The Eastern & Coastal Region of NSW Great Dane Club promotes responsible dog ownership. There are many facets regarding responsible dog ownership which includes health & welfare, exercise, training & dog socialisation. Due to the size of the Great Dane, it is imperative that they receive adequate training - both in puppy hood & into their adult life to sustain physical & mental stimulation.
Mrs Frances Hammer has kindly offered to write some information on training the Great Dane - from puppy hood to adulthood. Fran is a Delta Accredited Motivational Dog Trainer & has a Cert 1V in Canine Behavioural Training. She instructs at the Northern Obedience Dog Club & participates in puppy classes at the Kensington Vet Clinic (both located in Victoria). Fran also provides private consultations - so she has a wealth of dogge knowledge to share!
Part 1 - I want a Great Dane - what do i do now?
Part 2 - Understanding the Basics of Training
Part 3 - Training to be Polite & Well Mannered
Training - where can I find Training & Obedience help?
- PART 3 -
:: TRAINING TO BE POLITE & WELL MANNERED ::
Danes at eight to twelve weeks are a manageable size, however they grow rapidly. Therefore, whilst training is an integral part of every day life, it is important to get the basics instilled as quickly as possible. You may ask yourself, 'What do you consider the basics?' These would be :
- responding to & paying attention when their name is called;
- being able to sit/drop/come/wait & leave when told;
- tolerate a collar & lead & be able to walk happily on a loose lead;
- tolerate being 'tied up'.
When you first bring your puppy home I suggest you put a collar on them. The puppy needs to get used to this foreign 'thing' around their neck & you need something to hold & attach a lead to. I also attach a very light lead when the pup is on the ground so they can sniff & mooch about to the end of the lead.
:: Harvey - sitting quietly ::
If the pup hits the end of the lead & tries to pull further away or leaps about, stand very still & say nothing. Brace your feet & hold the lead (through the hand loop) & then hold your clasped hands holding the lead, close to your body (being a tree). When your pup stops pulling at the lead, be sure to release the tension & say YES! Praise & reward your puppy!
Some pups will resent the collar & lead, but if there is no real 'pressure' applied (rather the puppy is petted & made a fuss of) then the experience is pleasant & the pup is more likely to accept new things more readily. Whilst I know Danes are smart, I think it is easier for them to learn one or two things at a time.
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- PART 2 -
:: UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS OF TRAINING ::
You have carried out your research on what dog is right for you, what is involved in owning a Dane & decided that the Great Dane is your dog of choice. Now that your Dane is home, what next?
It is imperative that you understand the basics of training your Dane, since dogs don't come speaking English & most people don't speak dog. Therefore, communication between you & your Dane needs to be based on keen observation & clear, consistent words & signals from you in your new partnership.
Basic training information :
Training is a way of life - it's an all day, every day occurrence, blended into the everyday life of the family (not just an hour a week).
Start as you mean to go on – set boundaries & do not allow bad behaviour! What might be cute or funny as a puppy may not be in a thirty six inch, eighty kilo Dane.
Show your dog what you want them to do - give lots of praise when it gets done, or if your Dane does things you like (such as laying quietly on their mat).
Only correct bad behaviour as it happens - five minutes after the event, or at the end of the day, does not work. Your Dane has no understanding of the connection between your reprimand & what happened anytime previously.
Timing is important - praise & reward immediately when the desired behaviour happens. If you praise too late,your Dane may be doing something you don't want them to do. Remember positive reinforcement can reinforce bad behaviour as well as good behaviour.
:: Enjoying time together - Fran & Harvey ::
Use your voice - this does not mean yell louder! It means use a higher pitched, happy voice when you are calling your Dane to come towards you. Use soft, slow tones when you want your Dane to settle down.
Do not talk too much - use short, sharp commands. Sit, drop, come, off, under, take, find it, fetch, yes, leave, wait, stay, look, play, let's go, oops, back, stand, beep beep, etc.
Nothing in life is free - dogs require stimulation, encouragement & need to be paid for all the work they do. Payment is in the form of rewards & can be anything your Dane likes. For example – food, water, coming inside, going outside, playing games, going for a walk, verbal praise, pats & ear rubs.
Most of all be calm & patient. Training should be successful, but it should also be fun!
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- PART 1 -
:: I WANT A GREAT DANE - WHAT DO I DO NOW? ::
So often people get a Dane because they are impressed with the entire animal – how they look & how they behave. They may have seen a Dane at a show, pet expo or maybe on the Million Paws Walk. They think, Wow! Isn't that dog magnificent! Large, friendly, good with all the other dogs & so well behaved! I’d like a dog like that! The person duly gets their Dane, but before long reality hits...Danes are not born trained!
