tylerthegiant
Well-Known Member
Age: 2 and a half
Sex: Male
Favorite Food: He pretty much gobbles up any kibble, for training treats he goes really nuts over any kind of meat (especially liver) and stinky cheese like blue cheese
List of Tricks: I don't know what constitutes a trick, so I'll list known cues
Toys-He came to me not knowing what a toy was, but he goes nuts over stuffies now and just started playing with balls.
Habits-Lucas is a great problem solver, he can open any drawer, cabinet, door in the house (most have been "Lucas proofed" with baby proofing products. Lucas has two modes, ON and sleep. If he's not sleeping he's doing something. When he gets uncomfortable for whatever reason he paces. He likes to rub his head all over you when he likes you.
Problems-Lucas has a very low threshold for excitement. He becomes over stimulated very easily, and when you have a 130lb dog that stands at chest level this can be a big problem. He has been motion and touch sensitive in the past (meaning getting overstimulated by it-not aggressive), but we have come a long way in those areas and they almost are not a problem at all anymore. Still, with new things he has to be taught to generalize the calm behavior. Whenever something seems "off" to him (like moving a piece of furniture) he barks. He also has a tendency to bark at night because he doesn't see well in low light (I've trained him to stop when I flicker the porch lights). His bark is crazy loud because first of all danes have one of the loudest barks known to man, and secondly he's deaf and doesn't know how loud his bark is. Lucas's bark has only one volume. LOL He also gets overstimulated by smells. He also has fairly poor body awareness, although it's gotten a little better.
Strengths-he is super, super sweet. He is eager to please, once we bonded and he could be taught there are other rewarding options available to him other than going nuts over things. He is very gentle with children and friendly with people. He is a happy dog, even though he has moments of being unsure or anxious he recovers very quickly from them. His social skills with other dogs are PERFECT! It's amazing to watch, he knows how to handle every situation with another dog perfectly. When to ignore and diffuse, when to assert himself, how to do those things clearly and perfectly. It's awesome. He picks things up quickly, even though he has a short attention span.
Temperament-High energy level (yes-couch potatoes danes can be high energy). Excitable, friendly, gentle, confident, solid in that nothing phases this dog very long, I can't imagine anything so traumatic that it would change his personality. Once I can get him properly socialized and well trained because of his solid temperament there is nothing this dog won't enjoy doing and nowhere I wouldn't take him that dogs are allowed.
And anything else you'd like us to know-Lucas was an outdoor dog before I adopted him. He lived on a ranch and his job was to keep coyotes off the ranch to protect the livestock. He did it very well. A little too well as he'd jump the fence and keep going through the desert chasing the coyotes. His previous owner said he was untrainable but I didn't believe it. This dog, because of his size, disinterest and mistrust of people, his over excitability, his requiring different communication style, and his complete lack of house manners was my most difficult dog to date. I can't even begin to describe, but let's just say I've spent a year now getting him to the point that he has enough attention to me calmness of mind to even teach anything that will be reliable. I have turned him into an average dog rather than a complete wild beast who is unsafe due to size and excitability. I am very proud of him and looking to step up his training at this point.
Sex: Male
Favorite Food: He pretty much gobbles up any kibble, for training treats he goes really nuts over any kind of meat (especially liver) and stinky cheese like blue cheese
List of Tricks: I don't know what constitutes a trick, so I'll list known cues
- Sit
- Down
- Stay
- Come
- Leave it
- Drop it
- Shake
- High five
- Wait
- Okay (release word)
- Touch
- Watch me
- Off
- Stand
Toys-He came to me not knowing what a toy was, but he goes nuts over stuffies now and just started playing with balls.
Habits-Lucas is a great problem solver, he can open any drawer, cabinet, door in the house (most have been "Lucas proofed" with baby proofing products. Lucas has two modes, ON and sleep. If he's not sleeping he's doing something. When he gets uncomfortable for whatever reason he paces. He likes to rub his head all over you when he likes you.
Problems-Lucas has a very low threshold for excitement. He becomes over stimulated very easily, and when you have a 130lb dog that stands at chest level this can be a big problem. He has been motion and touch sensitive in the past (meaning getting overstimulated by it-not aggressive), but we have come a long way in those areas and they almost are not a problem at all anymore. Still, with new things he has to be taught to generalize the calm behavior. Whenever something seems "off" to him (like moving a piece of furniture) he barks. He also has a tendency to bark at night because he doesn't see well in low light (I've trained him to stop when I flicker the porch lights). His bark is crazy loud because first of all danes have one of the loudest barks known to man, and secondly he's deaf and doesn't know how loud his bark is. Lucas's bark has only one volume. LOL He also gets overstimulated by smells. He also has fairly poor body awareness, although it's gotten a little better.
Strengths-he is super, super sweet. He is eager to please, once we bonded and he could be taught there are other rewarding options available to him other than going nuts over things. He is very gentle with children and friendly with people. He is a happy dog, even though he has moments of being unsure or anxious he recovers very quickly from them. His social skills with other dogs are PERFECT! It's amazing to watch, he knows how to handle every situation with another dog perfectly. When to ignore and diffuse, when to assert himself, how to do those things clearly and perfectly. It's awesome. He picks things up quickly, even though he has a short attention span.
Temperament-High energy level (yes-couch potatoes danes can be high energy). Excitable, friendly, gentle, confident, solid in that nothing phases this dog very long, I can't imagine anything so traumatic that it would change his personality. Once I can get him properly socialized and well trained because of his solid temperament there is nothing this dog won't enjoy doing and nowhere I wouldn't take him that dogs are allowed.
And anything else you'd like us to know-Lucas was an outdoor dog before I adopted him. He lived on a ranch and his job was to keep coyotes off the ranch to protect the livestock. He did it very well. A little too well as he'd jump the fence and keep going through the desert chasing the coyotes. His previous owner said he was untrainable but I didn't believe it. This dog, because of his size, disinterest and mistrust of people, his over excitability, his requiring different communication style, and his complete lack of house manners was my most difficult dog to date. I can't even begin to describe, but let's just say I've spent a year now getting him to the point that he has enough attention to me calmness of mind to even teach anything that will be reliable. I have turned him into an average dog rather than a complete wild beast who is unsafe due to size and excitability. I am very proud of him and looking to step up his training at this point.
Bless you!
, Lucas and you have already come a long way and I' sure we'll be hearing more on Lucas. He sounds a lovely, lovely dog!
