Dogs and cats have always been on the top of the list of favorites among people of all ages. This discussion is focusing on dogs and the correct means of dog care. Dogs share a pack mentality with a strong bond for its owner. The dog has been labeled as man’s best friend. This is due to the fact that dogs have consistently shown a great, and sometimes sacrificial, form of loyalty for their owners putting to shame even fellow human beings. Proper care and plenty of love will ensure a happy environment for the dog and the family.

Dog care begins while the dog is still a puppy. Making the decision to care for a puppy is a big responsibility. Dog owners are expected to raise their dogs with the right love and care so as to instill good and desirable traits. It is totally unacceptable to be negligent just because of a lack of interest. Too many sad stories of abandoned dogs have already been going around.

A puppy is given proper dog care by teaching it to know who the family members are and house training. Positive reinforcement plays an integral role in instilling discipline and proper dog care. Harsh methods only make things worse and do little in teaching pups to be well-behaved.

Feeding is a very crucial element of dog care. Feeding times should be kept as constant as possible. Since a puppy is in the growing stage, proper nutrition is extremely important. Feeding times slowly get reduced as the puppy grows older. Clean water should always be readily available at all times.

Puppies will inevitably cause accidents with their droppings. Potty training will serve to teach the pup where to properly relieve itself as long as it is done properly. It is this aspect of pet care that some people actually find very tedious yet this is part of the responsibility in dog care. A dog cannot be expected to pick up afterward after all.

If possible, avoid the use of spanking as a means of discipline. Dogs want to win your approval and desire nothing but to please so be patient when they make mistakes. A firm “No” is enough to keep the dog in check. Rewarding of good behavior will hasten the dog’s learning so be consistent with this as well.

Dog care is very much similar to raising a human baby. Proper instruction and love will let a dog grow up as a loving member of the family. A faithful dog is able to give much of itself without expecting anything but your approval.

It can at times be difficult to keep up to the exercise needs of many of the active dog breeds. Sadly, many of us simply do not have the time to spend hours each day walking them.

Most medium and large size dogs will enjoy trotting beside a bike and even a few of the smaller breeds too. The giant breeds also make excellent bike riding companions, but extra care needs to be taken with them. It is extremely important that they be fully grown before bike riding begins. Forced running on pavement as a pup could serious hurt their development. No matter what size your dog is, dogs should have at least reached their mature height before going on their first bike run and care should always be taken to never go too fast or too far.

When starting out for your first time, go slow. You may need to walk your dog beside the bike for a block or two so he gets use to it. Be supportive and positive and be free with the praise, make it into a fun adventure. Most dogs enjoy running, so once you mount your bike and start pedalling they will usually fall in beside you. However, some may shy away from the bike, so be prepared to be pulled to the side. It is always a good idea to give your dog a chance to do his bathrooms before you start riding. It can be quite the shock when you dogs slams on their brakes to do their business!

Dogs are extremely intelligent and learn quickly with positive patient training. Going on short slow bike rides for the first few days or even weeks is the best way to start. Just like a human athlete, your dog needs time to be conditioned to the activity. Do not push for long hard bike rides right away. During those first few weeks, do not go too fast, if something goes wrong and you are going fast the potential for injury is far higher than if you were going slow.

Take the time while bike riding to teach your dog simply commands to make the activity both safer and more enjoyable. Teach them left turn and right turn, slow down, stop, speed up, let’s go and even possibly move left and move right for when you need to go around things.

Bike riding with your dog can be a lot of fun for both of you but it can also be quite dangerous. Dogs can get distracted, see something exciting and try to chase it, stop suddenly, cross in front of the bike, hit the wheels and cause accidents. It is safest to ride with a dog you outweigh by a descent amount or at the very least are well trained and you have good control of. Keeping your speed slow and never sprinting will help to insure you can stop quickly and safely if needed. Using a proper bike attachment and harness for your dog is important.

