Hello I have a 11 wk old Great Dane male. He has always had a biting issue and we have sprayed him w/water and given a firm "NO" which use to work but now it doesn't. He has started growling and even snapping at my 8 yr old daughter anytime she tries to pet him or pick him up to move him or help him from the car. I always tell him no and have began placing him in his kennel for 5 mins or so. When he licks her or lets her pet him w/o growling I reward him w/ praise or a treat. Nothing seems to be working with him and if you ever touch his muzzle when he's over excited and biting randomly he'll bit and bark at you. I thought Great Danes were gentle? He was the biggest in the litter and probably the boss. He's not an out of control dog yet but I don't want to get to that level. Any help would be great
I'm so sorry to hear you're having dominance issues. I am a new Great Dane owner, but have grown up always having one or more dogs. One of the first things I wanted to say is that you should never let your 8-year old pick up the puppy. If the pup were to wiggle or nip at her, and she dropped him.. he could be seriously injured. Another suggestion.. don't put your dog in the kennel as a form of punishment. Otherwise, he'll always consider his crate a punishment rather than a place of solitude.. which may lead to more issues down the line.
The first day my puppy came home, he growled at my 8-year old boston terrier/pug mix and tried staking his claim, with me. I immediately put him on his side and stood over him to let him know that I was in charge.. not him. I let me other dog sniff him and aquaint herself with him.. and I haven't had any issues with that since. Any time he tries to stand on me or put his paw on me when my other dog is around, I move him off of me and say No. there are times when I've had to do this for at least a couple dozen times. But eventually.. if I'm consistent.. he gets the point. That behavior, too, is stopping. Those little signs of dominance that come out, I address immediately. I want there to be no question that myself, as well as my kids, are the leaders. And he is the follower.
He's getting there.
The main thing I would suggest is to just be consistent. He may be stubborn and you may think, "He'll never get it." But he's probably just testing your patience and seeing how quickly you'll give in.
Good luck! Keep us posted on how he's coming along.
Thank you for your input about our Dane it was very kind of you to take the time to comment. He is now 5 mos. old and 65 lbs he is growing so quickly. We have resolved the biting issues with the help of a positive enforcement trainer I work with. He is doing so much better now! Whenever he begins to use biting as a form of play we tell him no or say ouch so he knows he hurt us then we leave the room for 3-4 mins. So he learns when he bites the fun stops and my playmate leaves. It has worked so well he is really learning quickly! He is our baby and we adore him we don't adore his behavior sometimes. Thanks for the help I really appreciate it.
I am so glad to hear your biting issues have been resolved.. those sound like great techniques!