My Great Dane Growls and Barks at people entering or knocking at the door..Help!?

Question

He was abused by my ex, I left and took him, showed him only love, hes fine in the house, and once people are in the house. but I have to show him that they are ok. But he acts like he is going to bite them at first then he just smells them and walks away... this just started a few months ago.... any suggestions to get him to let people enter freely.

Please leave your e-mail if you are open to questions.. thanks

Answer 1

Your dane is supposed to be a watch dog. You have to let him bark when someone comes to the door - it is his job to alert you. After he's barked a couple of times, teach him a command (use whatever short phrase you like) to tell him to stop barking. He has to know he's done his job, which is to let you know, and you're handling it now. He needs to be praised for the initial warning bark and taught to stop once he has.

As for acting like he's going to bite someone, that has to be stopped right now before he does! Put him beside you in a sit stay (with his leash on only if necessary). Whoever comes in is not to try to pet him, talk to him or make eye contact. Let him go up to them and sniff him. When he's done, he should be fine. Only when he seems accepting, are they to talk to or pet him. Do not tolerate any growling - he needs to be told very firmly that that is not acceptable.

Showing him only love is fine only to a point - you can't let him think it's ok to show aggression or you're going to end up with a problem larger than you can handle. Be firm (but not mean, stay calm and don't yell) and you can turn him around. If you need more help, you can send me a message.

Answer 2

I once had an elderly lady for a friend. She had a wonderful little dog. A mix of some sort. She had the dog trained well and it behaved very well. Learn here https://tr.im/dupnI

She kept an uncovered candy dish on her coffee table with candy in it. The dog was forbidden to eat the candy. When she was in the room observing the dog he did not even appear to notice the candy. One day while she was in her dinning room she happened to look in a mirror and could see her dog in the living room. He did not know he was being watched. For several minutes he was sitting in front of the candy bowl staring at the candy. Finally he reached in and took one. He placed it on the table and stared at it, he woofed at it. He stared some more, licked his chops and PUT IT BACK in the bowl and walked away. Did he want the candy, oh yeah. Did he eat it? Nope. They can be trained that well but most, I'll admit, are not trained that well. When I was a young boy, maybe 5 years old. We had a german shepherd. He was very well trained also. My mom could leave food unattended on the table, no problem. She would open the oven door and set a pan roast beef or roast chicken on the door to cool. No problem. He would not touch it, watched or not. But butter? Whole other story. You leave a stick of butter anywhere he could reach and it was gone. He was a large shepherd so there were not many places he could not reach. Really, I think the number of dogs trained to the point they will leave food alone when not being supervised is very small indeed.
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Now if we are talking obedience training, not food grubbing, that is a different story. Way back when I was first learning obedience training one of the final exercises was to put our dogs in a down/stay and not only leave the room but leave the building for 15 minutes. The only person that stayed was our trainer, not the owners. Most of the dogs in my class did not break their stay, which would be an automatic fail. I'm happy to report my dog was one of the ones that passed.

Answer 3

I don't understand why people get huge dogs who are guard dogs by instinct and then they want them to act like poodles! No offense, I was just looking at a site for dogs, I have put an ad to give away a loving rescued dog, and I can't find anyone who wants him, but people buy dogo argentino and pit bulls, and then they wonder why they are aggressive! I really don't know what you can do about your dog, but the best idea is to provide an environment that is safe for guests and for the dog (a yard separated from the entrance with a fence, etc.).And perhaps some sort of training, but only positive training: be extra careful, a dog with some tendency to aggression will become violent if you use shock collars or choker collars etc on him! Even if a trainer says otherwise, don't trust him, I have an experience with some friends who followed the trainer's instructions with a choker with a dogo argentino, and now he is dangerous for them too.

