Category: Puppy Biting

Great Dane Puppy Care 101
Welcoming a Great Dane puppy into your life is an exciting and heartwarming experience!

These gentle giants are known for their immense size, affectionate nature, and unwavering loyalty. However, as with any new addition to your family, caring for a Great Dane puppy requires knowledge, patience, and dedication. In this comprehensive guide, “Great Dane Puppy Care 101,” we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to ensure your Great Dane puppy grows into a happy, healthy, and well-adjusted adult.

From nutrition and socialization to training tips and healthcare essentials, this article will equip you with the knowledge and tools to provide the best possible start in life for your furry companion. So, let’s embark on this incredible journey of puppy parenthood together and make sure your Great Dane puppy thrives every step of the way.

Great Dane Puppy Care 101

Taking care of a Great Dane puppy involves five key elements for their well-being and happiness.
- Nutrition
- Socialization
- Training
- Exercise
- Veterinary Care
Providing a balanced and high-quality diet tailored to their specific needs is crucial to support their rapid growth. Equally important is socialization, as early exposure to different people, animals, and environments helps them develop into well-adjusted and confident adults. Adequate exercise is another vital component, as Great Danes are active dogs that require daily physical activity to maintain their health and prevent boredom-related issues.

Training plays a pivotal role in shaping their behavior and obedience. Consistent and positive reinforcement-based training methods help ensure that your Great Dane puppy grows into a well-behaved and respectful companion. Lastly, regular veterinary care is imperative for their overall health. Routine check-ups, vaccinations, and preventive measures are essential to catch and address any health concerns early on, ensuring a long and happy life for your Great Dane puppy.

Let’s dig into each of these topics below!

What to Feed a Great Dane Puppy

Choosing the right puppy food for your Great Dane is a crucial decision that can significantly impact their health and development.

When it comes to large or giant breed puppies like Great Danes, it’s important to focus on nutrition tailored to their specific needs. Look for puppy food formulas designed explicitly for large and giant breeds.

Yes, I said puppy food! You may have heard from other puppy owners or even your breeder that you should feed your new Great Dane puppy adult food. This is an outdated practice and no longer considered the gold standard of care!

A properly formulated large or giant breed puppy food will typically have controlled levels of calcium and phosphorus to support slow and steady bone growth, reducing the risk of skeletal issues that can be common in rapidly growing puppies.

Additionally, ensure the food contains high-quality protein sources to aid in muscle development. Consult with your veterinarian to select a brand and formula that meets your Great Dane puppy’s unique dietary requirements.

Our opinion mirrors that of board-certified veterinary nutritionists, who say that the following formulas are ideal for all Dane puppies under the age of two:
- Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy – any flavor!
- Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Large Breed puppy – TOP PICK, salmon-based
- Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy (Great for active and sporting dogs)
- Purina One Large Breed Puppy (Excellent budget option)
- Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed
- Royal Canin Giant Puppy Dry Dog food (to age 12 months) – TOP PICK, PREMIUM OPTION
- Royal Canin Giant Junior Dry Dog food (8-24 months)
- Purina Large Breed Puppy Chow
Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

How to Train a Great Dane Puppy

Training a Great Dane puppy is a rewarding journey that requires patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement. It’s also really, really important! The last thing you want is a giant breed dog taking YOU for a walk.

Begin with basic obedience commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “come” in a controlled, distraction-free environment. Use treats and praise as rewards to reinforce desired behaviors. Practice these behaviors several times a day, especially at first, in a variety of locations. Puppies thrive on repetition!

For leash training, start with short walks to get your puppy used to the leash and gradually increase the distance. Encourage loose leash walking by stopping and changing direction when they pull, rewarding them when they walk calmly by your side.

Off-leash training can be challenging for large breeds like Great Danes, but it’s essential for their safety and well-being. Start in a secure, fenced area (or use a long leash, like this one) and practice recall commands like “come.”

Gradually increase the distance and practice in different environments with varying levels of distractions. Never scold your puppy for failing to come to you, and always make coming to you a positive experience.

Remember that Great Dane Puppies BITE! This is a normal, playful behavior that usually results from excitement. When your puppy gets too amped up, cross your arms, SIGH, and walk away. This teaches your puppy that you will disengage if they become rude with their teeth; they will learn (with repetition), to chill out.

To take your training to the next level and ensure your Great Dane is a well-behaved canine citizen, consider pursuing the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title. This program evaluates a dog’s obedience and temperament, including behaviors like sitting politely for petting and walking calmly on a leash. Earning a CGC title not only showcases your Great Dane’s training and good manners but also demonstrates your commitment to responsible dog ownership. Remember that consistency, positive reinforcement, and patience are the keys to successfully training your Great Dane puppy.

How Much Exercise Should a Great Dane Puppy Get?

Exercising a Great Dane puppy requires a delicate balance due to their rapid growth and susceptibility to bone and joint issues.

While they are a large breed known for their energy, it’s crucial to avoid excessive forced exercise during their puppyhood. Examples of something to avoid include long leashed walks on hard pavement, or super long hikes that result in pure exhaustion.

Generally, Great Dane puppies should have short, controlled play sessions and moderate walks. Most of their movement should actually come from free play on soft, varied terrain!

A rule of thumb is 5 minutes of exercise per month of age, up to a maximum of 20-30 minutes for young puppies (for leashed walks and hikes). Focus instead on low-impact activities to protect their developing joints, like interactive play and exploration of various textures (which doubles as socialization).

Swimming is an excellent option as it provides exercise without putting stress on their limbs. Consulting with a veterinarian or canine specialist can help you tailor an appropriate exercise regimen for your Great Dane puppy based on their individual needs and growth rate. Remember, the goal is to ensure their physical development is gradual and healthy.

Veterinary Care for Great Dane Puppies

Veterinary care for Great Dane puppies is a critical component of their overall well-being. We believe in and trust science and veterinarians!

These large breed puppies are more susceptible to certain health issues, making regular check-ups and vaccinations crucial. Start with a comprehensive wellness exam shortly after bringing your Great Dane puppy home, and follow a recommended vaccination schedule to protect them from diseases like parvovirus and distemper.

