Cont'
Training-it's never too late or too early to begin-but do it! Many dogs find themselves at the shelter because of training problems that could have been solved by a commitment on the part of the owner to work with the dog. A young untrained Dane puppy is a pain--an untrained teenager is impossible.
If you purchased a young puppy, you can begin training him as soon as you get him home. The "can't train him until he is 6 months old" mentality is outdated, old fashioned, and allows the dog to learn a whole host of bad habits before his sixth month birthday! A twelve week old puppy has the same learning power as his two year old counterpart. The only difference is that he has a shorter attention span-and hasn't had a chance to learn bad habits yet!
Remember, it's easier to set good habits and training than to break bad ones. Most Dane puppies are smart and easy going. Using common sense, patience, and a gentle touch, you can teach your baby to walk on a leash without pulling, sit, down, wait, leave it, and stay at a very young age.
I strongly recommend enrolling your new Dane puppy in a "puppy kindergarten" class, provided it is given by a qualified individual. This low-keyed, happy training will teach you how to teach your puppy the basics. It will also provide much- needed socialization. Owners who do not take advantage of the trainability of young puppies are missing out on an excellent method of teaching the puppy the "rules" of the human world.
I'm not going to go in great length about the training of puppies, as there are a number of excellent classes in the Northern CA area. Just remember to never reinforce a negative behavior, set your "rules" early and stick by them, and be consistent. In training, correct the unwanted behavior, show the puppy what you want, and praise. Food training works very well with Dane puppies. Part of the pride in Dane ownership is knowing you have a dog you can count on to behave in public.
The same applies for an adult--even if you obtained an unruly teenager that has had zippo training-you CAN train him. You might have to work at it, maybe go through several sessions of classes, but the work will pay off in a dog that you can enjoy and take for walks without fear of being pulled down the street!
Most Danes simply need what I term as "house manners"-how to walk on a leash without pulling, coming when called, lying down and sitting on command, and to be quiet when told. Start your training, be persistent and consistent, be patient and gentle, and all of your hard work will pay off in a well behaved pet you can be proud of!
When training, be sure to correct the unwanted behavior, show the dog what is correct, and praise for that correct behavior. Never reinforce any type of behavior you would consider negative, such as being fearful or shy.. Never allow aggressive, territorial or over-protective behavior. Nipping, snapping, growling and biting should be dealt with firmly. If you have specific training problems consult with your trainer or call the number listed in the front of this booklet.
A word about crates, since they can be used as a training aid. I really recommend them to help with housebreaking. Several pet stores in the area sell large crates, and they are worth their weight in gold. They can prevent destruction of household items by chewing, speed up housebreaking, and simply be used to get the dog out from under your feet when you are busy. They also provide a secure place for your dog to sleep. Consider purchasing a crate-this will be a decision you will never regret!
Your Dane must learn how to behave around small dogs and other animals.
All dog ownership entails a responsibility. Owning a giant breed like a Dane is a huge (no pun intended!) responsibility. The breed requires financial responsibility--everything with Danes is just going to cost more. Large crates, sturdy toys, big dishes and other supplies are just going to be a bit more expensive. Trips to the vet that require medication will be more expensive, too, as the large size necessitates higher doses. You need to make sure the dog is properly trained and has good manners. Socialization of the puppy, a very important part of puppy training, takes time and work. You also need to respect other people's rights and make sure your Dane doesn't "step on any toes" so to speak!
Many people are very frightened of dogs in general-and of large dogs in particular. Although most Danes are very gentle and friendly by nature, the person scared of big dogs only sees a potential dog bite. With dogs receiving so bad publicity is doubly important to always keep your pet under control and insist he behave in a comely manner.
