There’s a reason why Great Danes are called the “gentle giants.”
They are one of the most docile and loving dog breeds out there. But this doesn’t mean that they don’t need training. In fact, if you don’t train your Great Dane, you’re in for a world of trouble.
This hilarious Great Dane fail post will show you why it’s so important to train your Great Dane and what can happen if you don’t!
This week we saw this video (above). A huge blue Great Dane has escaped from his leash or gate and is on the run, terrorizing everyone in his path. He’s chasing people, bouncing around, and just being an all-around menace. The people in the video are TERRIFIED!
Great Danes are massive dogs. They can weigh nearly 200 pounds and stand over six feet tall when they’re fully grown. They’re also incredibly strong.
So when they’re not properly trained, they can be a real handful.
THIS DANE FAILS VIDEO IS HILARIOUS, OF COURSE
Sure, it’s funny to see a Great Dane running around and having a great time. But it’s not so funny when they start knocking things over, jumping on people, chasing people, or worse.
The people in the video were afraid of this dog, and that’s not fair. This dog could have easily been hurt or seriously hurt somebody in the process of what only looks like innocent fun.
It’s very clear that this dog has no reliable off-leash recall and is lacking an appropriate amount of physical and mental enrichment overall.
Did you know that a wagging tail does NOT always mean that a dog is friendly and well-intentioned? Wagging tails can mean all sorts of things, and play is just one of them.
Three well-behaved Great Danes in a ‘place’ command.
Find a good trainer: If you’re having trouble training your Great Dane yourself, it’s a good idea to find a professional trainer. We recommend finding a trainer that uses a lot of positive reinforcement and balanced training tools such as e-collars, martingale, long leashes, treats, clickers, and prong collars.
Raising a puppy can be a fun, joyous, and sometimes frustrating adventure. It’s important to avoid making common training mistakes when training Great Dane puppies.
If you’re not careful, you may end up with a giant disobedient dog that barks, pulls, and jumps on people! Don’t let their cute, snuggly little puppy bodies fool you; an untrained Great Dane is a dangerous animal and if you are reading this post, you probably need to start working on training yesterday.
In this blog post, we will discuss five common mistakes made when training Great Dane puppies (and how to avoid them). If you want to have a well-behaved dog, this is the place to be!
Mistakes Made When Training Great Dane Puppies
#1 – Waiting Too Long Before Training
One common mistake made when training Great Dane puppies is not starting early enough.
It’s important to begin training your puppy as soon as possible so that they can learn good habits from the start. If you wait too long to start training, your puppy may develop bad habits that will be difficult to break.
Don’t wait for training classes to start. Don’t wait until your puppy has had all of its shots. Don’t wait until bad habits have already set in!
If your breeder was reputable, he or she would have also established some early crate training, leash training, attention and bathroom habits.
Good training means using a lot of positive reinforcement to teach your puppy what behaviors are the most rewarding. By keeping your puppy close you can start teaching the basics such as:
Go potty
Sit
Down
Leave it
Wait (at doors)
These are all simple and easy to teach and will help minimize the bad behaviors from popping up later!
If you only train your puppy once in a while, they won’t learn as quickly or as effectively. It’s important to be consistent with training so that your puppy knows what is expected of them. Training doesn’t stop once your puppy has been through puppy classes!
Great Dane puppies benefit the most from 2-3 minute sessions, several times per day. It is also helpful to use a crate, gate, or leash to manage behavior (and keep your puppy from practicing the wrong thing!).
By establishing some boundaries and rules in your home (for example, NO running through doors!) you can maintain predictability and consistency for your dog which will pay off in the long run.
Use this time to teach the foundations of an off-leash heel, look at me, touch (my hand), sit, down and stay. These sessions should be fun, short and full of rewards!
Here are some of our favorite Great Dane puppy training treats (click to view):
Another common mistake is using too much force and punishment when training.
This can be counterproductive and cause your puppy to become scared or aggressive. It’s important to use positive reinforcement when training your puppy, such as praise and treats.
It is unfair to punish, scold, or correct a dog that doesn’t know what they should be doing instead.
We believe in balanced training (saying YES often and saying NO when appropriate) but we do not recommend using punitive, harsh, forceful, or aggressive training methods.
Spend more time saying ‘YES’ to your puppy than saying ‘NO’. If you find yourself constantly saying ‘NO’, your puppy needs more positive training, management and guidance from you.
#4 – Not Socializing Your Great Dane Puppy
A fourth common mistake is not socializing your puppy enough.
Socialization is important for Great Danes so that they can learn how to interact with other dogs and people. If you don’t socialize with your puppy, they may become shy or anxious around others.
Socialization means so much more than meeting people and dogs! It means taking your puppy to new places, exposing them to different sounds, sights, and tactile experiences while also teaching them how to behave in various situations.
Socialization means positive exposure to novel things. Flooding a puppy with rude people and dogs is not socialization. Having fun exploring new textures, sights, smells and sounds, is.
A harlequin Great Dane puppy exploring a new environment
#5 – Avoiding Professional Help
Finally, a fifth common mistake is not seeking professional help when needed. Many people think they don’t need to take classes or get professional help because they’ve had dogs their whole lives.
If you’re having trouble training your puppy, don’t be afraid to seek out the help of a professional trainer. They can give you valuable advice and guidance on how to train your puppy effectively. For puppies that are doing well, a professional trainer can provide guidance so that together you can achieve even better obedience and training than you thought possible!
Many times, a ‘stubborn’ puppy is actually just confused!
We recommend finding a highly experienced positive trainer who uses balanced training methods (positive reinforcement + appropriate and fair corrections).
We recommend that all Great Danes be trained to a Canine Good Citizen level or better. Sign up for classes beyond puppy 101 and keep going! Having a well-behaved, polite, well-socialized dog is a joy.
