Cont'
I'm not going to write much about how to situate your new puppy into your household, as there are many excellent books, magazine articles, and video tapes on that subject. If your breeder does not have information, check with your local library, pet store or veterinarian's office; or call GDRNC Rescue for suggestions.
The very first thing you should do before your puppy comes home is to do a little bit of homework. Read the book "How To Raise A Puppy You Can Live With" (Rutherford and Neil, Alpine Publishing); watch Ian Dunbar's video tape "Sirrus Puppy Training", and learn about crates and their proper use. Find a Puppy Kindergarten class and enroll. Find out what needs your puppy has and be prepared for them. If you do this in advance, puppy ownership will be much more pleasant and rewarding.
In puppy training, you have a very narrow window of time in which to take advantage of the fact puppies have all their learning ability at twelve weeks of age. Gentle, consistent training and socialization are very important during this critical stage.
The use of a crate as a training tool is highly recommended. Not only will it aid in housebreaking, but it will prevent destruction from chewing, provide a secure place for your Dane to sleep, let him get away from the activity of the kids, and can keep the dog from being underfoot when you are busy or have non-doggy company. Dane sized crates are expensive; but I feel they are worth their weight in gold. Information on crate training can be obtained through the Nicki Meyer Educational Effort. Vari Kennels, suitable for small puppies, can be rented. Full sized Dane crates can be purchased through dog show concessionaires or through larger pet stores, such as PetsMart. (See back page for more information.)
Housebreaking can be accomplished in a very short time, as Dane puppies are usually very clean animals. However, the key is that you MUST be consistent, diligent, and very watchful. Again, many puppy care books cover housebreaking-- it would be worth your time to read one! A crate, properly used, can be an invaluable tool in housebreaking. A few things to remember; never rub the puppy's nose in the accident, always praise for eliminating in the proper area; and take a baby outside frequently! Remember, sudden diet changes, either in the form of a different food or schedule, can upset your housebreaking routine. Any changes of diet should be made gradually over the period of one week. Be consistent about mealtime; and take the puppy outside immediately after eating and upon waking.
If you work and must leave your puppy home alone for portion of the day, try to arrange for someone to come in a couple of times a day to let him out to go potty, feed him his lunch, and to play with him for a little while. If that is not possible, be prepared for housebreaking to take much longer--and also be prepared to spend extra time with your puppy in the morning before you go to work and in the evening when you get home, no matter how tired or busy you are! Be sure to leave the radio or TV on for company while you are gone, and leave him with plenty of Dane proof toys to occupy his time. Never give a Dane puppy or adolescent full run of the house while you are gone--you will be very sorry you did! Crates were made for a purpose!
Take some time to learn about the breed you have chosen. Know what the breed characteristics are, and what you can expect at certain ages in a dog's life. Read books about puppy socialization, and make every effort to follow through with this very important aspect of puppy training. The more varied the sights, sounds, and experiences you expose your puppy to, the better! Of course, if your puppy has not had all of his vaccines, care should be used in frequenting areas that have had high dog traffic.
Begin training your puppy from day one. This is very important. Puppies can learn amazingly fast--in fact, they have all of their learning ability by 12 weeks of age! After all, the fact that he knows what the sound of a cookie box opening is proves that! Go to a Puppy Kindergarten!
Do not let children play roughly or tease your Dane puppy--it may make him dislike kids. Kids often do things that aggravate dogs. Some of these things would include staring a dog in the face (bad idea!), barking at him, teasing the dog through a fence, poking or pulling at the dog, waving arms and screaming, or teasing the dog with a toy or food. Pouncing or jumping on a dog while it is resting or sleeping is also a very bad idea. Danes are not horses and should not be expected to give "horsy rides". Teach your children how to properly behave around dogs; and teach your dog how to behave around kids! And, although Danes are generally very good around children, they should always be supervised when playing with kids.
Remember that your Dane puppy, for all of his size, is really a baby and should not be left outside in the cold or hot weather for long periods of time. NEVER chain or tie up a Great Dane as a means of confinement; and never allow the dog to free roam.
Love your puppy, be gentle, and take time with him. You will be rewarded with a pet that will give you many years of pleasure.
Below is a list of items that you will need for your new puppy or adult:
stainless steel feeding dishes
a feeding stand
buckle collar
ID tag and dog license
six foot leather leash
sturdy dog toys
crate
information on training classes
food as recommended by your breeder, veterinarian or qualified person
brush and currycomb
nail clippers
bedding (old blankets work well)
first aid kit
Proper use of a crate will prevent destruction from chewing and help speed housebreaking!
