I'm sorry, but I fail to see how anyone is going to control a 120 pound dog if they aren't doing any obedience training with it.

E-collars and prongs are fantastic but if she isn't going to take it to obedience classes and learn how to use the tools to train the dog I don't see how anything will change. This dog may not try to 'take over the house' but she still could have problems with the dog, such as it being obnoxious when guests come over or not being polite on walks. If she's not going to try to teach the dog to walk nicely on a leash or teach it to sit or down (and use that when guests arrive, etc.) she will have problems. Dogs don't come off the assembly line knowing these things.

It's great that she's making progress and these are definately steps for the better but obedience training is KEY to being able to live with and manage a dog.

Mike explained the issue with dane temperment and I agree with everthing you're saying in your last post. I don't see my mom as the "attend training classes" type although I didn't expect her to change her old habits from simply reading the book I showed her either.

We were digging out her pond and she had the older dog on a leash. She was sitting in a plastic ddeck chair and the dog started running after something. Now, my mom is not a light person to put it nicely and she was yanked backward and onto the ground. I don't think that was even enough to change her mind on some issues because she likes sleeping with the dogs and she also likes ordering others (dad and sister) to keep an eye on her pup. She can be very lazy at times. Personally I don't think she should have this large animal but she does. I was merely concerned should she have the same issues with her dog as I do with mine. Bruno would act up sometimes while we were in her house and I would correct him and she would jump then freeze. Even though he was in the crate or on a leash, she couldn't handle even hearing him growl. I think she's more of a guinea pig person.

Thanx for everyones advice

Dz

eric, you just can't compare a chow with a great dane. they have very different temperaments, as a general rule. i don't know that much about danes, but i do know about soft temperaments, as mastiffs, my breed, tend to be extremely soft. i mean, raise your eyebrow is all the correction they need.

you do not need a prong with a soft dog. but you still need enough obedience training that the dog knows what is being asked of it. otherwise, if you demand certain behaviors it doesn't know, it will be confusing for the dog, which is especially upsetting for a soft dog that wants to please.

why not get your mom interested in clicker training? it is fun both for her and the dog and will help her bond with them even better.

when she does move into the corrections phase, she needs to be very gentle. very soft dogs can be easily traumatized by too severe a correction.

I really don't think she knows much about danes. My sister is on her 3rd and they've always lived in my folks house but my mom is old school mindset. I don't think she'll ever get involved enough to really try and understand the dane mentality or even dog mentality for that matter. One thing I have seen is she is equally as gentle with her pup as the pup is with her. After observing her reaction to my corrections with Bruno, I don't think she will believe a correction is appropriate because it's "her dog" and "her dog" is not like mine. Who knows. I'll try and help more when I return to Mi. Thanx for the info

Eric, I think you might be better off leaving your Mom alone about her dogs. She will probably do just fine without your help. If not then she will ask you for your opinion.

I have some friends that have never done any training per se with their dogs. However, when we go to their house they are very well behaved even though they have no idea what sit, come, laydown, etc. means.

Not trying to rock the boat or offend, just my opinion.

Sometimes it's just not worth it to try to tell your Mom what to do......if you really want to know I can tell you about what she's thinking <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />.

Regards,
Debbie

I understand what you're saying. I had no intentions of directing her and you pretty much said the same thing I was thinking. I'm sure she'll be fine, I just wanted a more educated take on the subject. Perhaps I'm jealous that my dog is so much work with less reward. Either way, I still love chows (even my own). If I ever get another one I will certainly know WAY WAY more of what to look for and a much better approach to raising a puppy. That's if...

DZ

Eric,

Maybe you could suggest that she work on a recall command for the dogs safety. If she could just keep pieces of food in a pocket and reward them for coming when called that would be good.

Regards and good luck, <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Debbie

A soft or submissive dog is likely easier, once you realize they are, but that doesn't mean shaping behavior (training)
isn't necessary, it just means less force will be called for,as a softer dog is softer.
But not OB training is a time bomb. The only danes I've ever met personally, 1 developed people aggression, the other animal aggression. And any big dog can be a big clutz, so manners are essential to everyone's health and safety!