Great Dane - Great by name and great by nature...
Training and owning a Great Dane
Breed Introduction
Magnificent is certainly a word that well describes the Great Dane. Powerful and elegant, his amenable personality means he's often known as the "Gentle Giant" or as the "Apollo of dogs." But despite his regal good looks, he's very playful and has a sweet disposition. The Great Dane is an intelligent and courageous dog that also boasts speed and an endurance that belies his size. They are eager to please and highly people-oriented, seeking a great deal of attention from their owner and other family members. They are loyal and bond closely to their family. Great Danes are gentle with children and get on well with other dogs and household pets. Thanks to their high energy levels, they are ideally suited to the more active family. Although Great Danes are not particularly vocal, they will quickly alert the owner of any strangers approaching the territory and will not hesitate to defend their family. This also means they excel as guard dogs. They should be properly socialized and trained at an early age.
Free Online Workshop On Dog Training
Join our next free online workshop and learn the secrets that the pros at the K9 Training Institute use to train service dogs to be so calm and well-behaved – and how you can use those same training methods to train YOUR dog!
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Will a Great Dane be a suitable dog for my family?
- Yes, if you want a large sized dog (60-120lbs+)
- As long as you have a back yard of at least 1 1/2 acres in size
- Your back yard is well secured with a highly visible fence
- If you are able to spend at least 45-60 minutes total per day for the feeding, exercising, training, and grooming of your dog
- You want a short coated dog
- There is no-one in your home (or that regularly visits) less than 5 years of age
- As long as you have plenty of time and persistence to successfully housebreak your dog
- Yes, if you want a dog that is very active (e. g. jog with you, play active games, go hiking, etc.)
- You want a dog who is generally easy to train (takes an average amount of time)
- If you want a dog that will bark to warn you of odd noises or strangers
- Size aside, the Great Dane is a good dog for the first time dog owner
Great Dane Stat Chart
Rating System:
Ease of training: 1 is hard to train, 5 is easy
Ease of grooming: 1 is hard to groom, 5 is easy
Sociability: 1 is not social, 5 is very social
Guarding: 1 is not a good guard dog, 5 is very good guard dog
Suitable for Apartments: 1 is not suitable, 5 is very suitable
Noisiness: 1 is quiet, 5 is loud
Biting and Nipping: 1 is doesn't nip/bite, 5 high chance of biting/nipping
Energy Level: 1 is low energy, 5 is high energy
Shedding: 1 is low energy, 5 is high shedding
Affection: 1 is not very friendly, 5 is very friendly
Exercise Requirements: 1 is low exercise needed, 5 is a lot of exercise
Breed Stat
Size: Large
Life span: Under 10 Years
Exercise: More than 2 hours per day
Grooming: Once a week
Coat length: Short
Coat sheds?: Yes
Home Size: Large
Garden Size: Large
Rating System:
Ease of training: 1 is hard to train, 5 is easy
Ease of grooming: 1 is hard to groom, 5 is easy
Sociability: 1 is not social, 5 is very social
Guarding: 1 is not a good guard dog, 5 is very good guard dog
Suitable for Apartments: 1 is not suitable, 5 is very suitable
Noisiness: 1 is quiet, 5 is loud
Biting and Nipping: 1 is doesn't nip/bite, 5 high chance of biting/nipping
Energy Level: 1 is low energy, 5 is high energy
Shedding: 1 is low energy, 5 is high shedding
Affection: 1 is not very friendly, 5 is very friendly
Exercise Requirements: 1 is low exercise needed, 5 is a lot of exercise
