While a large-breed dog seems appealing from an owner's point of view, it can be terrifying to imagine the sight of your dog biting into another human's leg or terrorizing neighbors' lawns. Large-breed dogs that grow up without a sense of discipline and control can end up being a nuisance, causing dog bite lawsuits, or worse, getting put down. As an owner, your job is to ensure that your dog is getting the training it needs to grow up well-behaved.
Start Early
It can be tempting to spend the days cuddling with your newly bought or adopted pup. It seems wrong to crate him at such an early age or deprive him of too much affection. However, starting early makes it easier down the road to train your dog with more advanced tricks and discipline.
Teach Him to Heel and Walk with a Leash
Dogs naturally pull their owners in all directions when leashed. Naturally, he has this instinct of running around freely and going after smaller prey. Train your dog to stand or walk beside you. Reward him with a treat and some praise whenever he walks properly. While training your dog to heel properly, refrain from using retractable leashes to teach him the appropriate walking distance between him and his owner.
Prevent Him from Jumping Up on People
Although it's cute when he is only three or four months old, a full-grown German Shepherd or Siberian Husky jumping up on someone can be a traumatic experience and possibly even injure someone. Teach your dog how to contain his excitement whenever seeing new people. Rather than be mad when he does it, reinforce a reward system that teaches him good behavior is rewarded with treats, praise, and some affection.
Avoid Dog-Bite Lawsuits
Whether your dog was provoked or not, a dog bite can land you in some serious legal trouble. Dog-bite lawsuits are taken seriously and cost money; hence, you should also be considering training your dog to not bite people. If your large-breed dog gets easily aggravated when around people, protect him and the people around by muzzling your dog before you go in public areas. In addition, make sure he is kept on a leash at all times so you have full control of his movements and bite range. Teaching him to heel on command will be helpful in these instances as well. Contact an injury accidents law firm in Thousand Oaks if you have questions about dog-bite lawsuits.
Training your large-breed dog does not necessarily mean you must avoid showing affection. On the contrary, moderating the affection you give him, plus a good regimen of active training exercises will help your dog grow into a well-behaved companion that can be safely integrated into society.
