Great Dane Menace

[RosemaryDuck]

How old is the dane? My weim, when he was younger, used to tear into everything when we left him alone. I was at work one day, and checked on him in his crate, through our Wyze camera we have set up. He literally chewed the plastic bin that slides into the wire crate, and had his head sticking out of the torn up door. I had to leave work to rescue him or he could have choked to death. One day I came home and the kitchen floor was torn up. The hard kitchen floor! Another time he tore up the wall, literally chewed through the drywall. He has calmed down so much now but he's only one, I still expect some disaster when I come home. And I'm only at work for three hours a day! But for your dog, they sell plug in calm down air diffusers. It emits a smell that only dogs can smell, it's supposed to mimic mama dogs calm down pharomones. Maybe try that?

He's around 4-5 now (at least we think, they said he was a little over a year or 2 when we adopted him).

I know with Danes they tend to have a longer puppy stage and are still pretty rough/destructive around 2, but still. You'd think he would of least calmed down a tiny bit! Also thank you, I'll look into that too! You guys have given me some great ideas.

Also wow!! A hardwood floor....at least he hasn't gone that far yet. He has eaten a few antique tables and dressers though...

 

[Weeg]

I prefer CBD/Hemp over drugs because of the natural factor. It worked wonders for the arthritis in our old dog, and she was spry and young again. I think it works really well and that at least the cheeper Amazon hemp is worth a try.

 

[tripletfeb]

He's around 4-5 now (at least we think, they said he was a little over a year or 2 when we adopted him).

I know with Danes they tend to have a longer puppy stage and are still pretty rough/destructive around 2, but still. You'd think he would of least calmed down a tiny bit! Also thank you, I'll look into that too! You guys have given me some great ideas.

I'm assuming he is neutered? And good luck! Hopefully something works for you and soon, so that you can relax!

 

[rosemarythyme]

He's around 4-5 now (at least we think, they said he was a little over a year or 2 when we adopted him).

I know with Danes they tend to have a longer puppy stage and are still pretty rough/destructive around 2, but still. You'd think he would of least calmed down a tiny bit! Also thank you, I'll look into that too! You guys have given me some great ideas.

I hope you can find something that can help improve things even a tiny bit, because it's no fun to be stressed that you can't even step outside for a minute without coming back to complete chaos. I really commend you for trying to work with him instead of just turning him back over to the shelter.

 

[RosemaryDuck]

I hope you can find something that can help improve things even a tiny bit, because it's no fun to be stressed that you can't even step outside for a minute without coming back to complete chaos. I really commend you for trying to work with him instead of just turning him back over to the shelter.

I really love this site! Even when it's not about chickens everyone is so helpful. I really appreciate everyone giving me info and relaying their experiences. I feel so much better and it's good to know other people have dealt with this before too.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Have you worked with a trainer? Have you tried doing body work with him, where you pin him down in a calm but firm, neutral way and hold him until he relaxes, then let him up? This can teach a squirrelly dog that he CAN control himself. I've done this with my ADHD Sheltie with good results. When we got him at age 18 months we could not even touch him without him going into a spinning frenzy, as touch overstimulated him so much, as if he'd never been petted before. He had other issues as well. I call this "hypnotize the puppy," as he learns it is okay and even possible to relax. It's kind of a long-term process and you should not try it on your own. Your dog appears to have anxiety and insecurity issues. I would also teach basic obedience and work on Sit-stays and very brief Blind stays, extending them from VERY brief stays to 3 to 5-minute Blind Stays and building on those to build his confidence that, though he can't see you, you will return shortly.

 

[LaFleche]

I would get his thyroid hormones checked, as often thyroid malfunctions lead to over exited and uncontrollable behaviour.
Check the food as well, as some allergic reactions can trigger as well. Try natural food and let him work for it, and he will learn to concentrate, calm down and do as asked.

Does he get daily exercise and training? Great Danes are very smart and need something to stimulate their brains in addition to long walks (runs in the woods) and maybe some bicycle tours as well.

 

[RosemaryDuck]

I would get his thyroid hormones checked, as often thyroid malfunctions lead to over exited and uncontrollable behaviour.
Check the food as well, as some allergic reactions can trigger as well. Try natural food and let him work for it, and he will learn to concentrate, calm down and do as asked.

Does he get daily exercise and training? Great Danes are very smart and need something to stimulate their brains in addition to long walks (runs in the woods) and maybe some bicycle tours as well.

We did get his thyroid checked, and hes been on several different foods over the course of having him (due to weeding out allergies).

He does get daily exercise and playtime with us+the other dogs as well as training, so I know it's definitely not boredom like I said earlier.

I think the separation anxiety is probably a result of whoever had him previously. We don't know where he came from so they could have been doing anything to him or even keeping him outside.

A lot of people here in Florida treat their dogs like accessories and not animals. They just throw them in the back yard and occasionally remember to actually do something with them. Most of the shelter dogs here have a lot of issues.

 

[LaFleche]

I think the separation anxiety is probably a result of whoever had him previously. We don't know where he came from so they could have been doing anything to him or even keeping him outside.

Probably it is. But still he will have to learn that separation is not the end of his world.

I know that opinions differ widely about this dog trainer, but I think this video might help you to find a way of making your dog understand and at the same time provide you with a tool to get a much needed break: https://www.cesarsway.com/cesar-milan-dog-separation-anxiety/

 

[ninja333pirate]

Some dogs need a job to do or else there mental energy is not spent, a dog can chase a ball all day and not get a lick of mental energy out, I would see about training him to do a specific task, definitely take him on long walks, hikes if you can. one thing you can do is see about getting him a cart he can pull it might help learn to focus and control himself. and if he is having to focus a lot then he is getting mental energy out. That is another thing walks do for dogs, when a dog is walking along side you and having to watch what you are doing and paying attention to you they get more mental energy out, its not just about physical exercise.