Reptile & Amphibian Forums

New to the boards so if I repeat myself, sorry. I just brought home a male fawn gd pup. I realize he is new and will have to adjust to his new surroundings. After a week he is still very afraid of people in general, normal? Eating has gotten better but has been a nightmare to get him to eat. I have put him on a schedule with my other dog which is good because he watches him eat, etc. but is there a trick to get him to eat his food? He eats on a schedule 3 times a day as of now. He is a show breed and he is thin as a rail which makes me nervous..
Big concern is the humping. He humps my black lab every chnace he gets...he is 12 weeks old! Is this normal?
He is also eating wood every chance he gets, even though he is watched like a hawk by me, he manages to find it. Why is he eatind wood? I was told by my breeder to not put him in obiedence training since he is being shown later on. I dont agree as my lab started very young at 8 weeks. I speak in a very calm voice when saying no and he does stop what he is doing, but he is very, very set in his ways and I want to adjust it, but am afraid to make him upset. any advise is helpful.
Thanks

My dog was eating the corners of the wall about 2-3 weeks after we got her so I started spraying bitter apple where she liked to chew and she stopped right away. I don't spray it anymore and she doesn't eat it anymore. She was also very scared of people for almost a month after we got her but I noticed that she was much more comfortable with people who had puppies or dogs with them. She is still nervouse about people but has become much better in PetSmart and out at the park. It just took some time and socialization for her to stop hiding behind me.

>>New to the boards so if I repeat myself, sorry. I just brought home a male fawn gd pup. I realize he is new and will have to adjust to his new surroundings. After a week he is still very afraid of people in general, normal? Eating has gotten better but has been a nightmare to get him to eat. I have put him on a schedule with my other dog which is good because he watches him eat, etc. but is there a trick to get him to eat his food? He eats on a schedule 3 times a day as of now. He is a show breed and he is thin as a rail which makes me nervous..
>>Big concern is the humping. He humps my black lab every chnace he gets...he is 12 weeks old! Is this normal?
>>He is also eating wood every chance he gets, even though he is watched like a hawk by me, he manages to find it. Why is he eatind wood? I was told by my breeder to not put him in obiedence training since he is being shown later on. I dont agree as my lab started very young at 8 weeks. I speak in a very calm voice when saying no and he does stop what he is doing, but he is very, very set in his ways and I want to adjust it, but am afraid to make him upset. any advise is helpful.
>>Thanks

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He needs some kind of training and certainly needs socialization. The fearfulness indicates either a poor temperament that should be neither shown nor bred, or else a serious lack of early socialization. Either way, it's important to socialize the dog before the easiest time to do it is over. His brain is ready for it now, and it won't be long before it's too late. Ask your vet about this.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

this is exactly what I told the breeder, and it was dismissed and was told that h should not start obiedence training. I have been around dogs all my life and my gut told me a week ago that something just isnt right with his temperment. It's been over a week and he has made a small change, but he is so timid and shakes. Not that the price falls into this at all but he was very expensive, and was purchased for show. I also told the breeder that I tried putting a leash on him and he screamed bloody murder. Again, was told not to do any training with him for a few months. I can't have this pup go untrained for that long regardless of what anyone says, uno? When I think back on my first trip over to the breeders, the 2 adult danes she had were the same way....they would let you pet them, but in a split second would start growling and barking a me...
In your opinion, do you think the humping/mounting at such a young age is going to be a problem? It's very upsetting to see this when he is so young.

It sounds like your pup is in dire need of some major socialization. Young dane puppies should be outgoing, into everything, playing non stop, and curious about their new surroundings. There is an adjustment period that usually lasts anywhere from a day to a week with a new puppy coming into a new home, but after the end of that time, the puppy should not be intimidated by their surroundings in their own home.

Who did you buy your puppy from if you don't mind me asking?

Both parents should have allowed you to pet them. The bitch may have understandably been nervous or protective if you were around her and her young puppies, but the sire should have been outgoing, calm, and friendly, as they do not have the "hormonal and instinctive" tendancies to feel the need to protect their young. There are some bitches that will act completely different while their puppies are around, rather than othertimes when she hasn't had a litter.

Are both parents finished with appropriate health tests? (cardiac, hip, eye and thyroid) and have their CHIC numbers? Has the breeder been in the breed, actively showing in conformation or obedience or another sport for several years? Or is it a breeder who doesn't show yet produces "show quality" puppies.

