ISSUES OF SIZE WITH GIANT DOG BREEDS
Some of the problems they can present to their family members are simply related to their extraordinary size. If you’re seated at the dinner table and your Irish Wolfhound strolls by, his head may pass over your plate even if he’s not trying to counter surf. You could purchase an extra-tall dining room table with bar stools for chairs or consider other management solutions (baby gates, mat training, crates, tethers) just to keep the hound drool out of your dumplings.
Sometimes a giant dog’s mere presence can trigger other dogs. Smaller dogs can be intimidated by the size and bulk of a 100- to 200-pound dog. Even if the big guy has no ill intent, fights can erupt as a result of a smaller dog’s stress. Imagine the logistics of breaking up a dog fight if one of the participants weighs 100-plus pounds!
While many of the big dogs (although not all) are truly gentle giants and get along well with other dogs, there doesn’t even need to be conflict for an injury to occur – a misstep of 200 pounds of dog onto an 8-pound Pomeranian (or a small child!) can cause significant bruising and/or broken bones. Caretakers of giant dogs must use common sense and management when selecting canine and human playmates for their oversized canine family members.
Reward good behavior
Remember to think positive while training your big dog. We know how hard this is when your 80-pounder leaps on you or crushes your favorite dish, but it helps to remember that he doesn’t really understand why you don’t want him crashing into everything. Your good vibes will rub off on him, and it’s easier for him to stay focused if you’re not yelling at him or showing frustration.
Big dogs love their treats, and you can dole them out liberally throughout the training process. Look into training treats that are small and low calorie to avoid ruining his dinner. Some owners also find click training beneficial. Since it’s easy to tie the rewarding sound immediately to his actions, it can speed up the process of teaching him. You should also give your big dog loads of praise when he responds to your command. Your dog loves you most, and praise goes a long way toward getting your dog to listen and repeat the task.
Clubs Offering:
Trick Dogs can involve not only speedy smaller breeds, but also large and giant breeds, too. I train and compete with a Newfoundland, and it’s always fun to shatter expectations about what tricks a dog of that size can do. If you have a large dog and are interested in getting involved with trick training, here’s what you should keep in mind, as well as tips to get started.
When evaluating whether a trick is going to be a good fit, consider any physical limitations you or your dog have. For example, some tricks, such as rebounding off the handler‘s body or foot stalls (balancing on the handler’s feet), aren’t realistic options for most giant breeds. But other tricks may be possible if you get a little creative with modifications. Such adjustments might include teaching your giant dog to duck their head when doing leg weaves. This way, they won’t accidentally knock you over.
If your large breed dog is still young and physically maturing, be cautious when it comes to jumping tricks. While a pup can begin earning AKC Trick Dog Titles as young as four months, it’s important to wait for growth plates to close before introducing jumping; some of the biggest breeds don’t reach physical maturity until they are well over a year old.
Similarly, large-breed and giant-breed dogs generally have a shorter lifespan than smaller dogs. As a result, they will become senior dogs earlier than other breeds. As your pup ages, be thoughtful about how physically demanding your trick routines are.
Pay attention to what kinds of tricks your pet enjoys and build off that. With more experience in learning tricks, your dog will develop more confidence. Added experience will make it easier for your large dog to learn tricks that require body control to maneuver themselves; such tricks include orbit (running backwards around the handler), side passes, limping, or jumping through a tissue paper hoop.
Advanced and Performer level tricks that are great starting points for large and giant dogs include “head down,” turning on a tap light, playing dead, bows, covering your eyes, blowing bubbles, and soccer.
It is easy to find appropriately-sized props for large and giant dogs. For example, toddler-sized basketball hoops, tennis rackets, toy mailboxes, and ring-stacking sets all work well. From playground balls and large building blocks to larger items like play kitchens, the possibilities for turning toys into trick props for big dogs are endless. Just don’t forget that kids’ toys are not designed for dogs, and be sure to keep an eye on your pup to prevent them from chewing on these props.
With the obvious exceptions of physically impossible tricks, giant dogs can learn all the same tricks as smaller dogs! Though the bigger breeds might perform some of these tricks more slowly than their smaller counterparts, they can and will enjoy learning. And of the great things about tricks as a sport is that you and your dog can earn titles, but you won’t be competing against any other pups.
HOW TO TRAIN LARGE DOG NOT TO JUMP – RESULTS NOW!!!
Trick Dogs can involve not only speedy smaller breeds, but also large and giant breeds, too. I train and compete with a Newfoundland, and it’s always fun to shatter expectations about what tricks a dog of that size can do. If you have a large dog and are interested in getting involved with trick training, here’s what you should keep in mind, as well as tips to get started.
When evaluating whether a trick is going to be a good fit, consider any physical limitations you or your dog have. For example, some tricks, such as rebounding off the handler‘s body or foot stalls (balancing on the handler’s feet), aren’t realistic options for most giant breeds. But other tricks may be possible if you get a little creative with modifications. Such adjustments might include teaching your giant dog to duck their head when doing leg weaves. This way, they won’t accidentally knock you over.
If your large breed dog is still young and physically maturing, be cautious when it comes to jumping tricks. While a pup can begin earning AKC Trick Dog Titles as young as four months, it’s important to wait for growth plates to close before introducing jumping; some of the biggest breeds don’t reach physical maturity until they are well over a year old.
Similarly, large-breed and giant-breed dogs generally have a shorter lifespan than smaller dogs. As a result, they will become senior dogs earlier than other breeds. As your pup ages, be thoughtful about how physically demanding your trick routines are.
Pay attention to what kinds of tricks your pet enjoys and build off that. With more experience in learning tricks, your dog will develop more confidence. Added experience will make it easier for your large dog to learn tricks that require body control to maneuver themselves; such tricks include orbit (running backwards around the handler), side passes, limping, or jumping through a tissue paper hoop.
Advanced and Performer level tricks that are great starting points for large and giant dogs include “head down,” turning on a tap light, playing dead, bows, covering your eyes, blowing bubbles, and soccer.
It is easy to find appropriately-sized props for large and giant dogs. For example, toddler-sized basketball hoops, tennis rackets, toy mailboxes, and ring-stacking sets all work well. From playground balls and large building blocks to larger items like play kitchens, the possibilities for turning toys into trick props for big dogs are endless. Just don’t forget that kids’ toys are not designed for dogs, and be sure to keep an eye on your pup to prevent them from chewing on these props.
With the obvious exceptions of physically impossible tricks, giant dogs can learn all the same tricks as smaller dogs! Though the bigger breeds might perform some of these tricks more slowly than their smaller counterparts, they can and will enjoy learning. And of the great things about tricks as a sport is that you and your dog can earn titles, but you won’t be competing against any other pups.