When Should I Start Akita Behavior Training? Dog behavior training should begin as soon as you bring a new DOG or puppy home, and after you've given him some loving, shown him around and allowed him to become acclimated to his new home and yard. Keep in mind however, that akitas are much like people, and sometimes, their attention spans will be limited. Barbara Bush wrote "Millie's Book", a book about her English Springer Spaniel, Millie. The book was an instant success. It was on the bestseller list for 29 weeks. Millie was the most popular "First Dog" in United States history. When it comes to training your akita, you should be the one to train him. After all, you're the one closest to him; you know his habits, likes and dislikes, and you, above all others, know how he responds to certain situations. Is he anxious to please and obey? Is he skittish and afraid? Begin immediately to reinforce praise and affection for your akita when he responds in an appropriate manner to your commands. The cartoon character, Scooby Doo, was a great dane. Scooby Doo is well known for being constantly willing to eat anything and everything. In reality, a great dane can indeed eat a lot of food. In fact, they can eat up to 8 � pounds a day! Never abuse or punish your akita while teaching him basic commands like 'sit' and 'stay'. Keep lessons brief, and focus on one command at a time. Be prepared to reward progress with a akitagie biscuit or other treat, always accompanied by plenty of praise. A number of good books on akita training can be found at libraries and bookstores, as well as video and DVD media. If you've already mastered the basic commands and want your akita to learn how to socialize with other DOGS and people, you may consider taking him to a DOG training session offered by your local pet store, or even to the park, where he can learn, slowly, to interact with all kinds of different, and sometimes difficult, situations. The cartoon character, Scooby Doo, was a great dane. Scooby Doo is well known for being constantly willing to eat anything and everything. In reality, a great dane can indeed eat a lot of food. In fact, they can eat up to 8 � pounds a day! Start with placing a akita on a leash while still in your yard, and keep distractions to a minimum. Practice walking in large circles, stopping occasionally to offer commands. Gently show the akita what you want him to do. If you would like him to sit, place your hand gently on his rump and press down while keeping his head up. Never jerk your akita or punish him for not understanding what you want him to do. The fault may lay with you. Preface a command with his or her name and then use one word to convey that command. Instruct other family members not to add to your training efforts, and when they give commands, to give them in the same way in which you have trained your akita. The official name of the dogs we call pitbulls is the American staffordshire terrier. Pitbulls have been the preferred pet of many famous people including Fred Astaire, Vin Diesel, Alicia Silverstone, Michael J. Fox, and James Caan. When trying to teach your akita to avoid certain behaviors, convey a firm 'No'. Don't spank, jerk his leash or otherwise abuse your akita. Remember, he is relying on you to keep him safe and healthy. Most akitas know when their owners aren't pleased with them, and will make an effort to change, if they know what it is you expect of them. That's your job, to teach with patience, kindness and understanding. The Dalmatian is the only breed of dog that gets gout. Gout is an arthritic condition that causes inflammation of the joints. Gout is usually a human condition, but, for some reason, our dalmation friends get it too. This is commonly thought to be due to inbreeding. Never expect your akita to 'get it' in one training session, any more than you were able to understand your first geometry lesson. Akitas absorb lessons and experiences at different rates, and some breeds learn faster than others. Some breeds seem well acclimated to learning more than just basic commands, and can be trained to perform in DOG shows, as well as akitagie athletic events that include climbing and balancing feats of skill. While many people think of Boxers as aggressive, they are actually great with children. They were bred to be hunters, yes, but they were bred to corner prey, not kill it. As a result, they are protective, yet patient. Patience is the key to properly training a akita of any age. If you have bought an older akita from a pound, you may have to show extra persistence in breaking bad habits, and if the akita has been abused, your task will be made doubly difficult. However, loving patience, ample praise and rewards usually manage to do the trick within a few days, so keep at it. Part of the reason that basset hounds have such a unique look is that the British purposely bred basset hounds to have short legs, so that hunters could keep up with them. Unfortunate this has caused the breed to be prone to leg/joint problems. Male Irish wolfhounds are usually at least 32 to 34 inches tall and females are usually around 30 inches tall. This makes the Irish wolfhound the tallest breed. Although a few other dogs, such as the great dane, come close to equalling that height. The cartoon character, Scooby Doo, was a great dane. Scooby Doo is well known for being constantly willing to eat anything and everything. In reality, a great dane can indeed eat a lot of food. In fact, they can eat up to 8 � pounds a day!