You need to work on confidence building with this puppy, and also get a hand on what may be a dominant pup. Early signs of mounting or "humping" other dogs can indicate a more dominant or alpha dog or bitch. Do not allow your dog to show this type of behavior towards the other dogs (or people) in your home. You don't need to use any kind of harsh treatment with him, just be firm and consistant.

Find yourself a puppy kindergarten class, and get him enrolled NOW. Take him everywhere with you even if you let him sit in the car, so he can see people coming and going. Many dane breeders feel the need to recluse their puppies during the younger states of growth, as dane puppies of some lines can have weak immune systems.. BUT, if you are intending to show this dog, you need to get him out there and get him socialized ASAP.

Temperment is a combination of hereditary and environmental influences, but if both parents showed a marked level of fear or agression, you can almost expect to have a dog of the same mannerism. It could be that this breeder is doing everything right, and that their dogs were showing a tendancy towards feeling the need to protect their home. This IS a working breed, and some lines do show a marked tendancy to protect their homes... BUT, your puppy should not be fearful as you mentioned.

There are a lot of variables about this situation, and a lot of reasons why the sire and dam may have acted this way towards you, but your puppy should not be exhibiting the traits you are speaking of and these are problems that need to be dealt with now, not when the dog is 6 months old, 100lbs, and at that point much more difficult to control and train.

Caroline Smith
FarView Great Danes

thanks so much for this, it helps a lot and reconfirms what I have said all along.

>>this is exactly what I told the breeder, and it was dismissed and was told that h should not start obiedence training. I have been around dogs all my life and my gut told me a week ago that something just isnt right with his temperment. It's been over a week and he has made a small change, but he is so timid and shakes. Not that the price falls into this at all but he was very expensive, and was purchased for show. I also told the breeder that I tried putting a leash on him and he screamed bloody murder. Again, was told not to do any training with him for a few months. I can't have this pup go untrained for that long regardless of what anyone says, uno? When I think back on my first trip over to the breeders, the 2 adult danes she had were the same way....they would let you pet them, but in a split second would start growling and barking a me...
>>In your opinion, do you think the humping/mounting at such a young age is going to be a problem? It's very upsetting to see this when he is so young.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The humping and mounting I would expect to be able to handle by socializing (especially play with one or a few other dogs of opposite sex) and training, but the other behavior...If you truly want a dog to show and breed, you may need to return this pup. You could get a third party to evaluate him first, like a behavior specialist or a respected judge of the breed. I wouldn't wait "several months," because of course by then you'll be too attached. Also, by then he will be far less desirable to a home where he might do okay, perhaps with people knowledgeable of the breed who don't want a dog for breeding at this point in their lives. Not with kids. A giant breed with a temperament problem needs special handling.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

Thank you. Yes, I have contacted the breeder, since it has only been over a week since I brought him home, I think it's best to bring him back. If I was not under a contract to show him, things would be different, but you have to go by your instinct here, and I just feel this is something that I need to do. It breaks my heart, but the attachment has not set in for either of us yet. He won't even get close to me, and runs everytime I get close. Thanks all for your opinions. It helps and I appreciate it.

If you return the pup, and would like help finding a reputable breeder in your area, please feel free to contact me privately at danespot@aol.com. If you prefer to contact someone on your own, please start first at the Great Dane Club of America's breeder list which you can find by going here: http://www.gdca.org/ and select the breeders list from the drop down list at the top. Please be advised that listing on this site does not guarantee that they are reputable, but it's a place to start. I personally know of a planned litter here in Illinois that I (a die hard harl person) would be tempted to be put on their waiting list. A friend and co-owner of one of my puppies owns the mother (a champion fawn female that has a very sweet outgoing temperment and is just a total love bug) that is being bred to a american/canadian champion male that is one of the best fawns I know of. I also know of several other individuals that either have, or are expecting puppies soon that I would feel comfortable buying a puppy from.

Good luck in your search! There are TONS of really good reputable dane breeders out there with very stable temperments in their lines to choose from... breeders with a past history of producing sound of mind and body dogs with many champions under their belt. Please feel free to contact me for any assistance.

Caroline Smith
FarView Great Danes

Thank you very much. I appreciate it.