Is it possible to train a Great Dane to be a good watch dog?

Question

is it possible to train a Great Dane to be a good watch dog, and to stop potential burglers breaking into you house?

Answer 1

I highly doubt it. Yes Danes were originally bred for boar hunting 200 years ago, however these traits have been virtually bread out of them. Danes are not naturally aggressive, protective or vocal.

Danes love "their people" but not in a protective behavior in a "follow them anywhere" behavior. In our local Dane Owners club, there are typically two to three dozen Great Danes, and there’s only one who is remotely vocal. Danes are infamous couch potatoes, and naturally *VERY* aloof.

There's an old saying, "Things that upset a terrier may pass virtually unnoticed by a Great Dane." - Smiley Blanton

If you want an alarm system-watch dog, get a terrier or a Beagle. NO ONE will get close to your house without you knowing. If you want an imposing watch dog, I would suggest you look in to German Shepard’s and the sport of Schutzhund http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schutzhund

Schutzhund is a German word meaning "protection dog". Think, "karate for dogs"; learning discipline through defense.

Also: Just because a dog is big doesn't mean people are intimidate, my danes are big for Great Danes and people flock to them. Professional burglers & repeat offenders typically bring dog treats with them [See: http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/gallery/0,21863,1632281,00.html]

From the article:
Don’t rely on your dog. You’d like to believe that your “vicious” golden retriever will scare off burglars. And though barking may persuade them to skip your house, you shouldn’t count on it. “Most of us train dogs to be friendly to strangers,” says Frank Santamorena, an expert for the Discovery Channel’s burglary-prevention show, It Takes a Thief. Some thieves even bring dog biscuits.

Answer 2

If the dog doesn't have the temperament for it you'd be better with a bell on the gate. At least he/she would alert to it. You can train a Dane to alert you but the size alone would scare away intruders.

I have had two Danes, both male, one was a good watch dog the other would run to hide behind a tree. So it depends on the temperament of your dog.

If you have problems trying to teach him what he needs to know you might get a trainer to work with you for a couple of months.

They are wonderful dogs. It's just so sad the life span is so short.

Answer 3

You don't need to train a Dane to be a watch dog..their size alone is a big deterent. Also most Danes will bark if someone comes to the door that they don't know.

Answer 4

First off, if you want a safe out, invest in an alarm system.

As for the Dane breed in general, they are friendly, calm and laid back. Yes, they were originally used to hunt wild boar in Germany, but (like English Bulldogs that were originally used as dog fighters) the aggression was bred out of the Danes.
So, you can hone in on natural protective instincts every dog has to protect its family, but don't expect him to attack an intruder.

Answer 5

Of course! Take it to a Guard Dog Obediance School. They already have instinctively great Protective Behavior! Thier Original Purpose was for Boar Hunting.

Answer 6

Honey if you were a burglar would you take a chance that this HUGE dog would not attack? They don't need to do a darn thing but be big to be a deterrent.

Answer 7

Nope, not a chance.