Great Danes are a GIANT breed. This means they grow VERY LARGE & VERY QUICKLY. Therefore, the very cute puppy that was allowed to do as he/she pleased is now 6-12 months old & three feet tall, (but still a PUPPY). An ill mannered monster who terrifies children & often adults when he/she jumps up to play; who won’t get off the furniture (& no-one else can sit down) & growls at anyone who tries to get him/her off. So what happens next? The Dane is banished to the backyard (where no Dane wants to go) or the decision is made to get some help or to re home the dog.
Training (not just of Danes but all dogs) should start before you even bring your Dane home, whether a puppy or an older dog. There are so many things to be considered, as owning a pet of any description is a large, but joyous responsibility. Things to consider include but are not limited to :
- where is your Dane going to sleep & on what?
- what is your Dane going to be fed, how often & by whom?
- is your fencing adequate?
- do you need to arrange leave to be at home for the first week?
- are there puppy classes nearby & is there a vacancy?
- where is the nearest dog school & do I have the time to take a Dane to class?
- where can I safely walk my Dane?
- where is my nearest Veterinarian?
:: Litter of Great Dane Puppies ::
All these things & more need to be considered before your Dane even passes the front step! From the moment your Dane is picked up the TRAINING begins! All these things should be considered before taking ownership of your Dane. After all, a Dane is for Life.
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Please stay tuned for month by month training of your Dane - from Puppy hood to Adulthood - by Frances Hammer! If you have any questions regarding Dane/Dogge training, please contact us for more information.
The Eastern & Coastal Region would like to thank Fran for her time & effort in putting together these helpful training articles!
|
:: Puppy School by Gwen Bailey ::
7 Steps to the Perfect Puppy
An excellent book for all - from training the puppy to training older dogs (for people wishing to learn the basics of dog training). |
AGILITY DOG CLUB of NSW
E-mail
: robj@agility.org.au
Web site: www.agility.org.au
Agility Training is held every Thursday night in the dog rings at Castle Hill Show grounds commencing at 7.30pm. New members welcome but required to arrive at 7.15pm for an introduction. Dogs must be above 6 months of age.
BANKSTOWN SCHOOL for DOGS
E-mail
: wagtrain@bigpond.net.au
Web site: www.users.bigpond.net.au/bankstownsfd/
The Bankstown School for Dogs caters for a range of K9 activities including Flyball, Obedience & Agility. New members can join the club on the 1st & 3rd Sunday of every month between 9.00am & 9.30am at North Bankstown
Public School.
CASTLE HILL SHOW TRAINING CLASSES
Email: tba
Phone : tba
Show Training Classes are held at the Castle Hill Showgrounds every Tuesday night from 7:30pm in the undercover area. Can you provide more details?
DOGS NSW SHOW TRAINING CLASSES
Email: amandajaynehug@hotmail.com
Phone : Ms Amanda Huggins (02) 9825 9280
Show Training Classes are held at the Bill Spilstead Complex, Erskine Park on the
2nd & 4th Tuesday of every month from 7.30pm - 8.30 pm.
HAWKESBURY DOG AGILITY CLUB
Phone
: Helen Evans on (02) 9834 3022
Held at the Jon Maroney Correctional Centre on the Northern Road, South Windsor.
MACQUARIE TOWNS DOG TRAINING CLUB
Phone
: Sheryl on (02) 4572 8520
Held at Deerubin Park, Windsor on Wednesday nights.
PARRAMATTA INTERNATIONAL CANINE SPORTS INC
E-mail
:lizyuill@bigpond.net.au
Web site:http://picsi.org.au/
Training is held at the Dan Mahoney Oval on Gladstone St, North Parramatta. Agility classes are held every Friday evening (beginners 7 pm & advanced 8 pm). Flyball classes are held every Tuesday evening (beginners 7 pm & advanced 8 pm).
TAMPLIN FIELDS DOG OBEDIENCE CLASS
Phone
: Pat Bailey on (02) 4729 1113
Held at the Tamplin Fields in Hobartville (near Richmond) on Monday nights.
Would you like to add your training club here?
:: Dog socialisation is extremely important ::
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Return to the E&CR of NSW Great Dane Club Information Page
Please view the E&CR of NSW Great Dane Club DISCLAIMER regarding the list of Dog Training Clubs.