Have Fun Training Your Great Dane!
Avoiding these five common mistakes will help you to raise a well-behaved and obedient Great Dane puppy.
With patience and consistency, you can train your puppy to be a well-mannered, polite, calm dog that you can be proud of.
Teaching a Great Dane E collar recall can be difficult, but it’s not impossible. In this dog training guide, we will discuss the best ways to provide recall for dog owners.
Read on to be able to provide your dog off leash freedom.
We’ll also cover how to use clicker training and positive reinforcement training. These skills are useful for the purpose of stopping the behavioral issues and getting reliable recall in your dog’s training. By following these tips, you can teach your giant breed dog recall with an e collar with this highly recommended training method.
Before Teaching Recall with an E Collar You Need Foundational Skills
It is highly recommend that you practice foundational training skills before teaching recall with a training collar. Teaching recall with an e collar is NOT a basic skill. Work on foundational skills first. These skills include: training on a flat collar/gentle leader, loose leash skills, and helping your dog to stop pulling on the leash. Your Great Dane should master basic skills before you begin teaching recall with an e collar.
Again, is crucial to teach basic skills before beginning to teach your Great Dane any type of recall.
It is important that every dog owner teach these basic skills. Foundational learning happens before beginning to teach your Great Dane Recall with an E collar.
You can work with a professional trainer to establish how to use these collars on big dogs. Also ask them to help maintain control over their off leash recall. Teaching recall with an e collar sometimes requires professional help, depending on your comfort level.
Different Methods of Teaching Skills Necessary Prior to Training Recall with an E Collar
Remember that it is important that your dog is trained prior to beginning training recall with an e collar. We put together a short list of a few methods in which you can help your dog learn foundational skills.
Clicker Training
Clicker training is a type of positive reinforcement training that uses a clicker tool to mark desired behaviors. The sound of the clicker tells the dog that they have done something right and that they will be rewarded with a treat.
Clicker training is a very fast and effective way to train dogs, and it can be used for basic obedience commands or more complex behaviors. Clicker training is a great way to build a positive relationship with your dog while teaching them new things!
One of the great things about clicker training is that it is very easy to get started. All you need is a clicker tool and some tasty treats that your dog loves. You will also need to find a quiet place to train where there are no distractions. Once you have all of your supplies, you can start training your dog!
To begin, you will want to click the clicker tool and immediately give your dog a treat. Do this several times so that your dog associates the sound of the clicker with getting a treat.
Next, you will want to start teaching your dog some basic obedience commands. For example, you can start with the command “sit”. To teach this command, hold a treat in front of your dog’s nose and slowly move it upwards until they sit down. As soon as they sit down, click the clicker tool and give them the treat. Repeat this process until your dog is consistently sitting on command.
Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement training is a type of operant conditioning. It rewards desired behavior in order to increase the likelihood of that behavior being repeated. Positive reinforcement is a way of “reinforcing” or encouraging a desired behavior. It does so by providing a pleasant consequence after the behavior is displayed. The most common form of this is giving a dog a treat after it has performed a desired behavior. This can be done after they sit or lay.
One of the main advantages of positive reinforcement training is that it is relatively easy to learn and can be used with both dogs and other animals.
Additionally, positive reinforcement training is often considered to be more humane than other types of training methods, such as punishment or dominance-based training. Finally, positive reinforcement is a very versatile form of training and can be used to teach a wide variety of behaviors.
There are a few things to keep in mind when using positive reinforcement training. Make sure the rewards you use are meaningful to your dog and that you deliver the rewards consistently.
Additionally, remember that positive reinforcement is not a magic bullet and will not work instantly. It may take some time and patience for your dog to learn the desired behavior. However, when done correctly, positive reinforcement training is a safe, humane, and effective tool.
Great Dane Recall with an Electric Collar: What is it?
Recall is an important skill for any Great Dane, or any dog, to learn. Following commands is a basic part of dog training and a vital/essential part of training a Great Dane. Teaching your Great Dane recall with an E collar may be one of the most important things you ever teach them. Why? Because one day, it could protect them from dangers or even save their life!
Shock collars or bark collars are very different than e collars. Many people stumble upon articles about training collars when looking up the best shock collar for training their dog in behavior. Recall, pulling, or other unwanted behaviors are common problems. Many times, owners resort to shock collars or bark collars for these common behaviors.
There is a difference between a shock collar and an e-collar. We will discuss which training tool is better. Before training your dogs with any shock collar, please be sure to investigate the differences between a shock collar and e collars.
Great Dane Recall with an E-collar: Why does it matter?
Using e-collars in training Great Danes (even a young Great Dane) allows you to train them to come back to you when they are off leash, which can be helpful in many situations. Teaching recall with an e collar provides safety, something that all pet parents value for their pets.
There are certain situations where the behavior of running off can be life threatening for dogs. Any experienced trainer will tell you that you must work on this behavior while your dog is a puppy in order to build focus and control. If you are concerned that your Great Dane might run off, run into the street, or even run away, you should consider teaching them recall with an e collar.
The ability to train your dog (or two dogs) to return when called is, of course, an important skill for any Great Dane to learn because it can help keep them safe. Teaching recall with an e collar allows you to provide your Great Dane with freedom to run and play, while also protecting them.
If your Great Dane ever gets off leash and runs away, being able to call them back to you can mean the difference between life or death. For example, if your dog is getting too close to a busy road, you can call them back to you before they have a chance to run into traffic. For that reason, we believe that teaching a Great Dane recall with an e collar is one of the most valuable lessons you can teach them.
Life Changing Collars for Dogs
If your dog is focused on their owner, a command can be given which could save their life.