There are many different brands of bike attachments. Generally, they are metal bars that attach to your bike and the dog, so he cannot cross in front of the bike or hit the wheels. It also allows you to have both hands on the handle bars at all times. Riding a bike while you hold your dog’s leash can be very dangerous and is not suggested. While bike riding, your dog should be wearing a harness. It is not safe to secure the bike attachment to his collar. Bike attachments can be found in some pet stores but most often, you will have to order one online.

For many of the active breeds it can be very difficult to keep up to their exercise needs with just walking. Bike riding is an excellent way to help tire them out and most dogs seem to enjoy it very much. Always remember to never over do it and avoid taking him out during extremely hot weather. Always watch your dog carefully for signs of fatigue or injury. Bike riding can be a fantastic experience for both you and your dog and helps keep both of you healthier and happier.

Learn the proper way to take your dog’s vital statistics and tell if your dog is sick in this free pet health care video, with tips from a veterinarian. Expert: Dr Adrienne Mulligan Bio: Dr. Adrienne Mulligan started her lifelong dream to be a veterinarian at Oakridge High School in Oakridge, Tennessee. Filmmaker: Chuck Tyler
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Taking care of dog bite wound is very important and it is one of the primary reasons why dog owners schedule emergency appointments with their veterinary doctors. With the costs of medical care increasing for the six-legged as rapidly as for the three-legged, now is the time for canine parents to take charge, action and treat their animals including their dogs at home as appropriate.

Medical Care and Dog bite

First of all, let me stress that there are cases where dog bites and medical care go paw in hand. Please make sure you take your pet to the vet for a bite wound the minute you see these following signs, such as: not eating, not drinking, a heavy swollen area which is not draining or lethargic.

It is really bad. I get to know this because it happened often enough to my feline brother, and every time he would rush down to the vet’s to have his wound drained. When an pet’s teeth puncture the skin, a mouthful of bacteria would end up in the wound.

Should in case the wound is allowed to close, that virulent bacteria will immediately multiply and discharge their toxic products, and an abscess will form. Yet it doesn’t end there: those bacteria can spread throughout the body and develop blood poisoning in your puppy. Left unattended, septicemia can result in multiple organ failure and death.

Dog Bite Wound Care –At Home

In case you are dealing with a small bite wound or open abscess that is draining, then some immediate dog bite wound care at home can solve the problem and save your pet a lot of pain and frustration. Even it happens to your child, you would do no less for him or her, would you?

If you observed that your pet limping, look for puncture marks or swelling and maybe bleeding and immediately start treatment. Dogs often get bitten at the base of their tail as they run away from their attacker. You will need to focus your efforts on disinfecting the wound and keeping it clean and open in so that it would drain completely.

Health Advice on Dog Care

You should Conduct a thorough examination of your pet on a regularly, this will help you spot any sign of trouble and allow you to take the necessary action before the situation get worse. When you are taking care of a bite on a dog or your pet, always remember that you can support your treatment by using some herbs.

Herbs such as barberry root, goldenseal and oil of oregano have antimicrobial properties, while ginseng, astragalus and echinacea stimulate the immune system in slightly different ways. Keep in mind that some of these herbs can be given orally, while others are applied topically.

Your veterinarian has no vested interest in training you to deal with dog bites. In fact, financially speaking, it would be a very poor tactic. But you know your pets and you live with them. Learning about canine health will allow you to take charge and handle this dog bite wound care business like a pro.

Finally, remember that prevention is the name of the game, and the cards are in your hands. You can play roughly with your pet’s health, or would take control and not will only save money, but save yourselves a lot of stress. Take care of your dog bite wound.

Violence in eastern Congo by the rebel leader Nkunda is threatening the existence of mountain gorillas in Congo Virunga national park.  Fighting intensified in August 2008, when fighting heated up between the army and fighters loyal to Nkunda. More than 250,000 people have been driven from their homes in the violence and some 17,000 U.N. peacekeepers have not been able to quell the chaos.

