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These gentle giants may spend the majority of their day sleeping, but in between zoomies it’s a good idea to have some Dane-friendly toys ready.
Regardless of whether or not your Great Dane is a big chewer, they have very strong teeth and jaws that can quickly destroy the average dog toy. We learned this the hard way by going through toy after toy with our first Great Dane until we found some that withstood the test of time and play!
While your Great Dane is young, it’s good to experiment with different types of toys. Experiment with various types of hard bones and other chew toys, as well as the soft plush variety.
While soft plush ones may not always last as long, some Great Danes love them. Especially so while going through teething periods.
Finding a good set of toys that your Great Dane enjoys not only makes life more enjoyable for them but is also a great way to burn off extra energy.
This is especially helpful for alleviating/preventing separation anxiety when left home alone. In addition to their added toughness, a good toy for Great Danes is also physically larger in size.
- Kong Classic dog toy
- Chuckit! Kick Fetch Toy Ball
- Antlers
- Nylabone Dura Chew
- Chuckit! Dog Ball Launcher
- Kong Floppy Knots
- Kong Cozies Plush Toy
- Interactive Toys
Our Favorite Toys!
Kong Classic Dog Toy (XXL)
In my experience, the Kong classic dog toy takes the cake for the most indestructible dog toy ever built! It has been around for over 40 years, and its tough natural rubber construction holds up to even the most persistent of chewers.
Give it a toss and watch your Great Dane have fun running it down thanks to the erratic bounces caused by its oblong shape.
Last but not least, you can place a hunk of peanut butter on the inside. This not only provides your dog with a treat but requires a bit of mental stimulation to retrieve it.
Note: We recommend going for the XXL version as it’s sized for dogs 85 pounds and up, but feel free to get a smaller version if your dog is still a puppy.
Chuckit! Kick Fetch Toy Ball
It should come as no surprise that a giant dog wants a giant ball right?! We figured this out after our Great Dane kept chasing down soccer balls at the park!
After getting her a couple of her own soccer balls, we realized to our dismay that she could pop them in a single play session!
It looked like we were out of luck until we discovered the Chuckit! Kick Fetch ball. Its durability and large size make it a perfect fit for a Great Dane.
Better yet, you’ll find that in the process of throwing, kicking, and punting this ball around for your dog to chase that you sneak in some exercise of your own 😉
Antlers!
For persistent chewers, antlers provide a wonderful outlet without the need to constantly replace them like bully sticks or other chews. They are extremely durable and can last for months depending on how often your dog is chewing on them.
Compared to processed bones, whole
If you care about quality, it’s hard to argue with
These elk antlers are all-natural, come in XXL sizes perfect for giant breeds, and are sourced in the USA.
In addition to their extreme durability, they don’t come with the added worry of rawhide bones (link to AKC article with more detail on this topic).
Rawhides are a less-than-ideal choice for several reasons:
- Rawhides are made with leftovers from the meat industry and often with questionable ingredients and processing
- Large chunks of rawhide swallowed can cause choking and internal blockages
- Bacterial contamination and gastric irritation
Nylabone Dura Chew Textured Dog Chew, X-Large
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They also come with the added benefit of having raised ridges that help to clean your dog’s teeth. Last but not least, they come in a variety of flavors to keep your dog interested and are manufactured in the United States.
Chuckit! Dog Ball Launcher
What dog doesn’t love a good play session of fetch? This nifty little ball launcher takes fetch to a whole new level as you’re able to heave a ball 2-3 times further than by hand alone. Add in its lightweight and portability, and it’s a match made in heaven to tire out Fido.
While we love this launcher, its one downside is that it does come with a flimsy ball. Depending on how much your Great Dane likes to chew, the original ball may not last very long.
We were quick to replace it with the Chuckit! Ultra ball. This tough little ball lasts much longer and is also very bouncy making it fun all-around ball to throw for your Dane.
KONG Floppy Knots Dog Toy (Medium/Large )
While many Great Danes love soft toys, they, unfortunately, don’t last very long. The best middle ground that we’ve found is the Kong floppy knots dog toy.
They have no internal stuffing to prevent accidental ingestion and future messes but are tough enough to withstand some rough play. The varied textures and squeakers are guaranteed to provide hours of fun for your Great Dane 😉
As with their classic dog toy, Kong was kind enough to create a big dog version!
KONG Cozies Plush Toy
If you’re looking for a true plush toy, then I’d recommend sticking to a tried and true brand like KONG. They make all-around great toys and this line is no different.
These cuddly plush toys are created with extra layers to help them last longer and come in ten different cuteness-overloaded characters.
They also come with minimal filling to prevent future messes and a squeak to the entire play. Stick to the XL version and your Great Dane is bound to love it!
After the Cozies, I’d recommend simply buying plush toys as they come on sale at your local pet store. At least that way you won’t be spending a small fortune each time they destroy a cute plush toy!
Interactive Toys
Interactive toys are a fantastic way to keep your dog interested. Mental engagement is not only good for them but can help to burn off a surprising amount of energy.
Rather than placing an emphasis on food, this particular interactive toy from Outward Hound creates a game of hide and seek to entertain your Dane! Its bigger size also makes it great for large dogs such as Great Danes.
Click here to check its current price at Amazon.com.
While this article covers the best toys for Great Danes, we’ve got a similar article that covers toys for $5 or less! This is great when you’re trying to stick to a budget 🙂
The Great Dane Puppy Handbook takes all of the need-to-know Great Dane info and packages it together into a single, concise resource. Save yourself time, money, and frustration by avoiding the most common mistakes made by Great Dane owners!
Do you have a lot of questions about caring for your Great Dane? If so, you’re not alone. After answering hundreds of repeat questions for other Great Dane owners over the last several years, we took all of these details and compiled them into The Great Dane Puppy Handbook. It is THE resource to guide you through the stressful times of caring for your dog and leave you feeling calm and confident!
Any house breaking tips??
I have 2 big babies. My tips are take them out as soon as they are done eating, sleeping, and playing. Praise them when they “go”! We had a few accidents but only maybe a handful. Good luck!
Always take them out the same door. We have 2 doors leading to the back yard and our dane was confused over which door was the “potty” door. After we stuck to the same door for a week she had it down pat!
Hang bells on the door knob so they have a signal you can both hear – my puppy got excited she could tell us and wait by the door for us to let her out.
Same here. Our 6 month old big pup sits by the same door and let’s us know she needs to go other than the normal trips. Only issue so far is when it rains. She actually loves water! But when it rains she prefers to go inside. Extra large dogs = extra large messes! We are still figuring it out! She def does better with positive praise versus a “bad girl” response. They are so smart and already know what they’ve done is “bad”. Huge thanks on the toy info! She loves the ChuckIT glow in the dark ball. Has not been able to destroy it yet. Helpful with the earlier darker evenings. Con = It can roll under furniture easily so we are going to purchase a bigger one.
I bought a doorbell button and placed it by the door.. it took ONE day for my Dane to learn..
I got a large plush from the pet store, removed the stuffing and put two of the rubber squeak piggies that you can find in almost any Walmart. Then I took some heavy duty thread and did my best impression of sewing it back together. My dane loves it and, although it looks ratty, generally tries to find it and squeak it once or twice a day.