• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
SK Logo

Scout Knows

Knowledge for Great Dog Parents

  • Getting a Dog
  • Puppies
  • Behavior & Training
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Dog Food
  • Dog Gear
  • Insurance
  • About Us
  • Getting a Dog
  • Behavior & Training
  • Health
  • Puppies
  • Lifestyle
Home > Gear > Toys > Best Dog Toys For A Great Dane

Best Dog Toys For A Great Dane

By Sonal Panse Leave a Comment
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

Pin
Share1
Tweet
1 Shares

Most dogs love to play and Great Danes are no exception. Many of them retain their goofy, puppy-like traits well into adulthood, and if you don’t get them some toys of their own, you might well find them improvising with your household items. 

Given their size and strength, Great Danes are capable of creating mayhem, so you will be better off providing them with a collection of dog toys instead. Keep in mind though that the best toys for Great Danes should be ones that can withstand plenty of rough handling. Look for toys made for large dogs as these toys will be made of sturdier materials. Some of them will be touted as ‘indestructible’, but this may be more of a marketing ploy than an actual possibility. No toy is likely to remain indestructible when confronted with an enthusiastic Great Dane, but they will give your pet a good deal of enjoyment before departing for Toyland.

Here is one toy you might like to get for your Great Dane:

Scout’s Pick





KONG Wild Knots Squeaker Bears for Dogs, Medium/Large, Colors Vary


Buy from Amazon

What This Article Covers

  • Specific Considerations Regarding Great Danes
  • Great Dane Size
  • Health Concerns Of Great Danes
  • Importance Of Play For Great Danes
  • Best Toys For Great Danes
  • Interesting Dog Toys For Great Danes
    • Related Posts

Specific Considerations Regarding Great Danes

Great Danes were originally bred for hunting, but these days you are more likely to find them lying on your couch, dreaming of the hunt. They are family-oriented dogs, with affectionate and kindly dispositions. They will try to climb into your lap long after they have grown to their full size and will subject you to a full face licking and full body tail whip if you protest. 

The friendliness can get overwhelming at times, but they are loyal companions and won’t hesitate in participating in all your activities. Cancel entering a triathlon together though. Despite their muscular appearances, Great Danes are not great athletes with enduring stamina, and you don’t want to have to cross the finish line carrying their load on your back. These dogs need to get sufficient rest between their bursts of activity.

Great Dane Size

Great Danes are giant dogs and require sufficient space to live and play in. If you live in a tiny apartment, this breed may not be for you. It could get problematic having the dog knock off things left and right as they try to move about, turn around, or wag their tails, and their rambunctious moments and their resounding barking could get you in the hot water with the neighbors. 

A lack of sufficient space can get frustrating for the Great Danes themselves. Imagine having to live in a constrained way, fearful that you will get reprimanded if you move. Over time, the frustration could manifest itself in an aggressive dog or a dog with a destructive streak. Keep this in mind if you are yet to get a Great Dane and do what is best for the dog. These dogs will be happier in a big house with a spacious yard where they can roam to their heart’s content, without running into obstacles, knocking things over or having people complain about them. However, if you are a proud gardener you may need to supervise their outdoor activities and be at hand to stop them before they dig up your plants and create craters everywhere.

Health Concerns Of Great Danes

Great Danes are prone to many health problems like bloat, cardiomyopathy, hip dysplasia, arthritis, hypertrophic osteodystrophy, and cancer. Some of these can be avoided or managed to an extent with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Pet parents should research foods that will be the most nutritious and easily digestible for their Great Dane, and make sure that their pet eats enough to retain the breed’s sleek, muscular appearance, without becoming underweight or overweight. 

Exercise your dog every day to keep them mentally and physically fit, but do take their age and health into consideration. It is best to not subject Great Danes puppies to too much exercise, as this can stress and harm their developing joints. Older Great Danes may suffer from joint health issues and a mild to moderate exercise will benefit them more.

Great_Dane

Importance Of Play For Great Danes

Play is important for both puppies and adult dogs as it is a fun activity and relieves stress. It is also a good way of bonding with your pet and establishing a trusting relationship. Don’t get carried away though, and keep your Great Dane’s size in mind. A playful thwack from a Great Dane will feel a lot different from one from a Bichon Frise, and a Toy Poodle trying to wrap their paws about your waist will be easier to tolerate than a Great Dane weighing down on your shoulders and panting in your face. 

Many Great Danes seem to have little to no awareness of how large they are and how their size and weight affects others, so it will be up to you to train your pet from an early age to respect personal boundaries. Don’t let your Great Dane get away with the idea that knocking over people is a fun pastime. What may seem amusing in a puppy could lead to tragedy with a full-grown dog.

Best Toys For Great Danes

Great Danes can be lively dogs, and most of them will take to toys with glee and gusto. With so many toys available though, which should you get for your dog? Pet parents are often tempted to buy everything they like, but it is a better idea to take your Great Dane’s character into consideration when getting them toys. What is your dog like? A happy-go-lucky extrovert or shy and retiring? What does your pet like to do best? Be active outdoors, or slumber all day on the sofa? If you are the proud pet parent of the couch potato, it won’t make sense to get a Frisbee or a ball. They’re just not going to rise and chase and fetch, no matter with how much enthusiasm you do the tossing and throwing.

