Littermate question: Advisable to "swap dogs' now and again?

[Ilona & Gina]

Anton and Gina are 21months now, but we still train and walk them separately as often as possible.

Gina is my dog, Anton is my partner's, but we live together as a pack of 4.

 

The "Terrible Two", as we often call them, get better and better when we are all together, but of course, they still are boisterous when let loose as a pair.

 

The problem is that my partner, who trains Anton, does not dare take him to the beach, as we had to rescue Anton twice from swimming out too far. We are talking about an ocean with sharks coming into shallow waters.

 

I believe he (Anton, not my partner) can be trained to turn around even when there is an exciting white dot (birdie!) on the water. He reliabley comes back on recall otherwise.

 

I would like to put him (Anton, of course) on a long rope, but my partner doesn't want to, because Anton would miss out on his free runs. And this dog so loves the beach.

 

Here's the question: Is it advisable to sometimes "swap dogs", meaning that my partner takes Gina - who is easier to handle - and I take Anton for a good 10k run along the beach - on a rope? My partner doesn't jog, so Anton wouldn't get a good run on the rope with him.

 

My partner says it would confuse the dogs, as they are used to be trained and walked by one person. But they love and trust both of us equally, so I don't see a problem. We have a dispute about it, as I believe the "Terrible Two" should get used to be swapped and get on with it.

 

Who is right, if there is a right or wrong?

 

 

 

PS: Now I know why people on this forum said "Never do littermates" - yet we love them to bits, both of them!

 

 

 

[danielle rowles]

I would say it would be a great idea for to swap dogs, it is excellent that you have both taken the time out to train your own dogs but you both need to be able to handle both of them, what if one of you has to go away on business, or god forbid end up in hospital etc, you'll be left with one dog that is well trained for you and one dog that isn't and thats going to make life hard.

Go for it, enjoy a nice long run on the beach.