Getting Your Great Dane Puppy to Behave
Just like a toddler in the ‘terrible-two’ stages, Great Dane puppies can be just as mischievous. We catch ourselves running around, sternly saying “no” or “bad” so often that we feel like a broken record! Do you feel worn out from your Great Dane puppy? You’re not alone. But it’s just a phase. Like all phases, this one will pass. Soon you’ll have a full grown Great Dane and you’ll long for those days when he could fit into your arms!
Some of the most common Great Dane puppy ‘problems’ can be found below. So when you feel frustrated and you’re not sure what to do, hopefully you’ll find some comfort and solutions here:
The Digger
All puppies are curious. Your Great Dane puppy may feel a strong urge to investigate the ground. He may be looking to cool off, chase rodents, search for bugs, escape confinement, look for bones, or just dig for the sake of digging.
When you come home and find the start of a hole in your yard, your first instinct may be to punish your Great Dane. But if you’re an owner that solely relies on punishment without rewarding good behavior, you may be fighting a losing battle. When a Great Dane puppy only hears the word “no,” it starts losing its effectiveness. Instead, provide stimulating chew toys and plenty of play. If you keep your puppy entertained he’ll temporarily forget about the hole until it’s refilled. A quick solution would be the addition of a second pet. Nevertheless, you may end up with two Great Dane diggers, instead of one.
Should you decide to punish your puppy for digging, try one of these methods:
Turn on a sprinkler as soon as he starts to dig. As he scratches the ground, he’ll get wet and associate the splash with digging.
Placing a large rock over the hole and sternly saying “no” if he tries to budge the rock or dig a hole beside it.
The Anxious Chewer
Providing little plush toys may seem cute when your Great Dane is a little puppy, but it may not be cute when he starts shredding your couch cushions apart. You should introduce your dog to a variety of toys when he is a baby. If you he prefers hard chew toys, make sure he doesn’t look to chew your walls or molding. If he prefers plush, keep an eye on cushions, pillows, clothes, and blankets.
Reward your dog for playing with his toys. How? By playing with him, of course! Punish your dog for grabbing at your pants or socks in an attempt to play. This may promote accidental biting in the future. Don’t encourage it.
Most importantly, never give your puppy an item that resembles a household item that you do not want him chewing on. For instance: don’t give your Great Dane puppy an old slipper to play with if you do not want your new slippers destroyed. Dogs can not tell the difference between new and old slippers! Everything looks like a potential play-thing to a Great Dane puppy.
If your dog persists and chews on walls, table legs, couch legs, cabinet corners, and the likes — use anti-chew spray, which can be found at a local pet store. Always say “no” when you see him doing it and offer him a chew toy. When he plays with the toy say “good boy.”
Article by Gale Renz.
Gale Renz is a great dane lover and professional qualified Great Dane Breeder and owner / founder of Dynamite Great Danes. You may publish this article only if you do not modify it in any way.