Whats the best way to approach a fully grown scared Great Dane?

Question

my friend runs animal rescue and is taking in an unwanted 4yr old Great Dane today. The Dane is obviosly going to be scared and confused by its new surroundings, i would like to go and see it as i am thinking of fostering it for her. Whats the best way of approaching it without it freaking out???

My friend was told that she is friendly with everyone and everything, but i am slightly wary because of her size. Advice?

Answer 1

let her approach you. But if you are at all wary, don't foster her hun. Great danes need confident handling, not rough but they do need to know their place due to their size. I would suggest she goes to a dedicated great dane rescue, they are out there for that reason.

Answer 2

The Dane which injured your lab may not have been aggressive, however it did frighten your puppy. Because of this she was defencive when you walked past the Husky. She needs to be retrained to get her confidence back. I do take your point that she is OK at college with the other dogs, however I think that the problem with the Dane and the Husky occurred when your dog was on the lead. Your dog has NOT become aggressive she is frightened. In the wild dogs never walk past another dog, they curve because it is deemed to be polite. If you cannot curve just avoid the other dogs and avoid eye contact. Try this at home. Have a pocket full of treats and get your dog to do things like sit, stay. come etc.,When she obeys you, say something like WOW and give her an instant treat. When she know that WOW is followed by a treat, take her out in an area where there are other dogs which are on the lead. Remember always to curve. When she sees another dog at a distance, say WOW and give her a treat, if she pulls or appears to be aggressive or worried, don't chastise her or pull on the lead. Every day you must go where there are other dogs on their leads, hopefully you can get reasonably close without stressing her. Eventually she will associate other dogs with wonderful treats and she will stop being afraid.

Answer 3

You already have some great answers. I think letting the dog have some time to adjust before you get there would be best, at least an hour.
Then observe how the dog reacts to you. You might be surprised. It might need the comfort of a human touch. Open, palm of hand, and don't rush up to the dog. When first petting the dog never cover both ears with your hands, in fact, only use one hand to pet it. It could get nervous or overwhelmed if you use both hands, at least at first. Great Danes are wonderful dogs, if you have the time, room and money for food. Be sure it's what you want. They are usually couch potatoes so hope you have a big couch.

Answer 4

Friendly or not if you are afraid (or leery) of the dog you probably shouldn't do the fostering. Any dog that senses and it will sense your fear will walk all over you. Remember a dog that needs fostered will be out of it's element and slightly confused and may have accidents in the house and or behavioral issues (food aggression, toy aggression etc.)That's not to say it will attack you but you won't be the one in control the dog will be.
That said, when you approach any strange dog you should let the dog approach you. Sitting in a chair is a good place to be, you're not intimidating the dog by standing over it and your not below it showing submission. Softly call the dog to you. He may not come right to you be patient. When he comes to you offer him a treat from your palm (don't hold it between your fingers he may not have been trained to take food gently) gently rub his shoulder or chest. You should always work slowly with any dog you don't know. If he stays rub him more and offer him another treat if he retreats that's ok call him over again and try again. Always watch the dogs body language for signs of aggression or fear. Hair on his back raised, tail between his legs, trying to engage you in a direct stare, etc. Good luck.

Answer 5

Act confident.Do not look her directly in the eyes, speak calmly to her, offer your hand palm down in a non threatening manner for her to sniff, do not try to pat her haed by approaching directly from the front, approach from the side as this is nonthreatening to a dog. Let her warm up to you.Talk to her in a calm soothing tone.

If she is indeed friendly and has been socialized you should have no problems.

If you are intimidated by the size of a Great Dane you might not be the best foster home for her.

Answer 6

I think it's beautiful you want to foster a dog but perhaps you should reconsider fostering a dog that size. If you are already so worried about approaching a dog that you have never met and have been told it is not threat, then your already afaid. Danes need a confindent leader, especially in such a stressful situation. He will need extra love to see him through a difficult time. Perhaps you should wait and given the dog a chance before automatically assuming he might harm .Judge for yourself before you judge the dog. Danes are big babies.

Answer 7

Most dogs, even if scared, will react to a quiet presence. If you know the things that it likes leave a titbit between you and it and wait quietly until it takes it. Then tell it quietly that it is a good dog. A little patience goes a long way and, if nothing else it will eventually get curious about you. Dogs like to be liked and generally want to be friendly. After a while it will trust you and you can start to be more outgoing.

Answer 8

A good rule with any dog, yours or someone else's...
Don't look at it.
Don't talk to it.
Don't touch it.

Granted, you will probably have to violate at least some of those rules initially, while you bring it into your home. But unless necessary, don't violate those three rules.

Dogs, like the wolves they descended from, are social animals. Domesticated dogs crave human attention and leadership.

You should never try to approach a dog that doesn't want you to approach them. That isn't to say that you should let him pee and crap on your couch, butunless he is doing something that is not allowed, or must be made to do something you want him to do, you should ignore him until HE is ready for it.

You will only bond with that dog when he has found himself to view you as someone who is not a threat, and whose interaction is beneficial to him.

Wild animals in captivity will never be able to do that with any huiman. With dogs, it is bred into them.

Answer 9

Just be very calm around her,no sharp fast movements and let the dog approach you first.They are gentle giants of the dog world but care must be taken obviously because of there size and strength.For rescue dogs like this alot of tlc really helps them calm down.Good luck.

Answer 10

To approach a new dog, particulary a scared or disoriented one, i've been told numerous times that the best way to do it is to wait until it has had a feed and a good sniff around it's new surroundings, then go straight up to it and lay down on your back. Let it sniff and lick at you before you get up then stand with your shoulder facing the dog and your eyes lowered with the back of your hand out. It will sniff you and devide wether or not it likes you. If it becomes agressive walk away with your eyes averted. Never turn your back or run from an agressive dog. If you cannot walk away lie down on the ground on your back.