How to Train Your Great Dane

Despite its size, the Great Dane makes a superb house dog. They look as if activity is the highlight of their day, but in fact a few minutes or so of scheduled exercise is enough to keep trim their figure and health. The Dane is very much a people’s dog. However, if deprived of training, they grow aggressive and develop dominance issues that is very undesirable for the dog’s human and other animal companions at home. This shows that training is without question part and parcel of owning the dog. And it is indispensable for a Great Dane, a dog so big that it still can accidentally knock down children, put their feet on the dining table, drink water from kitchen sinks, plus other potentially negative habits.

There are many ways to implement great dane training. Some use correction methods with the help of Great Dane collars, while others prefer reward based methods. In any case, bear in mind the need for gentleness in training the dog, as too harsh methods will only reap distrust and fear. The rest of this article will be on what is known as the reward method, or the dog clicker training.

There are some key information to keep in mind before delving into the reward method. Time is essential in training a dog, and a three-year old is actually quite ready for it. Socialization is a good way to begin training, since without it, there is always the risk of the adult dog deprived of training growing into an unruly housemate. Therefore, taking time with a still-agreeable puppy will help secure the maturity and good manners of the adult Great Dane in the future.

Great Danes are actually capable of being receptive to its owners and humans in general, but overcontrol must never be. The dog clicker training is not over control, since it is simply a means to dog obedience training. The first ingredient to start training is an object that makes a clicking sound at a simple twist of the fingers, e.g. using the button on the center of a bottle cap. Why this object with a clicking sound? The purpose is to get your Great Dane used to a uniform sound that it can link to an action. After the clicker, buy dog treats that taste good. If there is a way to get your Great Dane to be motivated, it would be treats. Surefire examples would be small slices of beef, hotdog or chicken meat. There are also plenty of pet treats that you can purchase in small amounts first, to check out with your dog’s taste buds.

Now its time for the clicker training itself. Think of the clicker as a sort of encouraging sign of approval, just like the cheerful whoops and halloas that you used to do every time the puppy follows or obeys. For example, if you want to train the dog in sitting down, click every time the dog responds correctly. But the dog will only catch on if you give a treat right after clicking. You will also have to refrain from making so much unnecessary noise so that the dog stays focused. Have fun in your great dane training!