The awe inspiring size of these big dogs presents their human companions with a long list of training and management challenges not encountered by keepers of small dogs. Some are simple logistical challenges. Exactly how big a vehicle do you need to accommodate a couple of Bullmastiffs? Not to mention the extra space in you master bedroom if you plan to crate a few in your personal den. And imagine the ease with which a tail can clear a coffee table or swipe expensive porcelain from its display shelf.
Everything about prevention through management and training goes triple for big dogs. Teaching good manners when your wee one is a mere 8 - 10 kg gives a huge advantage over those who wait till 12 months, by which time the out of control 60kg Bullmastiff may already be gearing up to maul an innocent neighbour. These dogs forbidding size demands an early course in juvenile good manners. Whilst your visiting aunt may be willing to tolerate the petite paw prints of a poodle on her pantsuit, she is likely to frown on plate sized mud covered feet on the front of her cashmere sweater.
Socialisation is another critically vital part of a dog’s educational experience. Many giant breeds have strongly defined guarding instincts. A poorly socialised, poorly trained large dog is a significant risk to the community. A well socialised and trained dog will be able to turn on his protective behaviours if needed, but no matter his size will be safe to have around your friends and family.
There are a number of good manners behaviours that are particularly important to teach your large dog while he is still small.
Polite Greeting: as mentioned above, jumping up to greet humans is rude behaviour for any canine and especially intolerable for a large dog. Start when your puppy is small by avoiding the temptation to pick up and cuddle him (Cuddling teaches that "up" is a wonderful place to be). Instead designate a spot on the floor as "Cuddle Space" and get down on his level to do cuddle time. Teach "sit" as a greeting behaviour by consistently and generously rewarding your puppy for sitting and turning away and stepping away anytime he jumps up. Insist that family and friends only greeting him when he is sitting.
Loose Lead Walking: If you begin teaching loose lead walking to your young pup you will
never find yourself skiing down the street as your dog takes off after a skateboard rider. The keys to reaching good loose lead walking are:
1. A high rate of reinforcement
2. Very high value treats. You want to make sure that it's more rewarding for your dog to pay attention to you than his surroundings
Say Please: A say please program teaches your dog to ask for all good things in life by
offering a sit in order to get what he wants. This prevents him from learning that he can push people around by virtue of his sheer weight and size. You can initially train and ask for the sit behaviour but your ultimate goal is for the dog to offer sit without being told. If he is allowed on the furniture, he sits and waits to be invited rather than helping himself to the empty space next to a visitor. Want to go outside? Sit makes the door open. Ready for dinner? Sit makes the dinner bowl descend to the floor.
Off/Leave it: It stands to reason that giant breed dogs have easier access to food bearing surfaces such as tables and kitchen counters. One chance encounter with a roast beef sandwich can turn a dog into a dedicated counter surfer. In addition to managing your big dog so he never has the opportunity to learn to counter surf, a well installed "Off" or "leave it" cue which tells the dog to back away from whatever he is looking at can avert disaster when he has that "Mine!" gleam in his eyes and is closer to the Christmas turkey than you are.
Sharing with Others: Like so many other things, resource guarding by a large dog can be infinitely more disastrous than the same problem presented by a smaller breed. When your pup is small teach her that having humans approach her when she is eating or otherwise occupied with a high value possession makes more good stuff happen. When he is eating, occasionally approach and drop a few exquisite goodies into it. Before long he will want people to be around when he is eating.
Give: The last thing you want to do is get into an argument with a big dog over something he has in his mouth. Take time to teach your dog "give" by trading for treats.
Most people make the mistake of only taking "forbidden" objects from a dog, which can teach the dog to object, since he learns that he'll never get it back. If you practice "Give" with a legal toy you can return the toy after the dog gives it up for a treat. This way the dog learns that he gets two rewards, the first for giving up the toy, the second when he gets it back.
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