Nkunda the leader  of  an ethnic Tutsi, says his rebels are fighting to protect Congo’s minority Tutsis from the Hutu militia that fled here after helping perpetrate the 1994 genocide that killed more than half a million Tutsis in Rwanda. But his critics contend he is more interested in power and Congo’s mineral wealth.

Some fear the current crisis could once again draw in neighboring countries. Congo’s devastating 1998-2002 war split the vast nation into rival fiefdoms and involved half a dozen African armies.

This fighting is taking place inside the Virunga national park where mountain gorillas find there home for years.

Gorillas, chimpanzees gorangutans and humans all belong to the order of primates. Human share 98.4% of their genetic material with gorillas and 98.8% with chimpanzees .Gorillas the largest of the great apes are divided into three subspecies that include the western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and the eastern lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla graueri). The eastern and western lowland gorillas were identified for science in 1847 and 1877 respectively.

The third subspecies –the mountain gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringei),was identified for scientific purpose in the year 1903 and has gone on to become Uganda’s star attraction.

Mountain gorillas are physically distinct from lowland gorillas. They are larger have more hair a short truck a broad chest and shoulders and also have a longer and slightly different nose shape.

are born small covered with black hair and usually weigh about 2.3 kilogrammes. Gorillas develop about as twice as human babies with the mature female mother also undergoing a gestation period of nine months. They are unique species, as a gorilla with an infant may not have another baby for up to four years. Good family Planning.

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Male and Female gorillas between the age of three ands six years are classed as juvenile. They increase in size and weight at similar rates for the first six years. On reaching six years most mountain gorillas weigh about 68 kg and are usually about four feet tall.

The stop growing taller at around six years where as the males continue growing both in size and weight till they reach the age of ten to eleven.

Between the ages of six and ten the males have a black hair colour and are thus referred to as the black backs. On reaching maturity, which is usually between 10 and 12 years they develop silverly, grey hairs on their backs there by being referred to as silver backs.

The silver backs usually leave their parental group at the age of 11 and then moves alone or in the company of other males for a few years before managing to attract females from other groups to him hence forming his own family. Silver back is a dominant male in a group of about 12 or more gorillas that usually include female juveniles and other infants. Will find them chewing leaves laughing and farting not only continuously but with a lot of contentment. They are diurnal and nomadic sleeping each night in a fresh nest built from leaves and branches. Mountain gorillas are primary vegetarian with menu comprising bamboo nettle and gallium being some of their favorites.

They occasionally also eat safari ants which are scooped in huge handful to stuff into the mouths until the safari ant bites over power them. Gorillas spend most of their time traveling and foraging in search of food since plants and trees change with seasons.

communicate through vocalizations. Twenty-five district vocalizations have so far been recognized with each one having its own particular meaning As an element of their socialization they communicate through howls grunts barks and hoots screams and are hoots scream and roars signal alarm or warning and are often produced by silverbacks.

They also communicate by beating on their chests or on the ground. This is done to show stature prevent a fight or even scarce off opponents. However even the infant beat their chests as a kind of displacement activity during play perhaps just to copy their elders.

Mountain gorilla life is peaceful and quite .It is from this that they have come to be called Africa gentle giants. These gentle giants are found in the areas of park des Vulcan’s in Rwanda and Virunga National park in the Democratic Republic of Congo while in UgandaMgahinga Gorilla National park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park. they are confined to

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park was gazetted in 1992 is situated in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the western rift valley Albertine rift and is shared by Kanungu, Kabale and Kisoro districts. It is 331 square km in size on an altitude range of 1,160metre Ishasha gorge to 2,607metres Rwamanyonyi peak.

In 1993 I was among the people who arranged the first clients to track gorillas. Working with one of the old tour companies before setting up Travel Hemispheres , arranged among the first clients to track gorillas in Bwindi national park. It was quite big fun and achievement at that time and ever since lots of clients have passed through my hands to track gorillas in Uganda , Bwindi and Congo. Thus the experience is enormous and can speak for its self. We at Travel Hemispheres have calculated experience and all our clients handled speak out towards this experience.