We believe that recall is one of the most important skills that any owner of dogs can teach, since safety is so important, from puppy to adulthood.
Many want to jump directly to more flashy ‘quick fixes’ such as training their dog with a shock collar or training their Great Danes with the ‘best shock collars’ for fast training, but rest assured: It is always best to start dog training on a standard collar and providing solid a solid command that your dog will understand throughout life.
Additionally, using a shock collar in training your Great Dane can actually instill fear and intimidation, which could result in them becoming more defiant.
Step 1 to Teaching Recall with an E Collar: The Importance of Dog Training with a Leash
Before you begin teaching recall with an e collar, you must follow step one. Practice basic skills before you start teaching your Great Dane higher level skills with any training collar.
Working on a flat collar or regular collar will help ensure that your dog is listening to you and following your commands the entire time that you are out on walks together.
The foundation of teaching a Great Dane recall with an e-collar begins with basic, good citizen skills on a basic collar.
Training your Great Dane starts the day you bring them home. Dogs begin learning at birth, when they are born blind and deaf in a world they have to navigate!
When you meet your Great Dane, it becomes your responsibility to help them be the best dogs that they can be.
Steps to training your dogs
There are several steps you can take to build strong foundational skills:
Use a lead and collar that is comfortable for both you and your dog. This will help make walks more enjoyable for both of you and prevent any potential injuries, pulling or focus issues.
Start with short walks around the block or in your neighborhood with your dog. As your dog gets better at walking on a standard collar, you can gradually increase the length of and, at times, command them to wait next to you in a ‘heel’ position.
Make sure to provide plenty of positive reinforcement training during walks. This can include treats, petting, or verbal praise. There is an abundance of videos on how to include positive reinforcement while you train.
If your dog starts to pull on walks, stop walking and wait for them to calm down before continuing to give them any further commands. Pulling can be a sign of over-stimulation, and you should train this behavior with small and frequent training sessions to help dogs remain calm and collected.
You can utilize other tools during foundational dog training such as a prong collar, regular/flat collar, or a verbal command to help your dog train in a correct way.
Work on maintaining eye contact with your dog during walks. This training method will help your dog to focus on you and listen to your commands the correct way.
By following these steps and working with your Great Danes, you can build strong skills help them focus and not pull. Once you have a correct foundation, you can start on the course of working on teaching higher level skills with a training collar.
Please note:
Using a training tool such as a prong collar or e-collar is very different than a shock collar. We do not promote training your Great Danes or other dogs with the use of shock collars.
Using shock collars as a form of training is unethical and can have an impact on the way your dog views life, accepts a command, or represents the breed in regards to temperament and disposition. We do not recommend anybody to shock their Great Danes, and will not be recommending any shock collar or discussing the ‘best shock collar’ to train your dogs.
Long leashes are very helpful when teaching recall because they allow your dog to have some freedom while still being under your control.
There are a few things to keep in mind when using a long leash:
Make sure the long leash is long enough to provide freedom.
Attach the leash to a comfortable collar and find a space with plenty of room (20 feet or more).
Start by calling your Great Dane’s name and then giving the command to come. As they start to walk towards you, praise them and give them a treat.
If your dog does not come when called, do not pull on the leash or drag them towards you. This will only make them scared or resistant to coming when called.
It is now time to discuss the different settings on your e-collar. You will need to know these settings in order to teach recall on a long leash. Please note, when discussing these settings, we are referring to e-collar technology 900 series.
Continual Stim– This is when the e-collar is sending a continuous signal to your dog. During continual stim, hold down the stim button.
Momentary Stim– This is when the e-collar sends a signal to your dog for a brief moment. This is the most common setting used, but not always the best, depending on the dog’s personality.
High Performance/Boost– This setting is a mix of both continual and momentary stim. It starts off with momentary stim and automatically switches to continual stim if your dog does not respond.
Now that you understand the different settings on your e-collar, it is time to discuss how to properly use them when teaching recall.
Step 3 to teaching Recall with an E Collar: Timing
E-collar training (even while on a long leash) is all about timing.
When your Great Dane is on the end of the long leash, apply a bit of leash pressure, and direct them to come towards you with the word “come”. At the same time, press and hold your stim button (at their working level) with your e-collar programed to ‘Continual’ stim.
Watch your Great Dane and the MOMENT they turn their body to move towards you, begin dialing the ecollar down slowly with your thumb.
You will also want to use a marker word, such as ‘YES’.
Use the marker word when they turn their bodies to you. Using a marker word allows your Great Dane to understand the exact movement that you expect from them, and feel rewarded for it.
Think of it almost like a game of ‘hot and cold’. If your Great Dane moves closer when hearing the ‘come’ command, you get ‘colder’. If they move further, you get hotter!
Play this game consistently and daily so that your Great Dane knows what the word “come” means and associates it with returning quickly.
Step 4 to Teaching Recall with an E Collar: Introduce a Safe, Off-Leash Practice Area
Next, we will introduce a safe place for your Great Dane to practice recall without a leash.
Find a large fenced area where they can run around freely. It is important that the fenced area is secure and escape-proof.
When your Great Dane is off the leash, supervise them at all times. Do not leave them unsupervised even in a fenced area for risk of danger.
Additionally, you want to make sure that this ‘practice area’ is very low distraction.
Areas that would make bad practice spots may include dog parks, busy public parks, or areas that may remind them of fun memories they’ve had with friends.
Areas that make great practice spots include large backyards, quiet/empty parks away from streets, or fenced in, dog-friendly areas with no other dogs present.
Once you have found your practice location, begin implementing the same procedure of the ‘hot and cold’ technique, without the long leash this time.
Make sure to heavily reward them when they return by using the marker word, lowering the stim, and using treats (if you want).