Given their size, it’s important to monitor their growth and development, ensuring they’re growing at an appropriate rate to avoid skeletal issues. Great Dane puppies should be grown slowly!

Regular check-ups also allow the vet to address any concerns early on. Discuss a proper nutrition plan with your veterinarian to support your puppy’s unique dietary needs during their rapid growth phase. Additionally, consider discussing preventive measures such as flea and tick control and heartworm prevention.

Veterinary care is not only about treating illness but also about proactive health management to ensure a long, healthy, and happy life for your Great Dane puppy.

Great Dane Puppies are Easy to Care For

Caring for Great Dane puppies is both a rewarding and responsible undertaking.

These gentle giants require specialized attention to ensure their health, happiness, and well-being. From choosing the right nutrition and providing early socialization to maintaining a balanced exercise routine, proper training, and regular veterinary care, each aspect of their care is essential in fostering a thriving companion.

Great Dane puppies may be large, but they’re also known for their boundless love and loyalty, making the effort to raise them well truly worthwhile. By dedicating time and effort to their upbringing, you not only nurture a strong bond but also help them grow into the well-behaved and content adults that this remarkable breed is known to be. Enjoy your puppy and have fun!
September 27, 2023
Are Great Danes Good with Kids?
Are you wondering if Great Danes are good with kids and babies?

They are MASSIVE dogs, but are they really gentle with children?

We believe that Great Danes make great pets for families with children, but you might want to learn a bit about this huge dog breed before committing.

They are gentle giants and love to play and cuddle, chase, run, zoomie, and…steal kids’ stuffies.

In this blog post, we will discuss the temperament of Great Danes and whether or not they are good with kids and babies.

We will also provide some tips on how to raise a Great Dane if you do decide to get one!

Are Great Danes Good with Kids and Babies?

Let’s dig in! We’ve included a helpful table of contents below:

All About Great Danes

If you are new to Great Danes, you might be wondering what they are all about.

This breed is loyal, loving, and protective of its family. Danes are an affectionate breed that is also very intelligent.

Many people believe Danes are couch potatoes. This is a myth! A lot of Great Danes are actually very active, athletic dogs. What they DO have, however, is an off-switch!

When they aren’t running and playing, they love to lounge and keep the couch (and your lap) warm.

Great Dane Temperament

You may have heard from others that Great Danes are timid, aggressive, shy, or scared of everything.

This is simply not true!

Great Danes are gentle giants who love nothing more than to cuddle with their humans. They are also playful and silly and will make you laugh on a daily basis.

The Great Dane is an intelligent, gentle, breed and they can be easy to train if you start young and help them understand proper behavior.

The written breed standard for Great Danes states that they should be “friendly and courageous’.

The truth is that a timid, aggressive, fearful or overly anxious Great Dane is not normal. We’re providing resources below on how to find a Great Dane that will be a great fit for your family!

How Long do Great Danes Live?

How do I Potty Train a Dane Puppy?

Rescue or Breeder? What’s best for me?

THE HELLO DANES GREAT DANE PUPPY RESOURCE PAGE

Everything you need to know! ↗

Great Dane Size

Great Danes are the tallest of all dog breeds, and they are also one of the heaviest.

Males can weigh up to 175 pounds (79 kg) and females can weigh up to 150 pounds (68 kg).

Their height ranges from 28-34 inches (71-86 cm), with males being taller, averaging as tall as 37″ at the shoulder!

Because they are so big, it is important to work on obedience training so that your new Great Dane and your kids can interact safely. There is nothing worse than having a human-sized dog pull on the lead or jump on guests (or your kids)!

Danes are highly intelligent dogs that thrive on human interaction. Well-bred, well-socialized, and well-trained Great Danes generally love being around young children and will be calm, friendly, and tolerant.

We’ve included Dane puppy training tips below so that you can raise a good family dog that is loved by everybody in the house, including the young kids.

Don’t be afraid of their size, Great Danes truly are gentle giants.

How to teach a Great Dane to Walk on a Leash

The Best Toys for Great Danes

The Hardest Part About Potty Training Puppies

Finding a Great Dane for your Family

Finding the right dog for your family may take some time and effort on your part. It’s important that you do your research to find a reputable breeder who health tests their dogs and raises them in a loving home environment.

We’ve put together some tips on what to look for when choosing a Great Dane puppy that will be a good fit for your family.

Choosing an ethical breeder

If you are looking for a Great Dane puppy to add to your family, choosing the right breeder can mean the difference between an excellent family pet and a nightmare.

A well-bred Great Dane puppy will be confident, friendly, calm, mature, and easy to train.

A poorly-bred Great Dane puppy will be timid, nippy, destructive, anxious, and riddled with health problems.

Choose a breeder that meets the following criteria, with no exceptions:
- Full health testing of both parents, including heart, hips, eyes, and thyroid. Verify this at www.ofa.org (Pro Tip: MOST breeders will fail at this key point!)
- Keeps puppies with litter mates until 8-10 weeks of age and utilizes ENS and puppy culture to socialize them
- Has excellent parents who are beautifully structured and proven in dog shows, obedience/training, or therapy work
- Will support you and your puppy for the life of the dog
- Raises the puppies around other animals, children, etc. Not in a barn or on a tile floor with no interaction outside of that.
Choosing a rescue Dane

If you want to skip the puppy phase, consider adopting an adult Great Dane dog!

There are many great family dogs of all ages in need of homes, and reputable rescues will be focused on finding you the right fit.

When adopting a Dane, look for a rescue that:

Takes the time to get to know you and your family before placing a dog with you.

Has resources to educate you with modern information about owning, loving, and caring for Great Danes, including proper training techniques, nutrition and more.

Will support you and your dog for the life of the dog, including if things don’t work out for some reason.

Reasons why a Dog Rescue may Deny Your Application

Anxiety and stress in Great Danes – What you Need to Know

Kids & Great Danes

As long as you have done your research and chosen the right Great Dane for your family, you will have a beautiful, loving, loyal companion for life!

