Great Dane. Temperament and personality.
The Great Danes are considered to be gentle giants, however if the
situation needs it, they may become aggressive and show strong
protective instinct. Dogs of this breed are affectionate and love
people, and these qualities should never be perverted.
Great Danes adore children, but they are dogs and must learn how to
behave with kids. Never leave your Great Dane with children without
supervision, because one swipe of the dog’s tail may easily knock a
toddler over. Great Danes are friendly to other pets, but they
should also learn how to be gentle around them. A six-foot fence is
probably enough to keep your Great Dane in the yard. It should be
mentioned, that unlike adult dogs, Great Dane puppies are very
active and enjoy digging.
Some people think, that, because of his size, Great Dane is best
suited to life outdoors. But, just the opposite is true. Great Dane
likes to be in a center of attention and needs to feel, that he is a
part of the family. Thus, he should be an indoor dog. In this case
he is loving and learns well. If your Great Dane is bored, untrained
or unsupervised, he may easily develop undesirable features, like
digging, constant barking, etc. If your dog’s age is between six
months to two years old (the “teen” years), he may be a real trial
to live with.
Start training your Great Dane puppy the day you bring him home.
Even at eight weeks old he is able to take in everything you teach
him. Don’t wait until the puppy is six months old to begin training,
otherwise it will be more difficult to deal with him. Your main goal
is to socialize the puppy. If possible, get him into special puppy
kindergarten class. But, take into consideration, that very often
puppy training classes require certain vaccines to be done. Many
veterinarians recommend to limit exposure to other dogs (puppies)
and public places until all necessary vaccines (e.g. rabies) have
been completed. You may begin training your puppy at home, socialize
him among members of your family and friends until all vaccines,
necessary for puppy, are completed.
Before buying a puppy, it’s recommended to talk to a breeder.
Describe what you are looking for in a dog and ask for assistance.
Tell him a little about your lifestyle and personality, and he will
give you useful recommendations.
Remember, that perfect Great Dane is a product of his background and
breeding. Choose the one whose parents have nice temperament and who
has been well socialized from early puppyhood.