The total number of mountain gorillas in Bwindi is approximately 340 which is almost over half of the total estimated 720 left in the whole world. Gorilla tourism provides over 50% of tourism revenue for Uganda thus being a strong reason for its protection.

Currently the rebel insurgency in the Democratic Republic of Congo characterized by the massive movement of people in the region could be a danger to conservation of this precious resource.

Rangers have been murdered in the park camps and equipment for the park authorities have been robbed and destroyed. At this time the safety of these gentle giants –moreover our closest cousins life is at stake . Our appeal is to international bodies that may have solution to offer can do it at the earliest before we see them wiped out.

By Fred Bukenya  and more his articles can be viewed at www.travelhemispheres.com

When many people became pregnant with their first child there was one thing they know they want. It isn’t a nursery, a fancy swing, expensive toys or any inanimate thing in fact. It is a dog. They want their children to have some one to grow up with, even though you did plan more children in the future. This is because when many people look back on their childhood their favorite moments involve animals. Lots of people favor big strong dogs, that can just as easily haul fire wood as play with my son. At first some are put off by people say, “Big dogs are dangerous for small children”. They say that it would be far more trouble than it was worth. They are wrong.

The Giant Alaskan Malamute proves this, and is the perfect dog for children. You may be wondering why I keep saying giant alaskan malamute and not simply malamute. That is because a giant alaskan malamute is not the same thing as a regular malamute. When it comes to malamutes there are two kinds so to speak, M’Loot which are larger and come in a vast variety of colors, and Kotzeblue, which are smaller and only come in wolf-grey. Giant Alaskan Malamutes are bred from M’Loot Malamutes. Size is achieved through careful sective breeding of the largest of litters. The result? While your basic male malamute is around 85 pounds, and a female 65 lbs, a giant alaskan malamute averages more like 125 lbs for a male and 100 lbs for a female. These are the gentle giants of the working dog world.

And I do mean working dogs. In fact not letting a giant alaskan malamute “work” is a very bad idea. If tied in a back yard seperated from the “pack”, or your family, with nothing to do a giant alaskan malamute will sing it’s remorse in loud mournful howls while destorying anything within reach. (Trust me I left for 10 hours once and came back to find our malamute had broken a leg size tree in half to free himself of his run and then laid demise to the flower beds. Malamute’s LOVE to dig!)

They are a very pack oriented breed which makes for easy training. Well, as easy as it gets with such a stubborn and large dog. While giant alaskan malamute may be big, playful babies, and in no way lack intelligence, they are very stubborn and should begin obdience training immediately. That training should not include gaurd dog duty. Why not? Though impressive and intimidating giant alaskan malamutes love everyone not just babies. Gaurd dog activities are against their nature. They’ll greet a burglar just as welcomely as grandma. This is not to say their useless as home defenders. A giant Alaskan malamute will protect the pack if it sees a threat. (ex/ some one is actively harming you or your family) They also will sound the alarm so to speak for vistors, whether it’s a greeting or not. That greeting will likely be in a chewbaka sort of way as well. Giant Alaskan Malamute’s are not barkers, but that does not mean they are queit dogs. They will “talk”, howl and communicate in their own little wolf-like malamute way.

As far as dogs go the giant alaskan malamute is a wonderful choice for families. They are friendly and playful into old age, shed very little (excluding twice a year when they will shed seasonal coats), love children, and can share in the work load. They even make fabulous running mates. Who shouldn’t own a giant alaskan malamute? Those who live in excessively warm locations, small apartments (Big dog + little space= bad idea.), those with no time for a dog who need a hands off companion, or those looking for a gaurd dog.

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When Harvey Came Home

We first got Harvey 10 months ago when he was eight weeks old.  Even at that young age he was difficult to lift up and cuddle.  Compared to a regular 8 week old pup, he was enormous.  In fact, he was the same size as our small dog Sasha, a yorkie and shitzu mix.  She wasn’t impressed by her new companion. Our boxer, Bailey was quite the opposite and loved the idea of a new puppy in the house.