Step 5 to Teaching Recall with an E Collar: Practice Makes Perfect with Your Great Dane
Using any tool in training with your dog/dogs is going to take dedication and time. Great Danes require patience in their training and the use of electric collars is not a quick fix. Be patient with your dog and remember that this training skill is something that is going to take time.
Even though people claim that shock collars are an ‘overnight fix’ in training their dogs, we recommend taking the time to train slowly and patiently with your dog on a reliable training collar such as the devices we highly recommend.
If you’re interested in purchasing one, be sure to check out our favorite collars for training dogs here:
We hope that you and your Great Dane love the process of learning recall as much as we do. The lifestyle of freedom, fun and exploration is waiting for you. Hard work and patience will pay off! Be sure to reach out with any questions you have.
Introducing a new E-Collar to your Great Dane can be a daunting task. It is important that you take the time to properly condition and train your dog with the E-Collar before using it in real-world situations.
In this blog post, we will discuss some tips and tricks for how to introduce an E-Collar to a Great Dane. We will also provide some helpful tips on how to use the E-Collar for training purposes. Let’s get started!
Need help with modern e collar training? Check out our guide.
This guide assumes you are using a quality E-Collar, NOT a shock collar from Amazon or the Pet Store! We recommend E-Collar Technologies or Dogtra only.
Step One: The proper fit is important. Make sure that the E-Collar fits your dog properly. It should be snug, but not too tight. You don’t want it to be so tight that it’s uncomfortable for your dog, but you also need to make sure that the stimulation prongs make consistent contact and don’t rub.
Step Two: Start with basic obedience commands. Before you begin using the E-Collar for training purposes, make sure that your dog understands basic commands such as sit, stay, come, and down. These are easy to teach using positive reinforcement and will make the E-Collar training process much easier.
Your dog doesn’t have to be amazing at these basic commands yet, but they should be able to do them when you are indoors at your house.
HOW TO FIND YOUR DOG’S WORKING LEVEL ON THE E-COLLAR
Once you have the E-Collar fitted properly and your dog knows some basic obedience commands, you can begin E-Collar conditioning. This is a process where you gradually get your dog used to the E-Collar and the language of stimulation.
Give the command to ‘come’ while simultaneously pressing and holding the E-Collar button on ‘Continuous’ mode. (Use your dogs working level).
As soon as your dog starts to come towards you, release the E-Collar button immediately and praise them lavishly! Reward them with a treat and more praise when they come to you.
Repeat this process many ways and in many places. The more you practice, the more confident you can be that your dog understands the stimulation and will respond to it.
Troubleshooting
If your dog doesn’t turn to come to you, they may be too far away, too distracted, or confused. A gentle tug on the leash may help communicate the command.
Think of your E-Collar like a cell phone!
A long leash is a landline.
The stimulation is the phone ringing. When your dog ‘answers the phone’, the ringing goes away and they are rewarded!
Good E-Collar use means relying on the tool as a communication device, not a corrections one.
Do not use your E-Collar as a threat or as a correction until you are well past the first several weeks of ‘conditioning’.
Spend more time saying yes than no, stay at your dog’s working level and keep it positive.
Rotate the collar every 2-3 hours.
An increase in your dog’s working level will likely be required as you move into more distracting areas! This higher level does not hurt or punish, it simply overrides the excitement of the environment.
It’s the difference between hearing your cell phone ring at home, vs. hearing and responding to it while at a noisy party.
There is almost nothing more dangerous than an out-of-control giant breed dog. Good leash skills are one of the most important things that you can teach your Great Dane! If you are ready to learn how to teach a Great Dane to walk on a leash, read on.
Don’t worry, it’s not as difficult as it sounds. With a little patience and some positive, thoughtful balanced dog training, you’ll have your Dane walking nicely on a leash in no time. Here’s what you need to know.
Step One – Teach Your Great Dane to Walk on a Leash 101
Step one: start with basic obedience commands like sit, look (at me), and touch (the palm of your hand).
You’ll need to have these commands taught at a basic level before you can move on to really teaching your dog how to walk on a leash. All of these skills are easy to teach using positive reinforcement!
Use lots of rewards. This helps your Dane build confidence and will help you install correct behaviors (which will come in handy if your Great Dane pulls a lot when you leave the house)!
You’ll notice a massive difference in your dog if you practice these skills even just 5-10 minutes each day.
Be consistent with your commands and rewards – always praise and treat your dog when they follow your instructions
Leash Walking Basics: Teach Focus and “With Me”
In this stage, you will work with your dog off-leash in your home or in a fenced yard.
If you don’t have space for safe off-leash work, use a long leash and an ergonomic harness (we do not recommend using ‘Petsafe’ or ‘Easy Walk’ no-pull harnesses on Great Danes).
Use lots of treats and with your Great Dane on the left side, take a step. Praise, treat and repeat.
Practice this until you can walk 10 steps or more between rewards. Add obstacles such as cones or balls, too, and practice walking around them together. Reward your dog for engaging with you!
Gradually introduce the leash, making sure to keep the training positive and upbeat. Keep the leash loose in your hands. It is only there for safety.
Many people struggle in this step of teaching focus, engagement, and calm behavior in all environments.
You may notice that your Great Dane does AMAZING with these leash training exercises when you are at home, but when you go somewhere new they forget everything that you’ve taught them!
Here are some tips for teaching your Great Dane to be calm in ALL environments:
Use structure and routines at home to encourage ‘calm’ settling behavior
Teach a ‘place’ command and build this skill up until you can say ‘place’ and expect your dog to settle there, no matter what
Make sure your Great Dane is getting enough physical and mental enrichment! The world is much less exciting to a dog that is satisfied. Proper enrichment will reduce anxiety, boredom, and the frustrating behaviors that result from not getting enough. (Read our blog post on bored Great Danes! and also the best toys for Great Danes)
Practice Leash Walking
Now it’s time to increase the difficulty! You’ll want to work on your leash skills in a variety of places with varying distractions.
