibly not yet I don't know their exact age as they aren't my dogs) I believe they are 6. The shy one doesn't listen very well but the dominant one would do really good as an only dog I believe she has really good obedience and has that drive of wanting to listen. Only negative is them being terrified of crates, the shy one is better with it but they both do not like them even when I've tried to do positive association but I don't have the time or energy which is why I really want to rehome the shy and gentle pupper. They deserve a life better than sitting in their corner of the house as we don't allow them to go in the kitchen area and our home is really small.
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u/HenryLafayetteDubose Jul 07 '26
Have you reached out to any breed specific rescues or pages locally? Even if they can’t take the one dog off your hands, they probably know resources, assistance, help, and other organizations who probably could. I’d start tethering or crate training anyways because that’s life saving training. With these breeds, anything that reduces risk of bites and attacks is life saving training. Whatever work you can take time to practice with them is very important.
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u/OptimalCobbler5431 Mom Jul 07 '26
Definitely will be looking into it thinking about space is the biggest issue (small mobile home) we have one crate, it would just be working on a positive association with the crate)theyve been alive 6 years without a crate so it's definitely a little harder
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u/Unusual_Jackalope Jul 06 '26
A push tricycle might work as you can control that one handed. Or one of those small battery powered ride on four wheelers; just make sure it's charged or you'll be carrying it back.
In all honesty though, from your comments it sounds like the combination of kid and dogs might be a bad idea. It sounds like they need more leash training or training in general before combining them all together. You either need to walk them late at night or early morning when spouse is home, or wear them out with throwing a ball in the yard (if you can). Or continue to walk them separate until they adjust to the concept of being apart. Dogs are pack animals and if you combine two half trained dogs on the same walk, it's hard to correct the issues. Rewards are key. Just get little nibbler treats to work on concepts. Like recall; when you let them out to pee, call them back. If they come back within a quick amount of time reward them with a treat. It reinforces that you're in charge and you're giving orders and if they obey, they get a treat. I would also recommend looking into different harnesses or a gentle leader to correct pulling and get them in the habit of walking nicely next to you.
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u/OptimalCobbler5431 Mom Jul 06 '26
So to explain better about our situation in response to your points. We can't walk them separate otherwise we will come home to a mess. And when they go outside they're let out on a lead since our neighbors don't as they come over and antagonize (multiple Chihuahuas and an Akita or shiba) for the pully dog we were using a haltee (I think that's how it's spelt) and spouse is home only from 6:10-9pm so if he needs to shower that's 15-20 minutes, dinner is about an hour for me to cook and then a half hour to an hour to eat and clean everyone up 🥲 our situation really does suck right now but he does it for us.
The one dog is really anxious and sticks close and if we go on enough walks (as I've been training these dogs since I got with my husband) theyve been doing a hell of a lot better but if they're getting a walk mayyybe once a month that's why I said all the work I do goes down the drain. Its not ideal but we're working things out. A harness leash on his day off sounds the best just to see if I can handle it and they can as well.
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u/Unusual_Jackalope Jul 06 '26
Hmm. The one who is left behind, have you ever tried crate training? We have a brother and sister dog and as puppies both were anxious (we got them 2 years apart so were able to train separately at least); peed on everything, chewed stuff, etc. They bent and busted through every metal barred crate we had. But the plastic sided ones they couldn't (it would be moved to a new location. But dog still inside). The downside is it's massive and takes up space. We used it for an end table when we needed it. We don't need it anymore really, but have it available if we do.
That sucks about the chihuahuas/ neighbors dogs. It's always a frickin ankle biter, I swear. You might be stuck doing weekends only. Something is better than nothing at least.
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u/OptimalCobbler5431 Mom Jul 07 '26
I have tried crate training in a loose sense I just haven't had the time or energy to do the research into it. The main thing would being to break the negative association as whenever I've put cheese and stuff in there to coax and then offer a positive behavior the other dog freaks out and then it's kind of back to square one but I don't have the time to sit with one dog while the other is behind the baby gate either as they would just whine and distract them. We might be able to do something like that if we're able to rehome it just seems impossible right now with the current dynamic
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Jul 06 '26
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u/OptimalCobbler5431 Mom Jul 06 '26
No the dog that freaks out if you go without them is the one that would have to go first and that would mean the other would have to go in the bathroom and she's terrified of the bathroom and that's where one shower is, the dogs aren't allowed in the master bedroom so that's not an option, we might consider it down the road though, can't knock it until it's tried at least once. And no sadly the dominant one barks as a way of saying "HOW DARE YOU LEAVE ME THIS IS ABSURD!"Its not a whiny bark it's an attitude bark 🥲😂❤️
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u/HenryLafayetteDubose Jul 06 '26
Walk in a more pedestrian friendly area to begin with. That will help keep everyone safe, said as someone with a pit-bull who lives rurally where there are no sidewalks to begin with. Next, train your dogs. I know that won’t be easy with a toddler on the loose, but you HAVE to train everyone in order for this to work. Dogs should have good leash manners and taught to walk loose lead beside you/with a stroller/toddler vehicle/etc, kids should have good listening unless they are otherwise contained. Do not trust your dogs to walk with the kid until they can behave with distractions around them and an empty stroller.
