We have a Great Dane puppy. My husband wants him to remain intact. Can we teach him to control his urges?

Question

What about spraying/humping issues? Is it just a matter of teaching them it's wrong?

How do they control the intact dogs at dog shows if they can't be controlled?

He's AKC and we plan to breed him in two years.

Answer 1

My dad never neutered one of his dogs in his whole life! He had up to 15 hunting dogs at a time (not all in the house of course).

First of all dogs do not spray, cats do (yuck).. Males with normally only lift their leg to mark if there is a b-tch in heat in his own house.

Males rarely hump, females actually do it more. But if he does, you tell him NO, use a squirt bottle.

I have 1 male right now and even when my girls are in heat he does not mark in my house and he has NEVER tried to hump a human. He is not aggressive either, he is as sweet as can be and a wonderful dog.

So you can have an in tact male and not have issues. Most of what is believed about males is not true. I have many peole wanting female pups and I educate them the difference between male and females and they are suprised.. Go home with their new male puppy and later thank me!

As for health issues, there is proof that spaying and neutering can actually do more harm than good. Like I said earlier, my dad never had any of his dogs fixed, and NONE of them had health problems later. And the majority of his dogs lived an average 15-18 years!

MISSY?? where do you get your information? A vet does not charge more for routine office exams and shots if the dog is in tact!! And a dog can only smell a b*tch in heat up to 1/2 a mile.. Most will not go looking for her either.

Answer 2

You say you plan on breeding him. Do you plan on showing him, too? Getting his championship in conformation or another AKC event? Getting the applicable genetic testing done, like his OFA and CERF for his eyes and hips?

There is a lot involved in breeding, and because you're working with such a large breed, it's also a very expensive endeavour. If you do things properly, you will not be making money. The only way to make a sizable income breeding dogs is to do it back yard breeder style. That is, breeding without regard to the long term health or temperment of your dogs, and selling to anyone who has the money.

I can tell from your post you care about your new pup, and I don't think you'd want to do that to him or his future offspring.

Intact males can be managed, but they require near-constant supervision and training. And you may simply have to put up with him peeing in the house, as some can never be trained out of it.

If you decide you're not showing/breeding him, get him neutered. I saw your husband was the one who wanted him intact..they tend to equate their animal's 'equipment' with their own, and don't want to take away the dog's 'manhood'. But if you do it early especially, he'll never know he's missing anything and he'll be a happier pet because of it.

Answer 3

It will be VERY difficult to teach a dog that his instincts are unacceptable. Why does your husband want him intact? Do you plan on breeding? If you do you should know that only champion dogs with sound health, conformation, and temperament should be bred. Are you willing to show your dog to the point of becoming a champion? Breeding should only be done to improve the breed with proven breeding stock. Are you willing to do the necessary health screenings? Do you have a background in genetics? Do you realize that there are hundreds of thousands of homeless pets in our country? After considering each of these questions, think about what would be best for your dog. If he is not from champion lines, and you have no intention of showing him, that should be your first clue that he is not breeding material. And if he's not breeding material, he should be neutered. If you neuter him at a young age, you will avoid the risk of him getting testicular or other cancers of the reproductive organs. A neutered dog does not have the urge to mark his territory, or wander off looking for females in heat. A dog that smells a female in heat will travel for MILES to find her. You may never get your dog back if he wanders in search of a female. Please consider neutering your pet.

Answer 4

As far a urinating in the house, yes you can break him of that. Just because he is big doesn't mean you can't crate train him like any other dog. You just need a bigger crate! A male doesn't ALWAYS mark his territory in the house. However if you also have a female in the house you will have a problem. There is a difference in urinating and marking. Marking usually only involves few drops. With a Great Dane you will definitely be able to distinguish the difference!!! LOL!! You have to catch them in the act of marking and correct them. If you catch him, be sure to clean the place as well as you can, so they don't keep going back to the same place to mark.
As far as control in the show ring. Dogs that can not be controlled never make it to the show ring, so no worries there.

Answer 5

If you do not plan on breeding him then I believe you should get him neutered. It is unneccesarily stressful for a male dog to not be fixed, and yet not be bred. It will cause him more upset in the long run if he is not fixed, and is not bred. Also his chances of testicular cancer increases if his testicles are still there. Larger dogs have a higher rate of testicular cancer. Can you get him to control his urges? No, not really. The reason show dogs can remain calm is because they get to breed with other dogs, and also most times if there is a female in heat she's either not in the show, or they use products to cover up her sent. I have a golden lab who is a great dog, but before I got him fixed he literally ripped the door off the house to get inside to my female chiahuahua. We had to keep him sedated for several days until the female came out of heat. The vet didn't want to fix him until she came out of heat because he was in a constant excited state and they were afraid he would lose too much blood.

Answer 6

this is what i know once a male has mated he will start spraying because it is a dominant issue i have 2 great danes right now we dont plan on mating them i think the show quilty people should so we can control the population of unwanted puppies unless you are a breeder and know what you are doing i would neuter and make him a good 150 lb lap dog

Answer 7

He's a male, and males will do what they'll do. However, it may be possible to teach him to take care of marking his territory outside rather than in the house, since you are planning to breed him. While it is rare, I've known of dogs doing that. You may have to swat him to help take care of the 'humping issues', at least until he is of breeding age.

Good luck!

Answer 8

Show him first and get the health clearences and then worry about breeding. Chances are you bought a pet quality puppy and they SHOULD NOT be bred. Only dogs that can improve the breed should be part of a breeding program.

Answer 9

Spaying and neutering is a matter of health. They are healthier and they don't go chasing females. They can smell a female in heat for miles. They run into traffic and get hit by cars. There is no way to control his desire to go chase a female in heat. It is instinct, it causes aggression, he will get into fights. NO GOOD. Get the dog fixed. Healthier, happier and calmer dog. There are issues of cancer and other health problems. Your vet can tell you all of them. I get all of my animals fixed and encourage everyone else too. There is the issue of cost also, most vets will charge you more for vaccinations and routine office visits if the animal is not spayed or neutered. Good luck

Answer 10

We have had several male danes, we have one now with a female dane in the house and two female dachshunds none of them have been altered, and we don't have a problem. All are crate trained, our male has never hiked in the house and we have not had any problems with any of the other male danes, it is all in the house training and crate training. Thier crates become thier own personal area, they are in their crates at nite, and alternate play times with the danes and the dachshunds in the house.