Answer 4

Great Danes can be very protective. If you appear weak to him, he may feel that he is the dominant member of the pack and it is his duty to protect you. Sorry to say it, but if you "show him only love," it may seem to him like you are overly submissive. Like a good parent, you need to impliment some discipline and show him that you are in control, not him. Talk to a trainer about obedience classes and ways to show him you are dominant.

Here are some pointers:
-Teach him the "Off" command, and always make him get off of the couch or bed when you come into the room. In a pack of dogs, dominant members get their choice of preferred resting places, and submissive dogs are expected to give up their spots.
-Never give him treats or praise without him first sitting or laying down, even if he "asks" for them. If you show him that he is entited to get what he wants whenever he wants it, he'll learn that he is in control of the situation.
-Always feed him after you eat your meal, and don't feed him from the table. Dominant dogs in a pack always eat first.

Once you have the root of the problem under control, train him to wait in another room when people come into the house. Territorial aggression can be isolated to as small an area as the front door, so by limiting his access to it, you can start to manage his aggression. Remember that it is impossible to "cure" aggression, but with patience and hard work, you can train him and hopefully nobody will get hurt. You'll also build a much better relationship once you are both communicating in ways he can understand!

Answer 5

I have a mixed breed and my ex abused him as well. He is really afraid of his own shadow, but not like he was, I had to help him get his spirit back. He will growl and bark if someone is knocking at the door, and until he knows that they are welcome he will continue to do so. I had someone tell me that once an animal is abused and he becomes dependent on his non-abuser, they will like and feel safe with who ever you do, so maybe this dog has your best interest in heart. Besides a dog is not just there for companionship they are there to protect.

Answer 6

Dogs of any breed are naturally alarmed by anything "outside".By this I mean anything beyond there established territory.GET REAL about dogs.Take time to open your mind to what a dog is and does. Then understand your dog on an emmotional basis.Between the two you'll have a place to start. Past experiences have no bearing (in a dogs mind) on present considerations. Allow him praise for honorable action!

Answer 7

That breed of dog is only doing what he feels to be his "job."Years
of breeding for a specific purpose is kicking in.
To attempt to break him of this behavior is comparable to trying to
break a bird dog from chasing chickens.
If this is all the more aggression your dog is displaying then don't
worry about it.
When he issues a challenge to people at the door,pat him on the
head & tell him that he's a "good boy."He'll probably back off a bit
& allow YOU to greet your callers.
THIS behavior on your part lets him know everthing's alright & that you appreciate him.
If he tries to get between you & the door,THAT"S the time for dis-
approval, IF,you know the people.
In time he should begin to recognize frequent callers.Any good
watch dog is going to let you know that someone is at the door,
even tho he knows them.If they greet HIM by name,generally
speaking,you'll see the "6 ft" tail wag,especially if he likes the
individual.
Always remember to forewarn people if you're expecting them
to call & they don't know about your "door-man" & official greeter.
Danes can be extreemly intimidating,as they should be,but they
are also very people friendly if they feel comfortable around the
person.

P.S.This can be turned to your advantage with solicitors knock-ing at your door as well.
Just introduce the "wee-lad" as.....your "advisor on "door-to-door'
salesmen."
MOST effective.

Answer 8

there is probably some thing interior the wall. canines have surprising noses and maximum can hear enormously properly too. My wager is a few thing as small as termites or as great as mice or a rat. think of with regard to the pests on your section and you will choose your answer. a bypass to from a pest administration corporation enable you to comprehend what's there. super Danes ROCK! ; ))

Answer 9

This is the second time I have tried to answer this. Your gentle giant with your love is fine. He smells them and walks away because I believe he realizes they are your friends. He is giving you the benifit of the doubt, If you trust these people he will also because you have shown him love and you are becoming his friend. Keep this routine up and he will be your and your friends greatest friend...he just needs your love and time after abuse.

Answer 10

you do not want the dog to stop that is a good think if he smells and then walks away.
what do you want a dog that lets intruders in or someone that wants to harm u.
let him know he's doing a good jod but don't provoke him into snipping people.