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If you are one of those people who have just discovered how great these "Gentle Giants" are and contemplating to get one sooner, then Great Dane training is one of the things to be considered. Training is one of the most important parts of dog ownership. Why? Because during training period, a dog is taught to obey commands that make him pleasant to be around people, other dogs and other animals alike. And besides, a Great Dane may grow as heavy as 130 pounds and may stand more than 30 inches in height. It is just right to train this breed this large to behave properly so as not to cause trouble.
However, you cannot just simply teach a dog using methods that you want. You have to make sure that the methods you chose are appropriate for your Great Dane training. To help make Great Dane training easy especially for future and new Great Dane owners, here are some tips and ideas for you:
Start early. Basic training starts at six to eight weeks of age however socialization should happen earlier. Socialization should begin around three weeks old and ends around 12 weeks old. It is during socialization period that a puppy should develop social relationship with other puppies and people as well. Puppy socialization activities include social investigation, playful fighting and playful sexual behavior.
Be Positive. Positive reinforcement is always recommended when training a Great Dane or any other dog breed. In this method, something is added to the situation to increase the chance of the behavior being exhibited again. Positive reinforcement includes giving him his favorite food treats or toys, a chance to play with other dogs or praise and interaction with his master. Positive reinforcement usually works with Great Danes since this breed possesses gentle personality.
Avoid physical punishment. Every time a dog commits mistake, say urinating behind the couch, the impulse is usually to rub his nose in it. But let me stress this out, physical punishment of any form should not be used as a form of training regardless of the dog's breed. Rubbing his nose in the spot and/or swatting him with a rolled up newspaper will do him no good. The action will just create a problem - the dog will become afraid of you.
Patience is important. A dog owner must be patient if he really wants to achieve success in Great Dane training.
Short training sessions. Keep training sessions short, like 15 minutes or so every session. Remember to reward him after training with his favorite treats or toys or some time to play. In this way, he will associate the training with the things that he likes.
This should be fun. Dog training should not be a boring task but a fun experience. Great Dane training is not just to teach your dog what he is supposed to learn but is also time for you and your dog to bond. So make it enjoyable for the both of you.
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