Harvey’s mother had a big litter, 12 pups in all.  Having  no experience of English Mastiff pupsl, when we went to choose our newest family member, we knew only that we wanted a female. That soon changed.

All of the pups were lazy.  They slept on, moved arount a little, collapsed, often on top of each other and slept some more. Looking at the females we soon changed our minds and chose Harvey, the biggest male in the bunch.  I don’t know if this was a good or bad thing.  He has grown at an amazing pace.  At just 6 months old he was 9 stone!  Now at 11 months, he must be 11 stone or more!  He is difficult to weigh.

Pic : Harvey At 10 weeks

Where Harvey Sleeps

English Mastiffs are big lazy dogs. In fact, they are so lazy there are recommended as apartment dogs!  Harvey sleeps for hours everyday.  He stretches across one three seater sofa.  Much of time, and always at night, he sleeps on a large cushion in the kitchen.  Because English Mastiffs are such heavy dogs, it is important that they have cushioned bedding.  Resting on a hard surface does a great deal of damage to the English Mastiff’s bones over time.  A “trampoline bed”, one that is raised off the ground is on Harvey’s Christmas list.

What Harvey Eats

Pic: Harvey at 5 months

When Harvery was younger he was fed three times a day.  Now he eats twice a day.  Because of the English Mastiffs weight and bulk you could be fooled into thinking they need a lot more food than they do.  But they are lazy and don’t use up enough energy to require very large meals.  Most feeds will have instruction on how much to feed according to the dogs weight.  Harvey is fed a special large dog feed that makes sure his bones develop well and he’ll mature healthily.

English Mastiff’s are prone to “twisted gut”, a problem that come when they eat too quickly, drink a lot and exercise immediately after.  He can be fatal.

Harvery is an extremely greedy dog, which is a new experience for us.  He’ll make a dive for anything he can get and will eat everything, even hot and spicy curries!  He is improving but it is taking a lot of effort. Are all English Mastiffs greedy?

How Harvey Exercises

Harvey has a forest walk every morning.  Because of the animal scents in the woods, he tends to be excited about this and keeps active for more than a hour.  If he is walked in a less exciting area, as he was for the first few months he was exercised, he tends to be lazy and disinterested.  His evening walk, which is a lead walk in our village, is a whole different story.  In the evening, he will sometimes refuse to walk, lying down when he pleases.  It takes a lot of coaxing to get him to start again.  When he sense he is within reach of home on the way back, he shows he can move when he wants to!

Some Stuff To Think About If You Considering Buying An English Mastiff Pup?

From the time he was brought home, Harvey was never left on his own at home.  We are lucky in that we have a large family and many people in our house.  We never had a time when he was left alone.  Now that he is older, he may be left alone for a few hours at most. This meant that we could watch him, so had no problems with him chewing up furniture or causing damage.

When he is bored he does start to chew the corner of the table (he’s that tall!) or other objects so it’s very likely that left alone for long periods of time, being an English Mastiff, he could cause significant damage.

He has dozen of toys and improvised toys, such as old wellies, that he chews on.

While English Mastiffs do sleep a lot, we have found that with Harvey, when he is awake and full of energy he can be a handful.  He sees everything as a play object, including or boxer’s legs.

Keeping an English Mastiff can be expensive.  They need good quality food suited to their big size.

To sum up  …

English Mastiff are gentle giants.  As big as Harvey has grown, he is gentle in play. If you place your nose close to his face he nibbles it.  If he takes your hand in his mouth, he never closes down tightly.  English Mastiff make great companions but they do need an owner with the time and committment to love them.

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If you are searching for information on extra large breed dogs, then you will discover a wide range of information books and pictures in high street shops as well as various resources online.