Start off slowly, with just a few minutes of walking at first. Gradually increase the amount of time you spend walking together as your dog gets more comfortable ignoring the world and focusing on YOU.
When you encounter a distraction, ask your dog to engage with you and continue moving.
Continue to use a lot of positive reinforcement! This is how you teach your dog the correct behavior and increase the chance that they will repeat the behavior that you want.
THE BEST LEASH FOR GREAT DANES
We recommend that all Great Dane owners have three leashes:
1. A good long Biothane leash (for off-leash training and being in places where being off-leash is not legal)
2. A leather leash with a sturdy clip for everyday use and walking with a flat collar, martingale, headcollar, or prong collar
3. A leather slip lead for ease of use, training, and safety (slip leads are escape-proof!)
Prong collars are commonly used for Great Danes, but it is important to use them correctly. If you’re not sure how to use a prong collar, ask a highly qualified positive-balanced dog trainer for help.
Herm Springer is the ONLY brand worth buying; they cost more but they are built correctly and created with rounded edges so that your dog feels evenly distributed pressure, NOT pain during use.
A properly used prong collar, introduced with lots of positive reinforcement can be implemented in a way that is less harmful, less frustrating, less aversive, and safer for you and your Great Dane than a flat collar, ‘no-pull’ harness, choke chain or head collar.
Modern E-Collars are introduced in a positive way and use muscle stimulation as a communication (not sharp static ‘shock’). When used and conditioned properly, E-Collars from E-Collar Technologies can be an amazing and helpful tool for off-leash work AND developing better on-leash skills.
Harnesses have their place, however, for most Great Danes they are the wrong choice.
The only appropriate harness to buy for a Great Dane will have a y-front on it.
All other harnesses (including those marketed as ‘No-Pull’ such as the ‘Freedom’ or ‘Easy-Walk’ harness) work by squeezing the shoulders, throwing the dog off-balance, and restricting movement.
No-pull (front clip) harnesses are NOT good training tools for Great Danes. They rely on physical restraint and restrictions to movement that can be damaging to their shoulders, chest and gait. Just because it’s made of ‘nylon’ doesn’t mean it’s a ‘positive’ or ‘humane’ tool.
One big problem with choosing a y-front harness for your Great Dane is that if your Great Dane were to pull you, they have a ton of leverage to do so.
A proper Y-front harness should be used with a long leash and only with dogs that do NOT pull, lunge or react. We recommend the RUFFWEAR FRONT RANGE HARNESS.
We believe that all Great Danes should also be reliably off-leash trained. Good off-leash skills translate to great on-leash skills!
Reducing the reliance on a leash and collar for every activity is much healthier for them from a physical and mental enrichment standpoint, too.
Off-leash dogs cannot damage their gait, neck, or head by lunging into collars, harnesses, or ‘Gentle Leaders’. They also get to experience the freedom of movement which is very enriching to them.
Fear stages in Great Dane puppies often happen without warning and can be alarming to pet parents. If your puppy is suddenly acting scared of things they were not previously bothered by, they may be experiencing this phenomenon!
The great news is that puppy fear periods are temporary, and most will eventually overcome them. How you handle the moment when it happens, however, is of key importance.
Great Dane puppyhood is full of big changes and new experiences. It’s not surprising that puppies can sometimes become afraid of things that they’re encountering for the first time. Fear is a normal survival instinct that all animals have.
However, if a puppy’s fear response is excessive or prolonged, it can become a real problem. Read on to learn more about fear periods in puppies!
Great Dane Puppy Fear Stage from 2-8 Weeks of Age
There are several known fear periods in puppyhood, and each one is associated with a specific stage of development.
Two Weeks of Age
The first fear period begins at around two weeks old and lasts until about four weeks old. During this time, puppies are often afraid of sudden noises and movements. They may easily startle and should be handled calmly and gently, but still be exposed to a variety of sounds, motion, textures, and touch.
Six Weeks of Age
The second fear period begins at around six weeks of age. Puppies at this age are learning how big the world is and may explore new behaviors such as resource guarding. While puppies at this age should be generally curious and confident, they may have a day (or a week) when they show fear about things that previously didn’t bother them.
Choosing ethical breeders can make a massive difference in your experience! Good breeders use positive reinforcement and dedicated positive socialization challenges such as ENS and Puppy Culture to encourage confidence.
GREAT DANE PUPPY FEAR STAGES: OLDER PUPPIES AGED 8 WEEKS- 6 MONTHS
EIGHT WEEKS OF AGE
The next fear stage usually hits when a Great Dane puppy is about eight weeks old. This is when socialization should be in full swing, as the puppy is becoming fully aware of its surroundings and the people and animals in it. At this age, a puppy may show some fear of new environments, loud noises, or fast movement.
Thoughtful puppy socialization and positive reinforcement are key at this stage to help the puppy overcome fears that may try to stick around.
Spend a lot of time exposing your puppy to various textures, sights, and sounds. These experiences should be fun, positive, and varied. Challenge your puppy with tunnels, balls, cushions, and new things to see.
The Great Dane breed standard states that Great Danes should be ‘friendly and courageous’, NOT timid or aggressive. If you are seeing extreme fear or aggression, find a positive-balanced trainer to work with ASAP.
A lilac-fawn Great Dane puppy
GREAT DANE PUPPY FEAR STAGES: AGES 6-14 MONTHS
The next fear stage comes between 6-14 months of age and may happen more than once.
