New puppy - walks with resident dog?

When you get a new puppy, when you start going on short walks, would you walk both/all your dogs together for the short while, or the puppy on its own?

This goes for on and off lead?

On one hand I see the benefits of getting them used to walking together/playing together in a park etc, but on the other hand, if I was wanting the puppy to focus on me and so some mega recall training from day one, maybe it is easier to do this with the pup on its own?

For me I think when I first get a pup and let it off lead (will do from the start this time), it is better just me and the pup as it will be focused on me?

If that is the way you do/did it, when did you then start taking them out together?

My new dog (when fully grown) will be able to do a lot more exercise than Alfie, so it will be out with just me most days, but I am meaning when it is really small and you are socialising/training as much as possible, it is easier to do just "one on one" and take the other dog(s) out later?

I havent done this yet so I'm not talking from experience, however I plan to do a mix of the two. I see benefits to taking them for short walks together, especially if the older dog is well socialised and can set a good example to the puppy. However I would make the majority of the walks in the beginning just the puppy, until I was sure that I had a good relationship built up with the puppy and it was responding to basic commands and saw me as interesting on walks. I think always walking with the older dog would cause too many distractions for the puppy and hinder training. Equally I see no reason why they can't also be walked together sometimes too Just my opinion.

I have not got time to take one dog out at a time; I take them both to venue, and I may for example lay a track for older dog, whilst agiing it I then take pup out for a few minutes play, training and then put it away and get older dog out.

That's exactly what I planned to do

Was just curious of other peoples experiences as well

You still set on a Toller for your next dog?

ETA: just seen your reply SB - thanks!

Yup, I'm on a toller waiting list for a litter in 2014, very exciting However that depends hugely on Cain's behaviour improving in the next few years, and I won't walk the pup much with Cain because he's not a good example and I don't want him teaching puppy bad habits Bit whenever I do finally get my puppy, I have my heart set on a toller

What are you thinking of getting? Something a little larger this time by the sounds of it?

Yeah I am wanting a GSD!

It will all depend on circumstances and stuff so I can't get an "exact" date like you unfortunately But will be a couple of years down the line too!

Alfie's only real bad habit is his going off to see other dogs if he so pleases... but like you I have the time to work on it, (he is loads better already), but this is the main reason I started this thread... I want my GSD to have the best recall they can, I don't need alfie's selective hearing to impact on the pup!

Oh how exciting GSDs seem to universally love balls, get the puppy hooked on a ball and I bet recall will be a doddle.

I think you are right with a mix of both
Its too tempting to overexercise the pup if you take them out with them big dog
Its important for both dogs to get used to being alone (incase of vets visits)
its far too easy for a pup to rely too much on the older dog for confidnece

but its important for them to have fun times together too

I do both. I take the new dog out on his own until I`m comfortable with the handling of him, then it`s a mix of group walks and solo walks for a week or two to address any issues.
I think it helps to do solo walks - even if only for 10 minutes - as the dog starts looking to you for guidance, not just copying what the other dogs do.

I did both and always have. My biggest problem would have been the puppy NOT wanting to be walked without the other dog! The least of my worries was that the new puppy would be more interested in my other dog. Maybe it's just me, maybe it's a gsd thing, but I've never had two dogs, who actually played with each other when out on a walk (not even a new puppy, far more interested in the outside world, other dogs and me), they always saved that for when we got home to play in the garden together, which I always found quite strange.

My day would consist of a little walk together, then the puppy out on its own for the next walk, and again for the 3rd. I like free running with my pups, lots of socialising, different places to go and see and sit and watch, but I don't do any round the roads dragging until they've got good heelwork offlead from our daily walks where I practiced it for the last 5 mins of every single walk. You'd be amazed how well this pays off for when it's time to clip that lead on imo.

We always did bits of training on our walks too, making it fun, rather than training sessions as such, I left all that to our weekly training visits. Sorry, gone off on a tangent here, forgotton what the question was lol!