Dogs and puppies are very popular animals and plenty of people have them as pets. There are a wide range of different types of dogs and while some people like small dogs, there are others who prefer to own extra large breed dogs such as Newfoundland dogs, German Shepherd dogs, Great Pyrenees, Bulldogs, Akitas or Saint Bernards. Obviously, the choice of dog has to reflect a person’s interests in the  breed as well as take into consideration the responsibilities of owning a large dog.  It’s important to know how much space is required to accommodate them, the character and temperament of the dog, how much time you have to spend with them, how much it costs to feed them and whether they get on with children and other animals.

It’s possible to get some interesting pictures and information on extra large breed dogs to help you choose the right animal to suit your lifestyle. You could also get in contact with people who already own the type of breed you are interested in since they are knowledgeable about that type of dog.

Whenever you are searching for information and products, it is recommended that you conduct a thorough search of the items available so that you can then choose the right extra large breed dogs to suit your requirements.

You can view pictures of animals at http://picturesofanimalsinfo.blogspot.com.

PetFoodDirect.com’s Dr. Wendy discusses special diets and the nutritional needs of large breed dogs and puppies. What makes these diets different from regular dog and puppy food? What additional ingredients may be contained that large breed dogs and puppies need? For more information on this subject, visit our blog to read the original post. www.petfooddirect.com All of theproducts featured in this video are available on our website here: www.petfooddirect.com Use promo code TUBE15 at checkout to save 15% on your next order. This offer excludes vet diets, Rx and Free Shipping items.
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If you have a giant size dog as part of your family then you understand the need for the giant size dog house to accommodate this extra large canine.   A dog house needs to be a comfortable space for any size pet.  You cannot expect your Great Dane to climb into a little plastic house that is 2 feet square.  Each pet and each different breed will have slightly different requirements in a house but space is a critical issue that needs to be addressed first thing when you are planning out your dog house needs.

The guidelines for a house indicate that to enter the house, your extra large dog may need to dip their head down.  This means the opening is not too large and won’t allow the insulation properties of the house to go to waste.  It’s like trying to keep your house warm and leaving window open if the opening is too large.  The cool air comes flying in!   When inside the giant dog house your extra large dog should be able to comfortable turn around and lay down.  The house is not some kind of punishment or torture chamber, it needs to be a welcoming environment.  You’re cat may like to curl up tight and cram itself into a shoe box but your extra large breed dog and its long legs and large body like to stretch out.  In warm temperatures they need to do this to help stay cool.  The dog house needs to allow enough room to allow them to do that.   The house will have a vented roof cab allowing excess hot air to escape, and a door flap will help keep rain, snow and wind out when the mercury drops.   Some styles of extra large dog houses have the bonus of having a door to a spacious outdoor kennel area.   If the dog is to be kenneled outside this structure can accommodate their need to be safe indoors and give them the ability to step outside for a breath of fresh air.  The best of both worlds tied into this luxury style house.

Your dog can’t express its preferences so you have to do the thinking for them when it comes to getting them a comfortable space.  If you have an extra large breed dog then you really need to shop for a giant dog house to fit their big bodies and give them a space to move around and get themselves into a position where they are at ease and can relax.   Shopping for the perfect house means allowing them to be snug and comfy in chilly climates while being able to stretch out, hidden from the hot sun and cool when the temperatures rise.

Most everyone seems to love the small dog breeds, and there are numerous dog toys, pet clothing, dishes, and other accessories that cater to small dogs. But pet manufacturers have noticed that there is a lack of items geared toward larger dogs, so many companies have started designing different items specifically for dogs over 50lbs. Toys need to be designed so that they can’t be swallowed, but they must also be strong enough to withstand an extensive amount of chewing and tugging. Since larger breeds weigh much more than the smaller breeds, the typical small balls and pull toys aren’t designed to withstand a large amount of rough play. Find out how to choose the right type of toy for your large pet.

Gripper Toys

One thing bigger dogs love to do is play tug-of-war, so you should invest in a few gripper toys. There are gripper balls which are larger rubber type balls that have a grip handle on top.