Here are some tips to help get your kids and your new dog off on the right foot:

Introduce them slowly: When you first bring your new dog home (especially a young puppy), do NOT overwhelm it!

Many people introduce their new pup to their excited, jumping, screaming, hovering young children that want to pick the puppy up.

If you want your puppy to LOVE the kids (and this interaction is the first one that they have with children), you’ve already made a massive mistake.

Introduce your new dog to your kids in a calm, positive manner.

Teaching kids to be responsible with dogs

Most kids love dogs, but they also don’t know how to safely interact with them.

Did you know that most dog bites are from unsupervised interactions between kids and a loved family pet?

www.stopthe77.com is a great resource for learning more about this.

We aren’t here to scare you, but you should know why this happens and how to prevent dog bites. Most Great Danes are exceptionally tolerant and gentle, however, they can still accidentally hurt a child.

Your children’s safety matters most.

It’s so important to teach your kids how to be safe around dogs, even if the dog is a family member. It’s also important to understand dog body language, so you can intervene before anything bad happens!

All about Great Danes & Kids Together

What to Feed a Great Dane Puppy

A Guide to Bringing your New Puppy Home

Here are some tips on keeping your kids safe around dogs:
- Teach your children to never sit on, lay on, or climb on your Great Dane. While this may be cute, it can be harmful to your dog and may result in growling, nipping, snapping, and even bites.
- Make sure your kids never take food, bones, or toys from the dog. They should not be playing in the food bowl or trying to pet your puppy while your dog is eating.
- Do not allow your kids to approach a dog that is sleeping, as a startled dog may respond aggressively.
- Encourage your children to maintain a calm presence around dogs. Squealing, screaming, and throwing things can make puppies see them as a threat, or as if they are other dogs to play with and tackle.
Did you know that the idea of ‘nanny dogs’ is a myth?

While Great Danes are often gentle and loving with children, you still need to supervise when they are together.

‘Nanny Dogs’ is something of a marketing term, used to sell Great Danes (and other powerful breeds) to families with small children.

The bottom line is that all dogs are individuals. Some will be better with kids than others, and some will have zero patience for them.

It’s important that you do your research before getting any dog, especially if you have small children in the home!

Need ideas for healthy socialization?

Introducing a baby to a Great Dane

If you are bringing a baby home, it’s important to get your house (and your Great Dane) ready!

Make sure your Dane has a dedicated space to get away from loud noises (such as babies crying).

Put a plan in place to make sure that your dog receives enough exercise and enrichment during the first few weeks of having the baby home. You can hire a dog walker or ask a friend for help.

Before the baby comes home, play baby noises on your phone at low volume, and toss high-value treats on the ground.

Your dog will have a positive association with this sound by the time you bring the baby home!

When it comes time to introduce them to each other, keep your Great Dane on a leash and allow a quick sniff, then redirect, reward, and praise. Do not allow hovering, licking, pawing, or whining.

WHAT IS PUPPY CULTURE?

Is your breeder making confident puppies? ↗

Great Dane Puppy Training

It is important that you work on your puppy training from day one. Never let your new Great Dane practice behaviors that you don’t want to see when they weigh 140lbs!

This includes jumping, running away, chasing the kids, pulling on a leash, stealing, and counter surfing.

Remember that good training is 90% YES! If you are spending a lot of time shouting ‘NO’ or STOP’, think about how you can flip that around. Teach more YES behaviors.

Need a Great Dane T Shirt?

5 things all Great Dane puppies should know

We believe that for Great Danes and kids to coexist beautifully, it’s important the dog is taught a few key things. Great family pets are part genetics, part training. Unwanted behavior from large dogs can actually be dangerous!

A bored, under-enriched, poorly trained giant breed dog with pent-up energy will be difficult to live with, no matter what. So get out the treats and start working with your new pet.

We recommend teaching Great Danes from an early age, the following obedience commands:
- Down (so they don’t hover over and intimidate children)
- Leave it (so you can redirect them away from children, food, and toys)
- Off (so you can tell them to get OFF the couch of OFF your lap)
- Place (so they have a safe spot to go where they aren’t chasing your kids)
- Come (so they can be off-leash and enjoy family life with you)
The more time you can spend rewarding these behaviors, the more times your puppy will repeat them and respond enthusiastically to your commands.

This is how you create dependable dogs who love being with you and become incredible members of the family. It’s all about repetition, training, and positive socialization (check out our popular Great Dane socialization guide below).

5 Great Reasons to E-Collar Train your Great Dane

Canine Good Citizen Testing for Dane Puppies

5 Common Great Dane Puppy Training Mistakes

Crate Training for Great Danes

Crate training your Great Dane puppy means that your puppy will be given a safe, kid-free space and YOU will be given a safe, dog-free space, too!

Overtired puppies will chase, nip, and rough house with children. Positive crate training means that your puppy will have a place to be where everybody is calm and safe.

Not all dogs love the crate at first; we recommend starting slow and encouraging positive experiences in the crate. Never allow your new puppy to ‘cry it out’.

Truly calm dogs are secure and confident, not shut down and frustrated!

Do not let your puppy practice incorrect emotional behavior in the crate. Instead, take a step back and start with shorter, more rewards-focused training sessions.

The BEST Crates for Great Dane Puppies

Fast Potty Training Tips

How to Crate Train a Great Dane Puppy

Stop Puppy Biting

Great Dane puppy biting catches a lot of family members off guard.

They are so big and their mouths are so BIG!

The first thing to remember is that puppies bite. It is developmentally appropriate for them as they are teething and exploring the world with their mouths.

That being said, there are things we can do to help redirect this behavior:

Encourage your puppy to nap! Over-tired puppies tend to roughhouse and become inconsolably wild. See above where we talk about dog crate training; this is a major reason why!

Make sure your puppy is getting enough calm socialization, exercise, and mental stimulation throughout the day.

Provide your puppy with age-appropriate chew toys and bones. This will help redirect their need to mouth on you and your clothes.

Be consistent with rules and boundaries. Keep your puppy on a leash and redirect them away from puppy biting and playing rough.

