How to Get Great Danes to Calm Down? 4 Reasons & 6 Solutions
All dog owners need to know how to calm their dogs, but giant breeds like Great Danes need it even more. A Great Dane that is not under control can cause a lot of trouble because it is so big, strong, and loud.
Like dogs of all breeds, Great Dane puppies will have more energy than their adult selves. Most Great Danes lose their puppy energy around the age of two.
On the other hand, a Great Dane of any age can be calmed down by training, exercise, and other tricks.
So, let’s take a closer look at some of the things you can do to help your Great Dane calm down.
When Do Great Danes Calm Down?
Most Great Danes calm down between the ages of two and three years. Most owners think that Great Danes start to calm down when they are 2 years old, but some think it takes longer.
This makes sense, since Great Danes are still considered puppies until they are two years old.
Even though they are big now, they are still young mentally, just like any puppy. This explains most of the overly active, silly, and weird behaviour.
Why is My great Dane so Energetic?
You need to figure out why your Great Dane is so hyper before you can get it to calm down. These are just a few things that might get your Great Dane excited.
1. They Are Young
Your Great Dane is more likely to be hyper when it is young.
Young dogs are very interested in their surroundings and often get into trouble because of it. As your Great Dane ages, it will move less quickly.
2. They Are Not Exercised Enough
If you don’t let your Great Dane run around enough, he or she will get very hyper. When they are young, your Great Dane will need to play for 2 to 3 hours every day.
You can cut the time down to about an hour a day as they get older.
3. They Are Bored
If your Great Dane gets bored, it will usually find something to do to keep itself busy. And this is often when they start doing bad things…
If your Great Dane seems bored, give it something safe to chew on, like a chew stick or a toy, so it doesn’t destroy your stuff.
Another thing that can help when you’re bored is a dog puzzle toy. Most of these have a maze that your dog has to find its way through to get a treat at the end.
Make sure the toys and chew sticks you get for your Great Dane are strong enough that he won’t break them or swallow them whole.
This would quickly cause an obstruction and force your Great Dane to have expensive surgery.
4. They Are Anxiety
If your Great Dane has anxiety, he or she might act like a crazy person. Some Great Danes don’t like being alone and will run and pace around the house if they are left alone.
Getting your dog used to being alone will help them feel less anxious. You could even give them pills to help them keep their cool.
In cases of severe anxiety, talk to your vet about giving your dog medicine to keep it calm while you’re gone.
In the article I wrote about Great Dane anxiety, you can find out more.
Ways To Help Calm Down a Great Dane
Let’s talk about some of the best tips and tricks that other Great Dane owners have told us about.
1. Give The Correct Amount of Exercise
Exercise must come first, but please don’t skip it! It’s really important to give the right amount.
Great Danes need about 60 minutes of exercise every day until they are 2 years old. It’s hard to give them as much exercise as possible without putting too much pressure on their growing joints and bones.
Some owners think that exercise is the only way to calm down a hyperactive dog. This is not true, and if you start giving your GD puppy more than 2 hours of exercise per day all of a sudden, it could hurt his joints and bones at a young age, which could affect him for the rest of his life.
As I will talk about later, mental stimulation (exercise) is just as important as physical exercise for reducing hyperactivity.
2. Provide Sufficient Mental Stimulation
Mental exercise is the opposite of physical exercise and may be the most reliable way to make a Great Dane calmer.
The best ways to keep your dog’s mind active are to teach him basic commands, let him play with other dogs, and play puzzle games with him that make him think.
It is very important that you do something every day to keep their minds active. 1-2 hours is a good place to start.
If he doesn’t have it, his mind won’t get tired, no matter how much physical activity he does. If his mind doesn’t get tired, he’ll be ready to go again after a 5-minute nap from his walk, no matter how much physical activity he does.
This is one of the most often forgotten parts of calming a dog in general. If you could only pick one thing from this list, it should be stimulating your mind.
