How to Play With My Great Dane Puppy

The Great Dane is often called a gentle giant and the king of dogs. It's stature is not only exceptionally large, but regal. It's an old breed, dating back hundreds of years. Interestingly, the breed has no known connection to Denmark; it was developed in Germany. Your Great Dane puppy can reach as high as 200 lbs when grown, so when you play with it you must keep that future size in mind. Your pup will want to continue the rough play long after it is big enough to accidentally hurt someone if it is allowed to play rough as a young pup.

Things You'll Need

  • Balls
  • Tug toys
  • Chew toys
Show More

Instructions

    • 1
      Fetch is an appropriate and fun game.

      Teach your Great Dane puppy to play appropriately and gently with people of all ages. Do not allow rough housing or pretend fighting. The pup can't distinguish between a teenage boy who likes to play rough and your grandmother who can't play rough. The play fighting, with shrieks and fake cries for help teach the puppy to ignore such noises or even to play rougher when someone cries or screams. This can lead to a dangerous situation when the dog misinterprets a child's cry as a game.

    • 2
      Your puppy must learn to drop even a rawhide or real bone on command.

      Train your pup to give up any toy or other object on command. You don't want a 200 lb dog growling over the TV remote. A good training program, such as the NILIF -- Nothing in Life Is Free -- program, helps teach the puppy its proper place in the family, and those principles can be used in playing games as well.

    • 3
      Your puppy should stop the game on command.

      Initiate and end all games with a command. Teach your Dane puppy the names of all games and toys, and when you want to play, begin with a happy command, such as "let's play fetch" or "time for tug." When the game is over, end on a happy note and use a word that you've taught the puppy, such as "all done," "no more" or "finish." Keep the games structured but fun, so that play reinforces good behavior.

    • 4
      Dropping the toy and looking at you is an appropriate invitation to play.

      Teach your Dane pup an appropriate way to ask when it wants to play. This could be whatever works well in your home, such as bringing the chosen toy to you and setting it on the floor. Just don't allow the pup to jump all over you, grab your clothing or hands or otherwise behave in an unruly manner when it wants to play.

    • 5
      Hauling isn't good for pups, and a harness should be used for mature dogs.

      Discuss games and exercise with the veterinarian before trying any new games or jogging. Danes grow rapidly and their joints can easily be damaged by jogging, pulling or other repetitive and vigorous activities. Too rough a game of tug can hurt a growing puppy, too. Opinions vary on what is the safe age to introduce such games and sports, and your pup's veterinarian is the best one to advise.