Teach your children (and yourself) to cross your arms, sigh, turn your back, and WALK AWAY from a wild nippy Great Dane puppy!

The puppy will quickly learn that the biting game means nobody wants to play with them, and the behavior will go away.

How to Stop Great Dane Puppy Biting

Get a FREE Jolly Ball with the purchase of a Big Barker bed.

Teach your puppy to stop chasing kids

Great Danes make excellent family dogs but you have to get past the rough play stage.

While your kids play in the yard, you may find that your puppy wants to chase, nip and jump on them. A puppy must be taught how to behave properly in this situation, as large dogs like this can accidentally hurt children (without meaning to).

We recommend that you keep your puppy on a leash while they are outside during training. This will help you to control them and stop them from chasing after your kids.

You should then use LOTS of positive reinforcement to reward calm behavior!

Practice releasing your puppy to play with the kids gently. As soon as rough play starts, say ‘uh-oh’ and bring your pup back to your side on a leash. After a few repetitions, most Great Dane puppies are smart enough to understand the rules.

THE HELLO DANES GREAT DANE PUPPY RESOURCE PAGE

Everything you need to know! ↗

Off-leash training for Great Danes

We recommend that all Great Danes be off-leash obedience trained.

Harnesses, collars, and long leashes can cause frustration or worse, orthopedic damage. A dog that is responsive off-leash will be safer on-leash, too! This kind of obedience will keep you, your kids, and your dogs safe.

When you E-Collar train your Great Dane puppy (don’t worry, it’s not a shock collar and we have TONS of resources for you) you won’t have to stress about the kids leaving a door or gate open.

Pulling on the leash, bolting out of doors, chasing after kids in the neighborhood, and jumping the fence will be a thing of the past!

Not to mention the fact that Great Dane dogs benefit greatly from being able to move and explore freely and naturally without physical restraint. 10/10, highly recommend.

Here are some additional resources on E-Collar training!

5 Reasons to E-Collar Train your Dog
6 E-Collar Training Myths BUSTED

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Do you like modern positive+balanced off-leash dog training, science-based information, life with Danes, educated ownership and chatting with other like-minded people?

Join our growing Facebook group!

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READ MORE:

What is the best leash for Great Danes?
July 16, 2022
5 Common Mistakes Made When Training Great Dane Puppies (and How to Avoid Them)
Raising a puppy can be a fun, joyous, and sometimes frustrating adventure. It’s important to avoid making common training mistakes when training Great Dane puppies.

If you’re not careful, you may end up with a giant disobedient dog that barks, pulls, and jumps on people! Don’t let their cute, snuggly little puppy bodies fool you; an untrained Great Dane is a dangerous animal and if you are reading this post, you probably need to start working on training yesterday.

In this blog post, we will discuss five common mistakes made when training Great Dane puppies (and how to avoid them). If you want to have a well-behaved dog, this is the place to be!

Mistakes Made When Training Great Dane Puppies

#1 – Waiting Too Long Before Training

One common mistake made when training Great Dane puppies is not starting early enough.

It’s important to begin training your puppy as soon as possible so that they can learn good habits from the start. If you wait too long to start training, your puppy may develop bad habits that will be difficult to break.

Training starts on day one. Fill your pocket with treats and remember that your puppy doesn’t know anything!

Don’t wait for training classes to start. Don’t wait until your puppy has had all of its shots. Don’t wait until bad habits have already set in!

If your breeder was reputable, he or she would have also established some early crate training, leash training, attention and bathroom habits.

Good training means using a lot of positive reinforcement to teach your puppy what behaviors are the most rewarding. By keeping your puppy close you can start teaching the basics such as:
- Go potty
- Sit
- Down
- Leave it
- Wait (at doors)
These are all simple and easy to teach and will help minimize the bad behaviors from popping up later!

#2 – Not Being Consistent with Dog Training

Another common mistake is not being consistent with training.

If you only train your puppy once in a while, they won’t learn as quickly or as effectively. It’s important to be consistent with training so that your puppy knows what is expected of them. Training doesn’t stop once your puppy has been through puppy classes!

Great Dane puppies benefit the most from 2-3 minute sessions, several times per day. It is also helpful to use a crate, gate, or leash to manage behavior (and keep your puppy from practicing the wrong thing!).

By establishing some boundaries and rules in your home (for example, NO running through doors!) you can maintain predictability and consistency for your dog which will pay off in the long run.

Use this time to teach the foundations of an off-leash heel, look at me, touch (my hand), sit, down and stay.
These sessions should be fun, short and full of rewards!

Here are some of our favorite Great Dane puppy training treats (click to view):

Code HELLODANES10 for 10% off all Dr. Harveys products

A lilac Fawn Great Dane Puppy

#3 – Relying on Force & Punishment in Training

Another common mistake is using too much force and punishment when training.

This can be counterproductive and cause your puppy to become scared or aggressive. It’s important to use positive reinforcement when training your puppy, such as praise and treats.

It is unfair to punish, scold, or correct a dog that doesn’t know what they should be doing instead.

We believe in balanced training (saying YES often and saying NO when appropriate) but we do not recommend using punitive, harsh, forceful, or aggressive training methods.

Spend more time saying ‘YES’ to your puppy than saying ‘NO’. If you find yourself constantly saying ‘NO’, your puppy needs more positive training, management and guidance from you.

#4 – Not Socializing Your Great Dane Puppy

A fourth common mistake is not socializing your puppy enough.

Socialization is important for Great Danes so that they can learn how to interact with other dogs and people. If you don’t socialize with your puppy, they may become shy or anxious around others.

Socialization means so much more than meeting people and dogs! It means taking your puppy to new places, exposing them to different sounds, sights, and tactile experiences while also teaching them how to behave in various situations.

Socialization means positive exposure to novel things. Flooding a puppy with rude people and dogs is not socialization.
Having fun exploring new textures, sights, smells and sounds, is.