3. Tackle Some of His Energy First Thing
This is more of a preventive measure for his hyperactivity, and it will help him put his daily needs first.
This means you should take him for a walk first thing in the morning, even if it’s just to practice basic commands for 15 minutes.
If you take care of your Great Dane’s needs first thing in the morning, you’ll be off to a good start. Every morning, he’ll be full of energy and ready to explode, so it’s important to get rid of some of that energy right away.
The more you can give him right away, the better, but that doesn’t mean he’s done for the day. He will need more physical activity, social interaction, playtime, and mental stimulation as he gets older.
4. Creating a Calm Environment
The calmer you can make his environment, the better.
Dogs, especially Great Danes, are very aware of what is going on around them.
Many things, like loud noises, strange smells, and the general “mood” of their surroundings, can scare them.
Some things, like smells in the neighbourhood, are unfortunately out of our hands. But there are some things you can do, like making sure your home is as quiet as possible and keeping yourself calm.
If some people in your house are always rushing around, making a lot of noise, or just acting crazy, it can be very upsetting and make your GD hyper because of nerves.
5. Establish Daily Routines
Every dog needs to have a routine. A dog will be confused and have a lot of nervous energy if he or she doesn’t have a clear daily routine.
Putting together schedules and routines for when he eats, plays, works out, trains, and relaxes may seem like a small thing, but it is one of the most important things you can learn from this article.
If he gets his attention, exercise, and playtime at different times throughout the day, he will have many ups and downs of getting excited for nothing, just because you did it differently yesterday…
This is also helpful for setting aside time for rest and relaxation.
You can make it a routine to give your Dane a long, soothing belly rub every night while you’re sitting on the couch. He’ll grow to like it, and if you do it every day, you’ll have given him a place to feel calm right away.
Routines can help your Great Dane feel much more at ease.
6. Embrace The Craziness
Last but not least, just let him be crazy and energetic the way he is.
Before writing this article, I talked to a lot of Great Dane owners. Many of them said that the quickest way to stop their hyper behaviour is to “kind of just accept it,” as one owner laughed.
Even more, another owner said, “Keep it close to your heart, because one day you’ll think back to when he was full of crazy energy… More quickly than you think, it will leave.”
Great Danes have a buzz and a happy-go-lucky attitude, which is just one of the things that make them so great.
In the big picture, two years isn’t that long, and it will be over before you know it.
Are Great Danes high energy?
Great Danes are a breed of dog with moderate-to-low energy.
Unlike high-energy breeds like Huskies, Border Collies, and Australian Shepherds, most Great Danes just want to hang out with you.
Given how much energy they expend just moving around, this should come as no surprise given their size.
In fact, on any given day, they will almost certainly sleep more than they are awake. On average, Great Danes sleep 16 to 18 hours a day. I don’t know what else says “low energy” more than that.
Most adult Great Danes get enough exercise by going for walks or playing every day. Puppies will need to move around more, but if you train them every day, that will take care of a lot of it.
Anxiety Related Issues
Even if you do what was said above, your dog’s bad behaviour could be caused by anxiety.
Without knowing the whole story, it’s hard to say how every case of anxiety starts, but some common reasons are:
- Separation anxiety
- Environmental changes
- Home moves
- Loud noises
- Missing family members
Final Thoughts
Don’t worry if your Great Dane is hyperactive; he or she will calm down eventually. Even though this may not be much, they will learn more about their environment and become less active.
Exercise, keeping their minds busy, and giving them time can all help them slow down. When your Great Dane turns two, it will start to calm down, but in the meantime, try some of these tips and tricks to help it stay calm.
I have been working in animal shelter for the past six years and I have been raising the puppies of different breeds. I have had experience in training the puppies in obedience, agility, and other dog sports.
My main objective is to train the puppies to become good family pets. They should be well-behaved and trained to be loving, loyal, and obedient.
Contact me:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (912) 634-3631
Address: 102 Village Way Crk Saint Simons Island, Georgia(GA), 31522
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