These are perfect when playing with your dog because they will usually grab the ball, leaving the handle available for you to grab. Two dogs can also play with a tugger ball, especially if you get the largest size available.

There are also hard vinyl gripper toys that have a hook grip on two sides, making them the perfect toy for large dogs to get their teeth around for playing or chewing. When purchasing a gripper toy, look for one that is made of a sturdy material and won’t break off into little pieces, causing a choking hazard.

Treat Dog Toys

These toys have become more popular over the years because they allow a dog to entertain itself. These toys are made of a sturdy material and have small holes in them.

Small treats are then placed inside the toy. As the dog rolls, tosses, chews, and plays with this toy, the treats randomly pop out. Since the dog never knows when a treat will pop out, they continue to play with the toy out of expectancy.

Floating Toys

Many large dog breeds are known to be good swimmer. Golden retrievers and pit bull terriers are just two breeds that usually love the water and enjoy retrieving items from the water. Floating toys are designed with a buoyant core that prevents the toy from slipping beneath the water. Since some dogs will retrieve an item no matter how far it sinks, floating toys help prevent accidents.

Each dog has its own personality, and you will discover the types of toys your dog prefers. But if you keep a good collection of dog toys on hand, you’ll always be able to entertain your dog whether you’re home or off at work.

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Great Danes are a giant breed of dog. Due to their size and strength, it is very important to train them starting at a young age. 8 to 12 weeks old is appropriate to begin with the basics that any dog should know; come, sit, stay and no. Your Great Dane may need to know a few commands that your average sized or small dog might not need, like heel, down and gentle as well as socialization training and perhaps crate training. Your Great Dane training should contain these 10 tips.

1. Great Danes (as well as any dog with a deep chest) are prone to a medical condition called bloat or gastric torsion. This can become deadly and it is therefore very important NOT to teach your Great Dane to roll over.
2. Do NOT punish your Great Dane (or any dog for that matter). A simple stern “no” is all it should take if they do something wrong. Yelling, hitting or other negative actions can create what is termed as a “fear biter,” and the ones that usually get bitten are the owners or innocent bystanders.
3. The heel command is necessary for Great Dane training. Your Great Dane will need mild exercise at least once a day and the best way to do that is to go for a walk. To teach your new best friend to heel, begin with the sit command and when they are still and calm, begin to walk, give a gentle tug on the leash and say “heel.” If your Great Dane pulls or gets too rough, come to a dead stop and get them to sit again. Lather, rinse and repeat.
4. Counters and tables are the perfect height for most Great Danes. Commands like off, no and down are important to include in your Great Dane training.
5. Your Great Dane training should account for their sensitive nature. Great Danes can suffer from separation anxiety perhaps a bit greater than other more independent dogs. You can desensitize them by leaving the room and coming back when they are calm. Slowly increase the time that you are gone.
6. Crate training is another good form of Great Dane training that may be useful to keep them from getting into trouble or suffering from separation anxiety. Be sure to get a crate that allows them to stand and turn around in.
7. Don’t forget to praise your Great Dane when they get it right. Positive reinforcement works well with Great Danes.
8. Be patient and consistent when you work your way through Great Dane training. Great Danes are smart and learn things well. They want to please their owners and they will understand what you want them to do, eventually.
9. Give them the proper medical attention that they need. Unhealthy dogs are more prone to behavior problems and it’s not their fault. If your Great Dane is urinating in the house unexpectedly, you may want to take them to the vet.
10. Finally, the Great Dane is an awesome pet for the family or the individual. Your dog training should include socialization as they can be protective and territorial. They need to know how to behave around strangers and other dogs as this breed can be a little aggressive towards them.

Your behavior and attitude toward them is the best way to instill good Great Dane training behaviors. By following these basic instructions your Great Danes true personality will begin to unfold and you will see a marked improvement in your companionship. As your puppy grows, so will your bond. When trained properly, these gentle giants can leave a lasting impression on anyone they encounter.

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