A harlequin Great Dane puppy exploring a new environment

#5 – Avoiding Professional Help

Finally, a fifth common mistake is not seeking professional help when needed. Many people think they don’t need to take classes or get professional help because they’ve had dogs their whole lives.

If you’re having trouble training your puppy, don’t be afraid to seek out the help of a professional trainer. They can give you valuable advice and guidance on how to train your puppy effectively. For puppies that are doing well, a professional trainer can provide guidance so that together you can achieve even better obedience and training than you thought possible!

Many times, a ‘stubborn’ puppy is actually just confused!

We recommend finding a highly experienced positive trainer who uses balanced training methods (positive reinforcement + appropriate and fair corrections).

We recommend that all Great Danes be trained to a Canine Good Citizen level or better.
Sign up for classes beyond puppy 101 and keep going!
Having a well-behaved, polite, well-socialized dog is a joy.

Have Fun Training Your Great Dane!

Avoiding these five common mistakes will help you to raise a well-behaved and obedient Great Dane puppy.

With patience and consistency, you can train your puppy to be a well-mannered, polite, calm dog that you can be proud of.
March 17, 2022
What to Expect When You Bring a Great Dane Puppy Home
Knowing what to expect with a Great Dane puppy is near to impossible!

There is almost nothing more special (and unpredictable) than a Great Dane puppy! There is this insane time where your new puppy seems to grow right in front of your eyes.

Since we’ve recently been through the crazy new dane puppy phase, we thought it would be a great time to talk about what to expect when you bring a Great Dane puppy home!

Great Dane Puppy Growth Chart
Puppy Socialization Guide
Is My Great Dane Puppy Knuckling?
How to Prevent Knuckling in Great Dane Puppies
Is My Great Dane Puppy Too Small?
Great Dane Puppy Growth Chart
Is My Puppy Too Skinny?

GREAT DANE PUPPIES ARE INFANTS

When you bring a Great Dane puppy into your home, you are literally bringing an infant to the family!

They know absolutely nothing.

What they DO know is that:
- They are hungry
- They can squat and pee comes out
- You are warm
- Biting is fun
- The big dog they saw was scary
- They can squat and more pee comes out
- They are still hungry
- Your food smells good
- Did I mention that they squat and pee comes out?
What they DO NOT know is that:
- Shoes are not chew toys
- Water bowls should not be tipped over
- Obedience training is not a game
- The house does not actually belong to them
- Dog food is not at their disposal whenever they want
- Eating the couch / wall / blankets / etc. is not allowed
- Peeing in the living area isn’t fun or funny
- Their collar won’t hurt them
- Naughty behavior isn’t their full time job
As you can see- teeny puppies are FULL of behavioral problems that when you really get to thinking about it– are not actually problems at all.

More simply, it’s just a puppy dane in a new environment where every single turn down a new hallway is a whole new world.

Keeping this perspective with your little dane will help you gain empathy, be more prepared, and grow your Great Dane puppy into a strong and confident adult Great Dane.

THE FIRST NIGHT

The first night the puppy is either going to sleep well and TRICK you into thinking they are perfect, or they are going to cry and cry and cry.

Either way, just know that they are likely NOT going to be good sleepers for quite some time.

If you think bringing home a dane puppy is stressful for you and your family, just try putting yourself in their paws.

They’ve left their mom, pack, and previous house / life. Their breeder whom raised them said goodbye, and to them, that was their safe place.

So, get ready to spend time creating a bond and relationship that begins this first night and transpires over the course of your Great Danes life.

Also- keep in mind- this phase moves FAST! Before you know it, your pup is going to be HUGE!

WHO IS THE BIGGEST GREAT DANE?

What To Do The First Night With Your New Puppy:

Make sure they have warm bedding, a full tummy, and your comfort. Touch their crate, sleep near them until they learn that this new place isn’t so scary after all. Remember, less than 24 hours ago your puppy was cuddled up with littermates!

Don’t have a crate yet? You’re going to want one! Crates can help with managing behaviors (peeing, chewing, biting) and give your pup a calm space to lay down and nap.

We’ve included a link to a helpful article for you, How to Crate Train a Great Dane Puppy the right way!

Shop for the best crate for Great Danes on Amazon

PEE & POOP EVERYWHERE

We hope you are aren’t too attached to your carpet, because that puppy is going to find a way to pee on it whether you like it or not.

Great Dane Farts: A Compilation of the Best Farts on the Internet

These little guys have absolutely NO knowledge of their bladder and no control at all. They have to pee and it just happens. Same deal with poop.

Poop Bags

PRO TIP: turn the auto-schedule off on your robot vacuum. Can we say ‘poop painting’?

Don’t expect consistency and reliability with potty training until at least 4-5 months of age, and that’s only if you have been diligent with training and management.

And yes, they do pee when they get excited.

When potty training, be prepared to be VERY consistent with frequent bathroom breaks (and I mean VERY frequent). For the first week, it is significantly better if you do not have to leave your dane alone at the house and are able to let them potty as often as every 20 minutes.

In the long run, this intensive training upfront will help you set up a solid foundation for your Great Dane.

Cleaning Supplies

Remember all of that pee and poop? You’re likely going to need some cleaning supplies on hand to take care of that. Waste bags, odor eliminator, and some toxin free basic cleaning items are nice to keep on hand when bringing home a puppy.

All dogs are very messy- but a puppy is often outlandishly so.

Just gear up to spend about 50% of your life cleaning up after your dane puppy- but don’t worry, the bigger they get they tend to get less messy. Just kidding of course, Great Danes are pretty much ALWAYS a mess!

Natures Miracle Stain and Odor Remover

NEEDLES FOR TEETH

Puppy teeth are SHARP! If you’ve never been around a dane puppy, you might want to plan ahead and buy some bandaids.

Imagine owning a shark with a mouth full of needles that wants nothing more than to BITE YOU.

Welcome to the world of having a Great Dane puppy!

Biting is VERY normal for any puppy of any breed. It is not ‘aggressive’ behavior, it does not mean that your puppy is ‘bad’. Normally, your puppy either has a painful mouth from teething, etc. or they are just simply trying to play.