A puppy that was well socialized and who was previously fine around people, other dogs, or in the car may suddenly show fear. They may growl, bark, shy away, or try to get out of the situation.
If your puppy is still exhibiting signs of fear during this stage, it’s important to continue positive socialization and positive reinforcement training.
Fear stages that pop up will typically come and go, especially if you make an effort to help your suddenly fearful puppy have a positive experience.
If your normally confident puppy is suddenly afraid of something, don’t coddle but don’t force, either. Stay calm, stay positive and practice positive exposure to the scary thing.
A black Great Dane Puppy that is yawning. Yawning can be a sign of stress.
HOW TO HANDLE FEAR PERIODS IN GREAT DANE PUPPIES
If your puppy exhibits signs of fear during any of these stages, it’s important to take action.
Positive reinforcement and socialization are the best way to help a puppy overcome his fears.
Ensure your puppy has plenty of opportunities to see new people, animals, and environments in a safe and controlled setting. Don’t let people fuss over your puppy and scare him! Advocate for your dog.
Reward your puppy for displaying brave behaviors, and encourage your puppy to ignore people, dogs, and things in the environment.
Confident adult dogs are able to ignore the world around them. Fussing over a puppy or forcing them into scary situations doesn’t build confidence. Choose positive exposure and thoughtful challenges instead.
A confident young great dane running through a snowy field.
THOUGHTFUL SOCIALIZATION FOR GREAT DANES
With patience and guidance, your puppy will work through his fear stages and become a confident adult dog.
– Thoughtful socialization experiences are key
– Positive reinforcement, fun challenges, and obedience training help puppies build confidence and overcome fears
– Provide new experiences in a safe setting, listen to your dog, and don’t coddle or force
ETHICAL GREAT DANE BREEDING AND FEAR IN PUPPIES
Choosing an ethical breeder is going to put your Great Dane puppy one step ahead of the rest in regards to temperament and confidence.
If you are choosing a breeder, you should do your due diligence in finding one that health tests and raises their puppies with strong socialization skills like Puppy Culture.
Badly or poorly bred Great Danes tend to be overwhelmed with structural (and health) issues.
Finding the best crates for a Great Dane is no easy feat when your pup is over 100 pounds.
Crate training a Great Dane is one of the best ways to make sure that your dog is safe, less able to make mistakes (such as peeing on your favorite rug), and less likely to chew up dangerous things such as cords and socks.
Great Danes are giant breed dogs and most dog crates are NOT big enough! If you are looking for information on the best crates for a Great Dane, including the best custom crates for Great Danes, we’re sharing our favorite below.
It is unlikely that you will be able to find appropriately sized Great Dane cages at your local pet store.
Most of the ‘largest’ dog crates sold are 48″, which most Great Danes will outgrow by 7-8 months of age! Great Dane kennel size is SO important because Great Danes need to be able to stretch their joints even inside of a crate.
Look for a giant breed 54″ crate. XXL crates typically come with a divider panel that can be used to make the interior smaller while your puppy is growing.
There are two main players for Great Dane Crates in the market: Frisco and Midwest Homes
PRO TIP:
Crate time should be limited to 1 hour per month of age. A 3 month old puppy should not expect to be comfortably crated for more than 3 hours between potty and movement breaks.
For orthopedic health, Great Danes should always have a soft and supportive surface to lay on.
If your Great Dane is destructive, we recommend the K-9 Ballistics Elevated Cot. It’s spendy but much cheaper than having to purchase a new bed every month! The K-9 Ballistics cot is nearly indestructible.
If you are wanting a crate that fits your home decor, consider a custom crate for your Great Dane! These are typically made out of wood and can have different stains, doors and exteriors.
Many Great Dane owners use custom dog crates as their TV stand!
Learn more about ordering a custom dog crate, starting at $1699 from BB KUSTOM KENNELS.
With countless dog trainers competing for your attention and hard-earned money, navigating the selection process can be daunting. It becomes even more challenging if you’re unsure about what makes a dog trainer good! I’ve compiled five dog trainer red flags, and am including some information to help you easily spot the warning signs. The dog… Read more: 5 Dog Trainer Red Flags (and How to Spot Them)
Ouch, puppy teeth hurt! Dealing with puppy biting can be challenging. While puppies are undeniably cute, they are not polite with their sharp little teeth. Puppy biting can be concerning for pet owners worried about aggression and frustrating for those trying to address it. I’ve boiled this down into 3 easy, effective steps, which can… Read more: Stop Puppy Biting in 3 Easy Steps
December is a popular time to get a new Great Dane puppy. I believe that a lot of this is related to the Holidays; puppies are readily available, adorable, and popular to receive or give for Christmas! If you are new to the world of Great Danes, or ready for a refresher, let’s jump in.… Read more: New Great Dane Puppy? This Guide is For You!
Do dogs get lonely? Dog owners have long suspected that their furry friends get lonely for a variety of different reasons. Some dog owners report lonely dogs when they have to leave their dogs home alone for too long, their dog is the only dog in the household, or their dog isn’t getting enough mental… Read more: Do Dogs Get Lonely? The Fascinating Truth Behind Canine Depression
Are Great Danes easy to train? Many people believe that Great Danes are stubborn, spiteful, and defiant. It can lead to questions about whether or not Great Danes are hard to train, especially as they are so large and can easily be destructive or dangerous. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips for… Read more: Are Great Danes Easy to Train?
Today we are talking about how to stop a Great Dane jumping up. These are large dogs that can easily hurt somebody, even if their intentions are friendly.
This behavior is often based in excitement and friendliness but it must be discouraged.
Does your Great Dane jump:
On you or kids?
All over guests or strangers?
Over and onto other dogs?
