Great Danes: Different Methods of Training

Despite their distinguishable giant and powerful built, Great Danes are generally gentle and friendly dogs. People who discovered the true nature of Great Danes can't help but admire and love them. They are kind, sweet and affectionate. They are also playful and patient with children. Great Danes are indeed four-legged giants a man could have for a best friend.

However, despite this breed's remarkable gentleness, they do need training just like any other dog breeds. Dog training is essential because through this process, a dog is taught to perform and master certain behaviors in order to make your dog a well-behaved one. Training a dog can be done in a lot of ways regardless of the purpose of the training - obedience, behavior, activity training or other specialized training.

One of the most effective ways to train your pet is to start at an early age. Puppies can be socialized starting at around three weeks old until around 12 weeks old. Socialization period is important because it is at this age that puppies are developing relationships with other puppies and with people as well. Aggression or other behavior problem may occur if a puppy is not properly socialized.

Some people employ the aid of crates in training their dogs. Despite the cruelty issues, a lot of people are crate training their dogs because they have discovered the value of this wonderful piece. Just remember to use the crate properly, not as a tool to punish your pet.

While other opt for crates, others consider using the product as cruelty to animals. They prefer to use reward system instead. In this method, reward such as the dog's favorite toy or treat is used to make the pet obey certain commands. Most people find this method effective, however, reward system is just like bribery. The dog will only obey the command if he is sure that there is a reward waiting for him. To deal with this, the owner should hide the reward first before giving the command. Give the reward only when he has performed the task.

Punishment method is the least recommended method in training a dog. Punishment should only be given if other methods are ineffective to a particular dog and if the dog is willfully disobeying the owner. A sharp "No" works for many dogs but others still ignore verbal reprimands.

Decide for yourself what method to use depending on your dog's age, personality, size and how he react to that particular training method. Training a dog doesn't necessarily mean sticking to one method alone. A combination of these methods may be used to achieve positive training result and come up with a well-behaved Great Danes a lot of people love.

Richard Cussons is a dog enthusiast. His site about Great Dane breed is filled with information about this breed as well as effective tips in Great Dane training.