How to Stop Puppy Biting

To work on stopping the bite, provide plenty of strong toys for your puppy. Giving your dog lots of exercise and mental engagement can also help them to feel fulfilled in other areas and not feel the need to bite everything else in the house- including yourself!

Tips for Stopping Your Great Dane Puppy from Biting:
1. Keep as many chew proof dog toys in the house
2. Exercise your dane puppy often
3. Get mental brain games and toys for your dane
4. Feed your dane with a slow feeder or puzzle
5. Keep baby gates up around children or small kids
6. Get started with training early and practice obedience skills continually with puppies
Read our ‘How to stop puppy biting’ article here.

START SAYING NO

Pet owners, get ready to SAY NO! But, not to your dane puppy. To the humans!

Everybody is going to want to love on the puppy and meet him or her. Make sure you don’t overwhelm your new puppy with too many sights, sounds and experiences! They need lots and lots of sleep and lots of time to learn your routine.

You do NOT need to rush to the dog park for fear that your Great Dane will be scared of other pets or ‘unsocialized’.

Should I Take My Great Dane to the Dog Park?

Try taking your puppy on a walk: INSIDE YOUR HOUSE! Practice using the leash and gearing up for the big day when you take them on leash for a real walk outside (which should be done shortly after bringing your dog home).

Tips for Leash Training Great Danes

However, remember that when you DO bring your puppy outside on a walk, you MUST be prepared to SAY NO! Having a million hands coming in to pet and touch him is not going to make him less afraid of humans, but could lead to stranger fear or reactivity.

Dogs deserve space, trust and the ability to determine when and how they’d like to greet other dogs or humans.

Our Great Dane Socialization guide is amazing for learning how to use modern training and socialization methods to create a confident, friendly and resilient family pet!

SOCIALIZATION 101

Have a Great Dane Puppy? Check out our positive socialization guide.

Friendly – Confident – Resilient

GET YOUR COPY

GET TO WORK!

The work you are willing to put in to your Great Dane puppy is the amount of outcome you will get out of them. It’s usually as simple as that.

Now is the time to begin training! Make sure your pup has good experiences with you and with the environment.

Great Danes are not supposed to be fearful, timid, scared or aggressive. If you see those traits in your Great Dane puppy, start with a vet visit to rule out medical reasons.

Training Starts on Day 1: You are Your Great Dane’s First Dog Trainer

Basic training begins THE DAY you bring your puppy home. Training can consist of anything from learning how to play in the grass to playing appropriate with chew toys.

Nonetheless, training should be worked on daily with the use of positive reinforcement, a large crate, and treats – lots and lots of treats. Did we mention that Great Danes LOVE treats?

CUE THE COMMENTARY

People will have an opinion. Here are some of our ‘favorites’ that you can expect to hear:
- You know that dog is going to be huge, right? (Nope, really? We had no idea!)
- I hope you bought a horse trailer!
- How much does that thing eat, anyways?
- Are you sure that’s a Great Dane? It looks kind of small (sigh, yes because it’s a PUPPY! They don’t come out 150lbs with pointy ears).
- Are you sure that’s a Great Dane? Danes have pointy ears! (If you keep ears intact).
- Wow those paws are HUGE!
- I would NEVER own a Great Dane, they just don’t live long!
- Do you have a saddle for that thing?
Being a Dane owner comes with SO many positives, but also comes with regular dane puppy commentary. When walking your pup or spending time with your dane out in public, expect to get comments… and LOTS of them!

You can reply with useful information or just laugh it off, but either way you should be prepared for lots of comments, conversations, and interest.

Most people have never seen a dog as big as a Great Dane.

SO MANY GOOFY PHOTOS

Great Dane puppies grow alarmingly fast. One day your dog is a puppy and the next they are full grown Great Danes.

Great Dane Growth Chart

Basically, they will take a 2 hour nap and WAKE UP BIGGER.

You cannot possibly take enough photos, so clear your phone now and get ready.

Within weeks you will no longer be able to pick your puppy up.

They are awkward, clumsy, and take forever to grow into graceful, loping, well-muscled adults.

The Moments Go Fast With Your Great Dane

Take ALL THE PHOTOS. Prepare to look back and sob!

If this is your first dane, take double as many photos and videos as you think necessary! You will want them later.

Looking back, at the end of the first two years with your Great Dane puppy, you might think it flies by, but you’ll realize that teeny moment of actual ‘dane puppy’ lasts only a few short weeks before they outgrow themselves, unlike most pets.

GREAT DANE PUPPY FOOD

Your Great Dane puppy is going to eat a LOT of food, and it has to be just the right formula. The wrong food can cause knuckling, panosteitis, HOD, and other orthopedic growth problems. You will want to do immense research into what is the best food to feed your Great Dane puppy.

The food you choose to feed fuels or does not fuel your dog, gives them energy or wears them down, creates a strong dog or creates musculoskeletal issues, helps to build a strong immune system or perpetuates sickness, etc.

Look into every dog food you’re considering before making the choice on what food to feed your Great Dane puppy.

Myth Busting: “My Great Dane should not eat regular puppy food. I was told that I should put them on adult dog food.” This is just not true. Science, research, and increase in the dog food market has transformed giant breed formulas into much more than it was 20 or even 15 years ago. The food that you provide your dane with should be fit for a growing Great Dane puppy. For some companies, that means the bag will say ‘large breed puppy’, and for some that means the bag will say ‘large breed adult’. It’s what is on the inside of the bag that matters, not the outside!

For information on feeding your puppy, we recommend starting with the Great Dane Feeding Guide! We can work together to make sure your Great Dane puppy is eating the best possible choice for them, their breed, and for your family.

ULTIMATE GREAT DANE FEEDING GUIDE

The formulas below are what we recommend for growing Great Dane Puppies and the breed altogether. We’ve linked these photos up for you so that you can easily find them on Chewy.

Worried about knuckling? Great Danes are prone to certain health problems, including something called knuckling while they are growing. We’ve got resources for that, too. Because we know (speaking from experience here) that you are GOING TO WORRY!