It’s time to put a stop to jumping once and for-all! Read on.
HOW TO STOP A GREAT DANE JUMPING UP
Jumping up is frustrating, however it does not have to be. We’re going to make this very simple:
To stop jumping, you must do three things:
a. Manage the behavior
b. Teach and reward the correct behavior
c. Make the incorrect behavior less rewarding
STEP ONE: MANAGE THE JUMPING UP BEHAVIOR
Practice makes perfect! A dog (or a puppy) that has been asked to jump up or encouraged to do so is a dog that is practicing the wrong behavior. If you want to stop your Great Dane from jumping up, you must first prevent the behavior.
Manage the environment so that your dog isn’t regularly put into situations where jumping happens.
Lower anxiety, stress and excitement levels by keeping yourself calm, too.
This temporary restriction to freedom is necessary so that you can break the cycle and your dog can no longer practice jumping.
Management may mean putting your dog behind a gate or on a leash when guests come over, and never asking the dog to jump up onto your shoulders ‘just for fun’.
(Don’t worry, you’ll be able to do that again once your dog understands the difference between jumping up on command and jumping up at will).
STEP 2: TEACH AND REWARD THE CORRECT BEHAVIOR
Before you can fairly fix the jumping problem, you must teach and reinforce (reward) the correct behavior. Instead of jumping, what should or could your Great Dane be doing instead?
Run to a crate and lay down in it when the doorbell rings
Sit politely on your right or left side
Grab a toy
Touch their nose to the palm of your hand
All of these behaviors are easy to teach using positive reinforcement. Use treats, praise and play and make it fun. Do short training sessions and end on a positive note.
If you are properly e-collar training and have fully conditioned your dog on an EZ or Mini-Educator, you can also layer in gentle negative reinforcement to further strengthen the correct positively-trained behavior.
Here is a great video from Tom Davis (Upstate K-9) on teaching the ‘Place’ command with positive reinforcement:
A Great Dane in a solid ‘place’ is calm, confident and cannot jump on guests
STEP 3 – MAKE THE JUMPING UP BEHAVIOR LESS REWARDING
Once you’ve reduced the behavior through management and spent time thoroughly teaching your dog the correct behavior, you can fairly and humanely correct the jumping. We’ve included 5 appropriate corrections for jumping below!
The goal with this step is to balance things so that it is more rewarding for the dog to go to a place or sit by your side than it is for them to jump on guests.
When your dog begins to jump:
Immediately turn your back and walk away. Jumping = no attention.
Sharply say ‘AH’ and apply a quick leash correction/pop. When the dog is then doing the correct behavior, praise and reward. This correction MUST be quick, snappy and deliberate. Constant pressure and escalating frustration will not work and will be a sign that the dog doesn’t know what to do instead.
Bring a knee up to make it uncomfortable for the dog to jump. (Do not whack or knee your dog in the chest! Just bring the knee up and pair that with ‘Ah Ah’, then reward when the dog chooses the correct behavior).
Walk into the dog as he/she starts to jump. This will allow you to use body pressure to discourage jumping before it starts.
Great Dane puppies need to learn how to have calm interactions with people so that a jumping habit doesn’t develop.
Never allow a stranger to come up, squeal in excitement and rile your puppy up! This is how you teach and encourage excitement and anxiety about people.
Advocate for your puppy.
Make sure that people are only giving your Great Dane puppy attention when they are calm and your puppy is calm. These interactions should be positive and gentle!
Do you have a jumping Great Dane? Share your story below!
Recall for Great Danes is the difference between you screaming at your Great Dane while they run off at the terrified mailman and you enjoying a nice, peaceful walk.
Coming when called is arguably the most important skill you can teach your Great Dane.
Having off-leash freedom means that your dog will be able to move, explore and exercise without the use of frustrating physical restraints such as long leashes, harnesses and collars.
Does your dog:
Bolt out of doors
Jump fences
Run away
Ignore you when you say ‘COME!’, often blowing you completely off?
Make you chase them
Lunge and pull on a leash
Have to always be on a long leash
This post is for you. We’re going to show you how to take your Great Dane from running away to being completely OFF LEASH!
RECALL FOR GREAT DANES: BUILD A FOUNDATION
Good recall starts with a good foundation.
Use positive reinforcement to teach your dog that when you say ‘COME’, good things happen!
Positive reinforcement means treats, praise, play, fun, games, attention, affection and access to things such as freedom, a car ride or a room they want to be in.
Practice in a low distraction area such as the living room or backyard.
Don’t let your dog off-leash until you know you can count on them.
Incorporate food rewards heavily if your dog is learning.
Never scold your dog for blowing you off; you’ll only teach them to run farther (and faster) away from you next time.
E-Collars work by causing a barely perceptible muscle stimulation that feels like a tickle or a twitch, which is much more gentle than the constant pressure and restrictions offered by a harness or leash.
E-Collar training is one of the most responsible and humane things you can do as the owner of a giant breed dog! Think of it like a walkie-talkie; with it, you’ll be able to communicate even when you are in a noisy environment (the beach) or your dog is far away (on a hiking trail).
Even if you think modern E-Collars are ‘abuse’ (they aren’t) and even if you plan to use ‘only’ positive reinforcement (works for some dogs, not all), we encourage you to read and learn!
We do not stand behind the practice of using cheap shock collars on ‘beep, vibrate or shock’ as an easy-button training method. If you are waving a remote at your dog as a threat so they stop and run away, you’re doing it wrong. The goal is to make your dog WANT to come to you.
Quality E-Collars are typically $175 or more. They are waterproof, rugged and use modern technology.
Cheap shock collars from Petsmart and Amazon are not the same and cannot be used for this.