When you take your Dane for a walk, make sure he is leashed and under control at all times. This means walking nicely at your side on a loose leash. Do not allow him to lunge at other people or dogs, even in play. The other dog may see his friendly gestures as aggressive and a fight may insue. Allow him to go up to strangers only if they initiate the contact, and only as long as your Dane is of stable temperament. If you are letting your dog off leash for a romp in the park, keep an eye out for people who seem nervous about your dog. If needed, call him back to you and leash him until the people are gone. Do not let your Dane off leash in a public area unless you have good voice control over him. Be careful of other people with loose dogs who may not have as much control over their dog as you do yours. A growling, snarling dog coming towards your dog is perceived as a hostile action, and a dog fight could occur. Your dog, being the biggest, is going to inflict more damage and you could be held responsible. Legal and civil action could result, especially if humans are bitten trying to break up the fight. It's not fair, but the larger dog will always get the blame. Remember, a certain percentage of the population will assume your dog is mean just because he is big. Always act in an appropriate manner to protect you and your pet.
Try to encourage people frightened of dogs to act in a responsible manner. Carefully and tactfully explain to them that screaming, yelling, running away, quick motions, strange actions and other abnormal behavior may set them up for a dog bite. After all, to the dog they are behaving in a very suspicious manner. Do not allow people to stare eye level at your Dane or hover over him. Explain to them eye-to-eye contact is considered a sign of aggression in the canine world; and "hovering" can be considered an attempt at dominance.
Never, ever let your Dane free roam. Even if you have acreage, you must confine your Dane to his own property. Loose roaming dogs cause many problems; from chasing and killing livestock (which a Dane can be prone to do), getting into garbage, defecating on property other than your own, adding to the dog over-population problem, and just be a general nuisance. A free-roaming dog is more prone to a short life span. Cars kill, garbage poisons, and angry neighbors shoot roaming dogs. Roaming dogs form packs, and become territorial and aggressive. A Dane should be confined in either a dog run or fenced yard. Chaining or tying out is unacceptable for this breed. I fail to understand how a person allowing their dog to roam can claim they "love" him. A concerned owner would never allow his Dane to free roam.
Barking can be a problem and you, as the responsible owner, must take steps to control it. Big dogs have big voices that can be most irritating to neighbors. If the dog is alarm barking for a reason, you should be able to stop him with a command. Continual barking because the dog is bored or just feels like it should not be allowed. Early training will help teach your Dane when barking is allowed-and when its not. Owners with Danes who bark continually in their absence may need to resort to the use of a bark collar to control such needless barking.
Always clean up after your Dane. Your yard at home should be picked up on a daily basis to keep it clean. If you confine your dog to a run, bleach it weekly to keep odors down. When taking the dog for a walk, always carry clean- up supplies and use them! (In Seattle and some other areas there is a $500.00 fine for not picking up after your dog.) A plastic bag works well, and most pet stores also carry supplies for clean-up. Be sure to properly dispose of the waste.
Owner responsibility also includes taking care of your Dane. Providing proper food, water, shelter, routine and emergency vet care and training are all a requirement of dog ownership. Hopefully you have given it some thought before you obtained your Dane and are able to provide these necessities.
Ownership also includes a commitment to the dog for its entire life. If, for some reason, you cannot keep the dog, it is your responsibility to make sure a suitable home is found. GDRNC Rescue can assist you if this should ever be the case. Never take your Dane to an animal shelter. The chances are very slim that he will be adopted out. People go to shelters for cute fluffy little puppies, not Danes. If you choose to place your Dane yourself, be careful. There are people out there who want to get free and cheap Danes and turn them into puppy mills. These people will not give your dog a good home. Instead, they will discard them as soon as their productive years are over. For this reason, I strongly suggest that you spay or neuter your Dane prior to placing it. Also, Danes placed into new homes because of any temperament problem such as shyness or fearfulness should never be bred. Spaying or neutering prior to placement will avoid a litter of puppies that may have the same problem.
If you have a problem dog, think very seriously before placing it into another home. No matter what caused the problem, you are unhappy with the dog. Would another family truly be able to cope with the same problems? If they are serious problems like excessive fearfulness, biting, over-protectiveness, aggression towards humans and major health issues, you should consider euthanizing the dog. How would you feel if you placed your dog and later found out it caused serious injury to somebody or created a financial hardship? If you had prior knowledge the dog was a biter and placed it into a new home, you could be held liable in the event it caused injury to some other person..
