Our breed is beautiful. And smart! Maybe most Great Danes are not as fast at performing as some Border collies, but they are intelligent none the less. Our dogs love to learn. They love to be with us. Perhaps formal obedience training just isn’t your thing. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy training your dog. Many dogs, Danes included, greatly enjoy learning to do simple tricks. You do not have to create a circus act. Just a few fun behaviors can help your dog learn how to learn, which can enhance good manners and skills for formal obedience; just in case you decide working with your Dane really IS enjoyable and the two of you pursue even bigger goals.

To get you started I have included the steps to teaching your dog some basic tricks. When working with your dog you should be motivated and cheerful. Use whatever tool gets your dog’s attention, such as treats, to begin with. You will use the treats as a lure to help direct the dog and then reward her. And of course don’t forget lots of love and praise. Decide what command/name you will give the trick and always use that command, a word or short phrase, when asking for that behavior. The tricks to training (no pun intended) are practice and patience. Make training sessions fun for your dog. Each session should be short but practiced several times throughout the day. Only a few minutes at a time are necessary as you do not want your dog to become bored, especially when learning new behaviors. Don’t forget a lot of praise for a job well done and little treats to reward your dog.

Just imagine what a kick it will be to show off your dog’s new tricks to your friends and neighbors! So go ahead……have some fun and teach your old (or young) dog some new tricks!

Give Me Your Paw / Shake

To begin, have your dog in a sitting position facing you.
Take the dog’s paw in your hand and lift it up.
As you do this, give the command.
Hold the paw for a few moments.
Release and reward.
Do it again.
Over time you can try asking the dog to ‘shake’ without lifting the paw.
If she offers her paw then you are making good progress!

Give Me a Kiss / How ‘bout Some Sugar?

Any time you dog licks you face give the command.
If your dog never licks your face you can tempt him with a bit of peanut butter on your chin.
Offer your chin and if you get a lick, give the command.
Praise when the dog kisses you.

Wave / High Five

The dog needs to know how to shake hands before teaching this trick.
Have the dog sitting, facing you.
Offer your hand as if you are going to ask her to shake.
When she lifts her paw, pull your hand away and give the new command.
Then reward her.
Try it again.
Your dog may not lift her paw very high at first.
When she understands that she gets the trick for holding her paw up, eventually she’ll be able to lift it higher.

Twirl

Begin by having your dog standing while facing you.
Show the dog the treat in your hand.
With you standing in one spot, hold the treat in front of the dog’s nose then turn your arm slowly in a wide circle motion.
This will lead the dog’s head, and body, to walk in a circle in front of you.
When the dog is again in front of you where she started, give her the treat reward and praise.
Try it again.
Us the same command for whatever direction of circle you teach first.
Later you can teach her to circle in the other direction with a different command.
Clock-wise can be called “Twirl” while counter-clockwise could be called “Circle”.
Be sure she knows the first directions well before teaching the second.

Play Dead / Take a Nap

Have your dog in a down potion on his belly. (sternally)
Gently guide the dog into lying on his side.
Be sure his head is down, too.
Give the command.
Do not reward yet. Make sure the dog stays in the lying flat position for a few seconds.
The give a cheerful release command. “Wake Up!” or “Okay”.
Reward once the dog is up.
Try it again.

Take a Bow

The easiest way to teach this trick to a Dane is to be opportunistic.
Anytime you see the dog doing a big stretch with his head low, give the command.
Whenever your dog wakes up from a nap and stretches with his rear in the air, give the command.
Eventually you will be able to give the command and the dog will offer the behavior.
Reward!

Yawn, Sneeze and Full Body Shake

Train like the Bow trick.
When you catch the dog doing any of the desired behaviors, give it a command.
Give the command any time you see the dog doing the behavior.
For full-body shaking you can use the command, “Wiggle”.
Eventually you will be able to give the command for the desired behavior and the dog will do it!
Praise and reward!

I hope these simple tricks will get you started in the joys of training your GREAT Dane!