We use and recommend E-Collar Technologies. The Mini-Educator is a perfect simple easy-to-use collar, while the Easy Educator is great if you have multiple dogs.
The sensation from this collar feels like ants crawling around or a gentle tapping. It does not hurt or punish. This stimulation is so gentle that dogs are enthusiastic and responsive at levels that humans cannot feel.
HOW E-COLLARS WORK FOR RECALL
E-Collars work by giving the dog a tactile cue to return to you.
Instead of shouting COME, your dog will feel the sensation and run to you. It should not make them feel afraid or fearful.
In the introduction phase, the dog is taught through positive reinforcement that the neutral muscle stimulation means treats, praise, play and fun. Because they have a positive association with this new sensation, they are enthusiastic and want to learn!
For dogs that are more interested in the environment than coming when called, the stimulation can be used at a higher level. This higher level will get their attention, exactly how you may have to turn your cell phone up, or how somebody may have to shout to get your attention at a loud concert.
When your cell phone rings, you answer it. The ringing may be mildly annoying but is not painful or punishing. Answering it makes the sound go away, and you are rewarded by the voice of your friend on the other end of the line. A modern E-Collar is a cell phone, a long leash is a land line, and a dog wearing nothing at all is a liability.
GETTING STARTED
We are linking some resources below for you to get started with E-Collar and recall training for your Great Dane! Before you get started, we encourage you to watch as much positive E-Collar content (two trainers we recommend are below) as possible, and work with a modern E-Collar trainer who uses positive methods.
Here is a video of a trainer (Tom Davis, Upstate K-9) using an E-Collar on a client so they can see how ‘shocking’ it is. Fast forward to 2:52 to see that part of the video, especially if you are new to E-Collars or believe they will hurt!
Teaching recall to a dog using an E-Collar with Tom Davis:
Positive-Balanced Great Dane Trainers
Larry Krohn is an expert on modern E-Collar use. All dog owners should watch his content.
Larry Krohn on Youtube, demonstrating the E-Collar on his daughter:
Larry Krohn’s book, ‘Everything You Need to Know About E-Collar Training’
In theory, your dog learns that barking = punishment.
Unlike E-Collars and Shock Collars, bark collars are automated. They don’t require you to do anything; if the dog barks, the collar will correct your dog.
THERE ARE FOUR PRIMARY REASONS THAT DOGS BARK:
Habit Boredom Anxiety Breed Trait
WHY DO DOGS BARK?
Before you work on training your dog not to bark, you MUST figure out why the barking is happening in the first place. Keep in mind that barking is a natural, normal thing, not unlike how humans talk to express frustration, relieve boredom and communicate.
Look at the following situations and see if any apply to your dog:
Habit – Your dog knows the mailman comes everyday at 3pm and waits to bark. The behavior has been unchecked and practiced daily.
Boredom – Your dog barks at the window all day long, barks to hear himself talk and/or may bark to demand things. This goes hand-in-hand with habit.
Anxiety – Your dog is stressed out by other dogs in the neighbor yard, stressed out when you leave the house, stressed out by people visiting your home, stressed on a leash and/or stressed out by noises in the environment.
Breed Trait – Remember, by nature Great Danes do seek to ‘protect’ and alert. Many times, barking is just that. It’s important for that trait not to become obsession, or for it to be based primarily in fear and anxiety (which is VERY different than true alert barking).
Many dogs bark for ALL of these reasons!
SHOULD I USE A BARK COLLAR?
Ok so you’ve evaluated that your dog is bored, anxious and/or has developed bad habits.
Before you even think about a bark collar, you MUST address the root causes.
HABIT
HABIT: Find ways to change the routine. Don’t allow the behavior to be practiced in the first place. Change your daily habits so that your dog can, too.
BOREDOM
BOREDOM: Add mental and physical enrichment, LOTS of it! Take a training class. Go for a hike. Off-leash train. Work on Canine Good Citizen skills. Play search and scent games. Clicker train. (Toys, a yard and another dog to play with are rarely enough!)
ANXIETY
ANXIETY: A dog that is stressed out by the environment and by separation is a dog that needs your help. Work with a trainer to lower anxiety (and ultimately, lower the risk of bloat!), address separation anxiety and teach your dog that the world is an ok place.
BREED TRAIT
BREED TRAIT: Some breeds are DESIGNED to bark! They may be EXTREMELY bored without a job to do.
It’s important to understand that if you add a bark collar to a dog without addressing the root cause of the barking, there is a huge chance that you will confuse your dog or worse, increase their level of anxiety and stress.
Instead of relying on a hands-off tool, we much prefer to FIRST utilize training, mental enrichment, boundaries, routine and structure.
Basically put…do not put an automated bark collar on your unsuspecting, bored, stressed out, untrained dog and expect miracles. Address the root cause first, then look again at your options.
A quality bark collar may be an appropriate choice is when all underlying issues have been addressed and the dog is in a home where being surrendered, euthanized or picked up by animal control may be a reality otherwise.
We support the humane, ethical use of high-quality stimulation collars for communication and training.
A E-Collar from E-Collar Technologies may help resolve barking in dogs where root cause has been fully addressed AND the dog has been conditioned to the collar. A collar like this can also be used for recall and more. This is a hands-on approach. The truth is that you may find a massive reduction in barking, without corrections, just by jumping solidly into a new training and enrichment routine.
You can learn more about E-Collar training HERE: E Collar Guide
For a hands-off approach, the ONLY bark collars that we recommend for the LAST DITCH EFFORT type situation is the E-Collar Technologies Barkless Pro E-Collar or the Garmin Pro BarkLimiter. These use a more humane E-Collar tech stimulation (not shock) and advanced technology when correcting the dog, which is the most appropriate choice IF you are going to use a bark collar.
