A Defiant Great Dane - Needs Control Measures?

Question

I am hoping for an answer from a professional in this field, not links to research websites. I have a Great Dane female that just turned one year old. She has been very rebellious since we got her. She is NOT at all aggressive, but she just refuses to listen.

For example, as a puppy, the primary focus was to ensure her safety by setting boundaries and using the electronic collar. Despite the shock, she chooses to run beyond the border, and she had already been hit by a car about six months ago which she luckily escaped any serious injury.

She is highly intelligent, which is obvious by the way she stares directly at you. She knows when she does something wrong, because she approaches you like a sad child when she's been out of your sight and did something she knew was bad. However, she chooses to do it over and over again!!!

I adore this dog, but I'm running out of patience and I have tried all of the "theories" about control, but she chooses to disobey. Any ideas??

Answer 1

You have a teenage Great Dane puppy. Welcome to the ups and downs of raising one. Not all Danes go through the teenager stage to the same degree as yours. In the years my wife and I have raised Danes, we have had a couple of these like the ones you describe, although ALL Danes go through this stage, some are worse than others.

Great Danes are a part of the 'working group.' They need a job to do. They were orgianlly bred to hunt wild bore. While they are not as onery as they once were, they still need a purpose. We are not big fans of the shock collar. These types of dogs need more walks, more attention and professional dog training. They are incredibly intelligent and get bored easily. The worst one we ever had actually learned how to open doors and windows at this age.

I know these teenage dogs can try your every last nerve at times, but I promise, in a few months she will calm down and you will have a wonderful family companion. It is at this age when alot of folks will turn in their Dane to rescue or think of rehoming.

Jill Swedlow's book, "The Great Dane, Model of Nobilty" is a free down load from her website. She also offers some great advice for teenage Great Danes. Google Sunstrike Danes

Often there are local dog clubs that offer group lessons of some sort. You can train her to do agility, obeidence, confrmation...rally, she needs a purpose.

Hope this helps.

Jim,
Member of:
The Great Dane Club of America
Monterey Bay Great Dane Club
Great Dane Club of Northern California

Answer 2

I have a 6 month old Great Dane female, and my girl acts very similar. First off, I have found danes in general are very stubborn. If they don't want to do it - they don't. I think it is just part of their personality. We had a male that was HUGE - the sweetest thing ever - but also very stubborn. If he was on the couch and you wanted him down - if he chose to, he would. My girl now is the same way. She even snaps at our hands if we try to make her move off the bed. It is very frustrating b/c I have also found they are VERY sensitive. You can't fuss at them too hard, or they won't come around you for hours. They will just look at you with the saddest eyes ever. I would suggest trying an obedience class, which you might have already done. Try making her environment one where she can't really mess up. for example, if the trash can is an issue - take the can up when you leave. I know it sounds simple - and you will probablly get advice from a ton of people - but unless they have a dane - they just don't understand. be patient with her.

Answer 3

Okay here is my ideas......She might not be listening because learning isn't stimulating her and it isn't fun. If you look at things from the dogs view why do they want to do something that isn't enjoyable its like coping dictionary pages. You have to make things excitable and rewarding. Find a treat that REALLY motivates her and if she isn't food motivated then find a toy she really likes. If you discipline too much the dog becomes fearful, uncooperative, and submissive or aggressive. Sounds to me like she is submissive. Dogs DO NOT feel guilt nor do they remember 2 minuets after they have done something. So what you mistake for guilt is a submissive nature because she is anticipating something bad though she don't know why. Dogs minds are extremely simple and they are out for themselves. That is why they do things over and over because somewhere in the dogs mind something is rewarding about it....fun, food, etc. You have to redirect the behavior by providing something more rewarding than the bad behavior. Teach her some games and work on more basic obedience like sit shake etc and do it with treats. To keep her in the yard by a fence or a invisible fence. For 200 dollars there is a portable invisible fence from petco that isn't buried and will keep shocking every 5 seconds after they passed the border unlike the buried fence that only shocks once until your out of range. It admits a warning beep before the shock and works great for roaming dogs. I would recommend taking her to a obedience course and you'll be surprised what you and her will learn!! Remember most problems relate some how or another to the owner and not the dog.

Answer 4

Dogs do what is reinforcing. Given a choice, they will always choose to do something that has rewarded them in the past. If she has been shocked and punished for interacting with you, it's no wonder that she chooses to run away - I would, too.
Behaviorists will tell you that a hard stare given by a dog is a red flag for aggression. Perhaps this may have been brought on by ill-timed punishments, that were done after the fact? Your poor dog has no idea about "right" and "wrong" - all she knows is that your presence + the "wrong thing" = she gets punished. Dogs have no concept of morals. There are many reasons why it's important to be kind, fair, and clear to your dog when teaching basic puppy things.

Oh - silly me, I forgot. You know all of this already, don't you, because you've read up on everything.

Answer 5

I tell new owners the same story over and over again. It is not as much defiance as it is THEY DO NOT WORK.

I sat and watched a hysterical woman in my emergency room retell the same story after SHE hit her own dog (small breed) and killed it because she thought the invisible fence would work. They don't. Most of the time the punishment does not out weight the crime. Put a fence up, walk your dog on a leash. . . .those are your alternatives.

Your dog will not EVER associated getting hit by a car with leaving your yard. Dogs do not learn like that. Basic obedience, better monitoring. . . trully this is your best bet. I am sure this is not what you wanted to hear. . .

Answer 6

She is not being defiant as such..what she is is a dog that has not been TAUGHT proper obedience, has learned that she can do what she wants, has no clear cut guidelines, has had no consistancy in training.

This dog isn't choosing to do anything..she is doing what she knows and what has worked for her...dogs do what works for them, what gives them some sort of reward.

Dogs aren't born knowing what to do they need to learn, to be taught, to be shown..it takes time it isn't an overnight thing.
You need to sign up for obedience classes with her. learn how to properly train her..be consistant, be persistant, be patient and give lots of praise when she does things that you want her to do.

Electronic collars do NOT take the place of proper training and should NEVER be used before a dog is properly trained.