That’s ok. Worry is normal and means that you really care about your new Great Dane Puppy!

IS MY GREAT DANE PUPPY KNUCKLING?

PUPPY PROOF OR GET DESTROYED

Get ready to puppy proof your house for your Great Dane.

If you didn’t want your Great Dane puppy on that couch, it may be too late. (just kidding, sort of!)

Great Danes LOVE to think that the entire house is actually THEIR house, and that includes your bed, your car, your couch, your food, anything that is on your table, and did I mention your bed?

Training your Great Dane takes time, so in the meantime, prepare to puppy proof your house with a solid, giant crate as well as some baby gates and safe spaces for them to hang out in.

Crate Training

Crate training is a fabulous way to prepare both your Great Dane puppy for having some alone time and help them not develop separation anxiety (something that Great Danes are famous for), as well as keeping them safe if you need to clean, cook, go grab some thing at the store, or simply sit down and watch a movie. (Did you know that Great Danes do not think that any of those exist, because they simply have nothing to do with THEM! 🙂

How to crate train a Great Dane: click here

Preparing to be able to sleep without your Great Dane

Many Great Dane owners LOVE to sleep with their puppies. Just keep in mind your little Great Dane will soon be consuming your bed.

We recommend utilizing a crate, but keeping it next to your bed for the comfort and security of having you nearby. Inside your crate, consider an orthopedic mat such as a Big Barker crate pad.

Joint Disease in Your Great Dane

Any large breed dog, including a Great Dane puppy, is predisposed to joint disease, and the best way to prepare is to prevent.

That is why we always recommend the only orthopedic mattress on the market that has been clinically studied by veterinarians to improve the health of your dog’s joints, Big Barker.

Have a look here:

Get a FREE Jolly Ball with the purchase of a Big Barker bed.

ENJOY YOUR PUPPY

Your Great Dane may be frustrating at times and you may grow tired of the noise, peeing and biting but hang in there. These dogs are worth it! You’re about to fall in love with a Great Dane puppy, and truly there is really nothing better in the world.

Prepare to never go back!

Before you know it you’ll have a well-trained, calm adult dog and will be dreaming of the day when you will bring sweet puppy breath and snuggles into your home again.

READ MORE:
How to Crate Train a Great Dane Puppy
Is My Great Dane Puppy Knuckling?
Puppy Food for Great Danes
How Much Do Great Danes Eat?
Canine Good Citizen Training for Great DanesYour Puppy is Bored
How to Choose the Best Dog Trainer
December 5, 2020
How to Stop Great Dane Puppy Biting
Great Dane puppies are like little gremlins!!!! Even though Great Dane puppy biting is very normal, but can be very hard to handle. If you are ready to learn how to stop Great Dane puppy biting, you’ve come to the right place.

They bite, gnaw, growl, tug, grab your clothes, and dig their tiny little needle teeth into your arms and hands.

YOUCH!!! But your Great Dane puppy is so cute and snuggly too. It can be hard to understand how they can flip a switch and go from cute ball of fur to aggressive beast, but it’s actually nothing to be concerned about!

Many people worry that a biting Great Dane puppy may be trying to ‘be the boss’ or will turn out to be an aggressive dog, but neither of those things is actually true.
Read on to learn why it is all apart of the puppy biting stage and how to stop biting in your Great Dane puppy.

Why Do Great Dane Puppies Bite?

Great Dane Puppies bite to learn how to control their jaws, to develop appropriate social skills, and because it’s hard to learn the difference between fingers and chew toys.

Additionally, biting also feels good for their puppy teeth. Puppy owners should rest assured that it is normally not aggressive behavior.

Watch a pile of Great Dane puppies play! Puppy bites is what they do to each other! One will wrestle and bite each other while the second one makes as many sounds as it can for a few minutes before the little guy bites back!

When the first Great Dane yelps, they back off for a minute.

The Great Dane puppy that bit learned that the bite was too hard, and both puppies just learned a valuable and important social interaction. These Great Dane puppies are acting as one another’s pet trainers!

Exposing puppies to this natural and proper training is a valuable part of their puppy biting development.

This is an important part of your Great Dane puppy’s development. When a Great Dane puppy isn’t given this time with their litter (until 8 weeks of age) they may have poor bite control.

When you bring your 8 week old Great Dane puppy home, they don’t WANT to stop biting. Like any breed, Great Danes thrive on play, training, toys, and attention. Positive reinforcement is very helpful when it comes to teaching safe alternatives to puppies biting.

Is My Great Dane Puppy Aggressive?

Great Dane puppy bites are completely harmless and come from a place of just wanting to find relief from their energy. It’s RARELY aggression and it’s never related to dominance.

Immaturity though? Yeah that’s a big culprit behind puppy biting!

At first, they don’t know or care about the difference between YOU and the other dogs from their litter. It is completely normal behavior to see a small puppy biting, gravitating to chew toys or having ‘puppy energy’.

All your Great Dane puppy knows is that biting is FUN. Chances are you are actually encouraging the behavior by mistake!

A common mistake many puppy owners make is to believe that their bitey, growly, crazy puppy is trying to dominate or “be the boss”. Nothing could be farther from the truth!

How to Stop Great Dane Puppy Biting

Here is our list of ways to minimize and STOP puppy biting.

You must be consistent and make sure everybody in the family does the same thing.

As always, be sure to speak with a highly qualified balanced dog trainer if you notice your Great Dane puppy act aggressively, bite people excessively, or if you cannot get your puppy to stop biting.

Start implementing these tips:
- Remain calm
- Be boring and encourage good behavior by demonstrating calmness yourself
- When biting starts, cross your arms, turn your back and walk away
- Use crates, gates and leashes to prevent the behavior and teach appropriate play
- Know the signs: the ‘witching hour’ and being over-tired after long hours of play tends to make puppy biting worse!
- Redirect calm puppies to an appropriate chew such as toys, a toy rope, a treat, or a game to play.
- Practice training by keeping your Great Dane away from other dogs who might act aggressively
- Likewise, encourage your Dane pup to engage with friendly dogs in a safe environment
- Put your over-tired Great Dane in a crate with a frozen stuffed Kong toy or treat
- Teach a settle/go to mat behavior in order that they practice the training method of remaining calm and to stop biting
- Teach your Great Dane the primary skills: sit, down, touch, stand, leave it and wait
Bonus Tip: Teach the “Enough” Command

When your Great Dane puppy is playing with you, calmly say ‘ENOUGH’, then praise and offer a toy or treat.