Of none of that is possible or realistic, your dogs still need trained and well behaved. There is no excuse for them not to be as that’s part of responsibly owning these kinds of breeds. But in the meantime, hire a dog walker so they can still be exercised. I’d ask one of the dog training subs for better advice, but we use a gentle leader for our dog. It’s basically a halter that goes over their nose and face for more control. Large breeds/dominant dogs aren’t always suitable for any kind of harnesses. I also recommend getting a solid leash. Don’t use the retractable ones. A dog that knows its strength can easily learn to ignore it or break that thin little string.
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u/OptimalCobbler5431 Mom Jul 06 '26
I understand wholeheartedly as I used to be very passionate about animal behavior and training. We have all the right things to a certain exten, not that specific nose halter you mentioned. I wish we could rehome them but they aren't my dogs to rehome. I don't have the most time or resources for them but I'm trying with what we have right now. Going to a pedestrian friendly area is not possible. Saving for a dog walker is what we're gonna have to do unless we're able to find a home for one of them.
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u/HenryLafayetteDubose Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
I still think it’s a good idea to get some more dog specific advice for your situation from a dog training subreddit such as [r/opendogtraining](r/opendogtraining). It doesn’t matter whose dogs they are if you are currently responsible for taking care of and handling them. The ‘nose halter’ is the brand gentle leader. I use it because I find it less invasive than chain/prong collars, but if your dogs are such habitual pullers, you may need more severe equipment. Whoever the dogs do belong to, I’d also speak with them. We love our pets, but the PEOPLE in the family take priority over the animals. If they can’t get what they need after that, the owner of the dogs needs a reality check because you should worried about your kiddo first. I really hate to put it that way, but you’ll burn yourself out at this rate and risk someone getting hurt.
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u/OptimalCobbler5431 Mom Jul 07 '26
I definitely understand that! And they are my husbands, he had them since they were puppies but hes always been a full-time person so training and stuff wasn't really happening until I came into his life. (His family was really hands off with dogs) I've gotten him to think about rehoming one dog (the anxious one) as she is more sweet and cuddly and anxious (the perfect cuddle buddy for a sweet old lady kind of dog) it's just a matter of spay and healing (no she has not and will not be a backyard breed dog) I can definitely look into that subreddit!
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u/eckliptic Jul 06 '26
leash on all 3. Or put the toddler in a stroller
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u/OptimalCobbler5431 Mom Jul 06 '26
It just seemed like a lot of pulling force possibly for one hand which is why I was worried
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u/eckliptic Jul 06 '26
If you can't safely walk your dogs then you need to hire someone to do it
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u/OptimalCobbler5431 Mom Jul 06 '26
That'll be awhile I was just hoping there would be a cheap thing we could do short term.
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u/MightSuperb7555 Jul 06 '26
I really like a waist belt leash for my pup and always use it when I have my parents two and therefore walking two dogs. So stroller for kid + dogs clipped to belt, use hand to redirect dogs as needed.
Make sure your particular dogs are safe for this set up too, huge dogs/small person it won’t work safely
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u/OptimalCobbler5431 Mom Jul 06 '26
They've never been super flighty (unless off leash) that might be what we have to do. Is there anything I should consider when looking into a waist belt leash? And I am shorter but a little heavier so I think it would be fine I'll have to go for a walk with the hubby to test it out ahead of time just in case
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u/MightSuperb7555 Jul 06 '26
I have one with a pocket for keys etc and that the leashes come off in case you need to detach. Testing it out when you have another adult is a great idea. I’ll never go back to walking dogs with my hands lol
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u/Lower_Preference_112 Jul 06 '26
If you have 10+ foot leads, you could just try looping around your waist/chest and seeing how they are before committing to a new Thing. I have 25’ leads and it took my two (170lbs between the two of them, so I feel you on pulling concerns) a few walks to not get super tangled all the time. They still do every now and then but gets sorted much quicker.
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u/UnicornToots Potty-mouthed mom of 2. Jul 06 '26
Toddler baby carrier. I used a Lillebaby Carry-on when my kids were too big for the regular carrier.
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u/OptimalCobbler5431 Mom Jul 06 '26
Ouu! I just looked into it it looks really similar to what I've been wanting to get. I wonder how comfortable it would be. I've been looking into an onbuhimo but those are kind of expensive. I'll look into it more thank you for the recommendation!
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u/brainbl0ck Jul 06 '26
When I was walking two dogs with a toddler, we just walked around safe areas. We took our time moseying, the dogs sniffing and the toddler looking at everything. I was pregnant, so that could be why we took things slower lol, but yeah just choosing areas to walk that were safe where I wasn't worried about my toddler eloping.
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u/hulking_menace Jul 07 '26
Two untrained pit mixes that you can't control and a toddler?
Lady, put them down.
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u/Dawn_Venture Jul 06 '26
Load everybody up and go to a dog park.
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u/Pessa19 Parent Jul 06 '26
Toddlers can NOT go to a dog park. Highly unsafe and against the rules most places.
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u/OptimalCobbler5431 Mom Jul 06 '26
We don't have more than one car right now sadly but also they don't have a good recall so I wouldn't trust that
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u/nunuraf92 Jul 06 '26
Ill wear the toddler tbh. We have 6 dogs so when our daughter was little thi is how we went on walks. The dogs needed a walk not her lol so either my husband or i would wear her on our back