If your pet loves being outdoors, get them a ball to chase after or a Frisbee to catch. Just remember to get larger sized balls that they won’t accidentally swallow. Tug ropes are also good, but do yourself a favor and don’t get overly competitive about pitting your strength against your Great Dane’s. Try not to mind too much when the puppy gets the upper paw.

Great Danes will also enjoy a good chew toy that they can gnaw on for hours on end. Some manufacturers claim that their chew toys will also be great for maintaining canine teeth, but it might be best to treat these claims with caution. A good diet and regular dental care are more likely to keep your pet’s teeth in good condition. For information of how to maintain canine dental hygiene, please check out these articles on ScoutKnows:

Inside a Dog’s Mouth: Putting the Hygiene Rumor to the Rest

Doggie Dental: Homemade Toothpaste & Maintaining Teeth at Home

Doggy Dental Care

Pick toys made of safe materials that won’t be potentially harmful to your dog, and avoid flimsy toys that your Great Dane can take apart in minutes. You don’t want your pet swallowing things they shouldn’t be swallowing. If you need help with selecting a chew toy, you might like to check out these two articles about dog chews toys here on ScoutKnows:

Most Indestructible Dog Chew Toys

18 Best Teething Toys for Your Puppy

Many Great Danes seem to love squeaky stuffed toys and will entertain themselves all day by getting the toy to squeak. It can be an endearing sight, watching your gentle giant attempting to get a squeak out of a plush toy. If the noise annoys you, instead of depriving your Great Dane, please consider investing in noise-cancelling earphones for yourself. You will need to replace the squeaky toys frequently as an enthusiastic Great Dane can demolish them with little effort.

You can also foster your Great Dane’s intellectual abilities with interactive dog toys. These are toys that encourage your dog to think and figure out how to move knobs, panels, or flaps to get access to hidden treats. Large-sized kongs that can be filled up with your pet’s favorite goodies are also great for keeping your pet occupied and entertained.

You can also make home-made toys by stuffing newspaper into old socks and knotting the ends to make stuffed toys and repurposing old plastic bottles and plates as throw toys.

The best toys for Great Danes are the ones that will thrill and engage your particular puppy, and will be able to withstand a great deal of mauling.

Interesting Dog Toys For Great Danes





Goughnuts – Indestructible Chew Toy MAXX Power – Black Stick


Buy from Amazon





Rocco & Roxie Dog Toys Balls – Tough Nearly Indestructible Toy for All But the Most Aggressive Chewers – 2 Ball Sizes for Large and Small Dogs – Made in USA (Powder Blue 4 inch ball)


Buy from Amazon





OurPets IQ Treat Ball Interactive Food Dispensing Dog Toy , Assorted Colors


Buy from Amazon





JW Pet Company Hol-ee Roller X Extreme 5 Dog Toy, 5-Inches (Colors Vary)


Buy from Amazon





KONG Extreme Dog Toy, X-Large, Black


Buy from Amazon





Kong Rubber Flyer, Large, Red


Buy from Amazon





Premium Elk Antlers for Dogs by Doggie Dealz | All Natural Antler Dog Chew for Extra Large Dogs | Organic, Healthy & Long Lasting Dog Treat | Wild Sourced in the USA (Whole, Extra Large 9″-11″)


Buy from Amazon





TireBiters Large Chew Toy, Black, 10-Inch


Buy from Amazon





KONG Jumbler Ball Toy, Large/X-Large (colors may vary)


Buy from Amazon

Great_Dane_Ball

As you see, there are a variety of dog toys that you can buy for your pet. Consider your Great Dane’s personality before making your purchase and try to find toys that won’t come apart too easily. Bear in mind though that there is no such thing as an ‘indestructible toy’, whatever a manufacturer may claim. An inventive and determined Great Dane will always find a way to take a toy apart. The most you can do is get a toy that will take days to be destroyed, instead of mere minutes, and which is made of safe materials that won’t be potentially harmful to your pal.

Pin
Share1
Tweet
1 Shares

Related Posts

  • Best Dog Bed for a Great Dane

    Considerations for Great DanesGreat Danes are giant dogs and they need a big, tough bed.…

  • Best Harness for Great Danes

    If you have a large dog like a Great Dane, you will probably be glad…

  • Best Food for Great Dane Puppies

    Great Danes grow up to be one of the largest breeds of dogs in the…

Filed Under: Toys

Leave a Reply

avatar
This comment form is under antispam protection
avatar
This comment form is under antispam protection
  Subscribe  
Notify of

Primary Sidebar

About Scout Knows

Scout Knows is a complete guide for dog parents, providing expert advice and reviews to the many challenges and products dog parents face and consider.

Scout Knows is a publication of Pet Parents Media. Read more about us.

chewy

Footer

Categories

  • Health
  • Getting a Dog
  • Lifestyle
  • Behavior & Training
  • Puppies
  • Food
  • Gear
  • Insurance

Resources

  • About Scout Knows
  • Contact

Copyright © 2019 Scout Knows · Pet Parents Media LLC
Made with in Seattle

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Contact
wpDiscuz