Enough will quickly become a cue to use in training that implies you want your dane pup to ‘disengage’!

This will allow you to play with your Great Dane so they can practice putting teeth on you (which is good for their social and bite pressure development), AND gives your puppy a new skill that is very helpful when they are bigger.

Always remember that even though Great Danes are incredible dogs, they are still a massive size, even for ‘dane dog lovers’, so it is crucial to begin training at a young age.

While you are learning how to play with your Great Dane puppy, keep in mind that everything you do is either reinforcing (encouraging) or reducing (discouraging) certain behaviors. Think about what you want your Great Dane puppy to be like as an adult.

Common Puppy Biting Training Mistakes

Yelping DOES work to interrupt the behavior, and for most puppies it’s ok to do.

For some puppies, yelping can actually encourage biting!
Yelping makes you sound like a squirrel or fun squeaky toy, which may make the puppy more wound up and interested in the biting game.

When a puppy in a litter yelps, they tell the other puppy ‘ouch, too hard‘. Not necessarily ‘STOP, don’t do that again!’. Keep that in mind. Yelping works, but don’t expect miracles or a quick stop to puppy biting.

NOTE: some puppies are frightened by yelping. If your puppy cowers, tucks tail, pin ears or runs away focus on building, no eroding confidence and trust. Sometimes the ‘yelp method’, ‘using loud noise’, ‘or the sharp cry method’ can actually create fear which can create the behavior of puppies biting harder.

#1 – Shoving, Tugging, and saying “NO”

This is a common, natural response to puppy biting!

When you shout, say ‘NO’, tug your clothes, try to run away, and shove the puppy off you actually REWARD the behavior by making puppy biting super fun. OOPS!

Dog’s LOVE to play and a dane pup can confuse you running away as a ‘biting people game’, which may make them want to bite more.

Be calm, boring, indifferent and REMOVE your attention from the dane pup. Walk away. Sigh. Stand still. Turn and walk the other direction. ANYTHING to show the pup that you lose all interest in them when they bite.

#2 – Alpha Rolls & Pinning

Some people will recommend that you pin your Great Dane to the ground until they calm down, and will say that doing so establishes ‘dominance’ with dogs.

We do NOT recommend this.

Alpha rolls are an aggressive form of training that can teach Great Danes (and all dogs) to fear you, fear your hands, and respond with increased aggression, frustration and confusion.

This could result in increased bites, unnecessarily rough play, and VERY frustrated Great Dane owners who are dealing with increased bites or aggressive, fearful and frustrating behavior in their adult dogs.

This outdated method is considered ‘woo’ by actual behaviorists and well-educated dog trainers.

At worst, it’s dangerous and at best, informed dog owners and most professionals are frustrated that people and even some ‘trainers’ continue to perpetuate this misguided concept.

A much safer and more fair alternative is to remain calm, walk away, and provide your Great Dane with a toy or treat.

#3 – Pinching, Tapping, Whacking, Kneeing, and Thumbing

Pinching the puppy, shoving a thumb down his throat, or whacking or tapping him on the nose is the fast track to making sure that your Great Dane is more likely to be resistant to teeth brushing, nail trims, veterinary care and coming when called.

Seriously, don’t do this. We cannot believe we have to say this. Great Danes are a sensitive breed and will have serious repercussions if handled with a human who demonstrates aggressive tendencies.

#4 – Spray Bottles

This method may work, and it’s a ‘quick fix’, but tread cautiously.

Dogs trained with spray bottles may become resistant to spray medication, baths/showers and even being outside in the rain. Plus, like many of the other methods above it teaches your dog to avoid you and run away, NOT engage with you.

If the only way your dog is controlled is if you keep spray bottles around the house as a threat, they aren’t fully trained.

As above, we believe there are better ways to work with your dog.

Good News About Puppy Biting

Puppies outgrow this behavior. Unless you’ve been accidentally rewarding it with a lot of shoving, running, tugging and attention most puppies stop doing it once they are more mature.

You do not have to live with this behavior until it goes away. As above, use crates, gates and leashes to prevent the behavior and separate yourself from a wound-up, biting puppy.

Prevent puppies from practicing this behavior, especially on children.

Spend lots of time teaching and rewarding appropriate behaviors such as touch, sit, down, leave it, and ‘go to your place’.

Warning Signs of Aggression in Great Danes

Some people are concerned that their puppy is actually aggressive because of how rough they bite and play. Playful puppies can bark, growl and be extremely noisy!

Most puppies are not actually aggressive.

Puppy biting is not a form of aggression. However, occasionally a puppy is wired wrong or has deep-seated fear aggression. Here are the warning signs that a puppy is aggressive, not playful.
- Low growl
- Stiff body, tense
- Hackles up
- Snapping or biting when a hand approaches their food, toy, or bone
- Showing their teeth/grimace
- Stiff tail wags or tucked tail
- Ears pinned back
- Turning the head away before biting
- Not showing playful body language (bouncing, bows, loose body, loose tail, fun and cute play barks and play growls).
  
  If you are unsure or are seeing signs that alarm you, seek out the help of a highly qualified trainer.
Puppy Biting & Ethical Breeders

Puppies from ethical, diligent quality breeders and robust well-tempered pedigrees are less likely to develop aggression, are easier to train and will be much more confident and mature when they come to your home!

Puppies that leave their litter prior to 8 or even 10 weeks of age tend to be much more difficult to train. This includes having problems with potty training, puppy biting, overall bite inhibition and confidence.

Do not let your breeder convince you that a puppy is ready to go prior to that point.

Here is our article on why puppies should stay with their litter until 8 weeks of age.
December 2, 2020