Some of you may know that my human, Hsin-Yi, is a freelance writer and she specialises in writing about dogs, so she writes for different dog magazines around the world.
She says she is very lucky because her job means she can spend her time with 2 of the things she loves the most (writing and dogs)! 
She has just finished writing a piece for Dogs Today, her UK dog magazine, about some breeds which many people believe are “impossible” to train.
These are usually dogs like hounds (who like to follow their nose!) 
…
…and terriers (who like to be their own boss!) and some other breeds which are supposed to be “difficult”.
Great Danes are one of these! We are from the Mastiff group and we are supposed to be too stubborn and stupid to train.
Many people believe that only the dogs which were bred to work with man (eg, collies and retrievers and other gundogs) are clever and can be trained.
But lots of other people don’t believe this! They believe that if you use the right training methods (positive, reward-based) and if you are patient and consistent, then it is possible to train any breed to do many amazing things!
And my blog friends are proof of this!
Here are some of my blog friends who are showing everybody that there is no such thing as an “impossible” breed:
My friends, the Dughallmore Beagles, have all achieved their Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Awards, especially Alfie who has the top level of Gold!
They also show that it is not true you cannot teach a Beagle to come – here is Alfie showing his enthusiastic recall!
And here is my friend, Nala the Rhodesian Ridgeback - another breed which is supposed to be “difficult to handle”. But Nala is so good that in training class, they ask her to demonstrate to the other dogs. Here she is doing Rally Obedience…
…and Agility:
Next, here are my friends, Dakotah and Maika – the Bubblegum Akitas. They show that Akitas can be handled by children…
…and do advanced obedience exercises, like an off-leash Down Stay…
And here is my friend, Chow Chow - a breed which some trainers say is the worst because they are supposed to be non-social and not interested in treats or toys. Well, Chow Chow proves them all wrong! Not only did he get his certificate from his training class after only 9 weeks (!) but he also lets anyone pet him, loves chasing after his toys and will happily do tricks for food.
And of course, there is me! My humans have never let the fact that I am a Great Dane stop them from trying any training with me.
Trying out agility!
Doing Obedience...
And of course, Canine Freestyle!
Yes, maybe it takes a bit longer and a bit more effort – but my humans enjoy the challenge! They say it is more rewarding to train me than to train an “easier” breed - and to show all those people who laughed at me – that anything is possible if you believe in it and if you’re willing to work at it!
Hi Honey,
Any pup can be trained! At almost 5 months I know more tricks than my 2 year old cousin the chocolate lab. Us great Danes are pretty smart!
I totally agree! Keep up the good work Honey….and Hsin-Yi!
Sometimes people use the breed of the dog as an excuse for a poorly trained dog. Well done for showing all of these good dogs!
Way to prove them all wrong about those untrainable breeds. =)
Hi Honey,
You and your human are so inspiring!!
I am a beagle. Actually I met you and your human several times during morning walks before you moved out of our neighbourhood. You may remember how naughty I was then.
But, now that I have a young beagle to look after at home (her name is Cinnamon), I am trying to be a good boy to show her how to behave.
Your today’s posting is very encouraging to us, beagles. Thank you so much!!
Hi Honey
Dachshunds are supposed to be extremely hard to train. I passed the Therapy Dog test just after I turned a year old. Mom believes in positive training & reward and lots of repetition.
Love Ruby & Penny
GUILTY!
Siberian and darned proud of it!
Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
PeeEssWoo: Furry nice post!
Momma says I am so dumb I could drown in my water bowl. Is that a bad thing? It only took me about a year to learn to shake hands. I just wanted to be sure it was something I wanted to do.
I think Momma really loves me a lot, but she says I am the most brain challenged doggie she has ever owned. Good thing I’m so handsome.
Slobbers,
Mango
I believe it is really more the trainer than the dog. Great post!!!!
Excellent post! Very informative and I totally agree that the method of training and consistency is key.
Ooh, Honey you are very talented to be a dancer in a show!! I’m very impressed!
My mom is getting trained in how to pretend she’s training me. I already know everything, so just go along with her to make her look good.
Very well said and we applaud the content and the form! Really, is there such a thing as a difficult dog… or are there just lazy and misinformed humans?
After all… we learn to understand human language (down! sit! stay! come! cookies!), what dog words have humans mastered?
