There is some uncertainty about the history of Great Danes as some reports claim the breed originates in Tibet and others say Great Danes originate as part of the Irish Wolfhound and Greyhound family of dogs. Great Danes are an old breed and for a long time have served as much loved and loyal companions for people. Great Danes have been used for many tasks throughout history, including guard work, heavy cart pulling and participating in battles. The size of a Great Dane can be intimidating and as a result they have also been used for hunting. Their size alone makes a Great Dane a good watchdog and is likely to scare off an intruder. Great Danes are known as gentle giants and are sweet and affectionate in nature.

Things to think about before buying a Great Dane:

Since Great Danes are working dogs, they require a lot of exercise. Many people take them as companions when riding a bike or jogging, for the 1-1 1/2 hours of exercise they need every day. If this is too much walking for you, you might want to consider a smaller dog requiring less attention. Since Great Danes are so large, they require quite a big yard to roam about in. Your Great Dane will only stay in the yard if you have a good strong fence. All puppies get bored when they are on their own so you will need to provide your Great Dane with something interesting to do, while you are away. Remember, Great Dane’s can dig big holes!

Training suggestions

The Great Danes large size is a compelling reason to start your puppy training as early as possible. From around eight to twelve weeks is a good time to start. Start slowly and reward it for coming when called, sitting when asked to and remember to apply lots of positive reinforcement. Leash training is a good skill to start early. It’s good to get into the practise of forbidding your Great Dane to jump up ever. This might feel cruel but you will feel worse about a child being knocked over by your gentle giant. Serious injuries could result. Your dog will need to know who is the boss, from the start. Larger dogs need this reminder as a large dog unsure of who’s the boss, will be difficult to control. As cute as it might seem to have your giant puppy taking up all of the lounge room chair, it will be a difficult problem to rectify when your puppy is a fully grown giant. Be careful that your Great Dane puppy never sits higher than you or it will think it is the dominant dog in the pack. A less than desirable outcome! Positive praise and reinforcement with tasty treats really helps your dog to know what to do and when to do it. Never hit or yell at your dog when it’s not doing what you want. This will create fear in your dog and it will not respond well if it’s scared of you. A stern voice is all that’s required. Your new puppy is a quick learner, if the instructions are clear. The key to training any dog, is consistency.

To learn more about Great Dane Secrets or other dog behavior modification such as reducing dog licking take a look at our DIY Dog Training Review.