Just sayin’! LOL
Smoochies and congrats from
Your akita buddies xoxo
I totally agree with you, Honey! The right method, pacience and consistency are very important. We have evidence of that daily, as you showed it to us. Very cool post!
xoxoxo
Thor
Hi, Honey!
I am a wild girl but it is my mom’s fault! She never knew how to train me and besides I can’t get many treats so the reward thing is not for me!
You are pawesome!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza
You know I agree too Honey! You have to have good communication with the humans and the humans must be consistent and positive!
Have a great week!
Love,
Nala
Hi Honey
My Mummy laughed when she read this because I am a staffy x australian terrier and I be furry smart but I dont like to do “tricks”. Why should I lower myself to act like a “dog”. BOL
Big licks to you
Suzuki
xxx
Honey yer Mummy is rite. I am a pit bull and a lot of peeple thinks pit bulls are imposible. But that is jest an ekcuse and also a mith. Because reely pit bulls is very smart and we loves to lern stuff! I know lotsa werds and komands espeshully if they have to do with toys and treets! I luv doing training with my Mummy it is fun!!
Yer pal Dozer
Well stated, Hsin-Yi. I didn’t really know there was such thing as a “difficult dog” until I got Behr Behr
My other dogs (including danes) had obedience titles by 1 yr. old, but Behr is a whole different animal. Standard (positive) training methods don’t work on her, and 2 famous dog trainers gave up on her. Turns out she’s super smart, but learns differently than most dogs. I don’t have much time to train, but we’re figuring it out on our own and doing pretty well now.
I now agree that even “difficult” dogs can be trained, it just takes a little longer and requires some creativity and patience.
Holly
Hi Honey
Being an elderly terrier, I don’t really believe in the whole ‘obedience’ thing, and rather subscribe to the ‘old dogs/new tricks’ line of thinking. Gail, my human, says it’s a shame that Hsin-Yi is on the other side of the globe, as it sounds like she could lick me into shape no problem.
Cheers,
Hamish (from Scotland).
PS Thanks for visiting my blog.
Honey
You awe mowe tha weady fow youw pjoto shoot..ot looks like you had a gweat spa day, and you awe a pwo at pushing the twolley
smoochie kisses
ASTA
Well we think all dogs can be trained and all dogs are clever. Some have different talents than others that is all, so some may take longer but we are all special in our own ways.
You did great with the trolley training.
Perhaps some people who don’t think all breeds of dogs are clever should read some dog blogs.
Holly & Zac…XX
Holly & Zac…XX
I actually find Danes easy to train, Chelsea especially has a ‘I just want to make you happy’ persona…
I get annoyed at owners with little dogs who dont train them. I put alot of work into both my girls, due to their size I want people to be at ease with them but when walking we constantly have unleashed yap yaps running at them aggressively…
Great post
You two are a great example for all of us. Hsin-Yi gets the most credit for what you are today! Both of you rock! Love, Dino
This is great! I have 2 Chow mixes, and 2 husky mixes (one is a Husky/Rhodesian ridgeback -- talk about difficult!). It bothers me that these breeds rank at the bottom of the “intelligence” list and called “stubborn” … they are smart enough to have a mind of their own!
“Difficult” dogs require more patience and understanding than a dog that will willingly obey every command. In return for your investment, these dogs give something back that is way beyond the typical slave/master relationship people often have with their pets.
I love this post -- Especially my person Laura!
It is so true that you can teach any breed anything you want!
Its true that some dogs may be more difficult, but its not becasue they aren’t intellegent! -- It’s like the scent hounds, they can sometimes be a little more difficult to train a great recall or obiendence, but you want to teach them how to track or find specific odours they pick it up in a flash.
Mastiffs may not pick up obendence super quick but haven’t been bred for those traits, but they pick up guard work very quickly!
And lastly the Collies, they are extremely quick to teach obedience and agility to, but wouldt pick up tracking as quickly as a scenthound?
Note: These are just generalisations, I understand that each individual within each breed is different
I have worked with dogs from each group, I love the differences and the variety 
Hi, lexi is back, my person Laura took over a bit there
I love all dogs thart will play with me, I’m learning to not harass the ones that don’t :p
Flappy Ears,
Lexi