9 Best Dog Toys for Great Danes

Great Danes are tall “gentle giants” and were originally bred to be hunters and guard dogs. Great Danes today still love a challenge and a chase, and their strong teeth and jaws can easily destroy any average toy. Finding and providing good dog toys for your Great Dane is not only a great way to show your love but helps them expend any excess energy and prevent destructive habits from forming.

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Because of the Great Dane’s personality and great size, it’s important to find the right toys and introduce them to good habits as puppies to prevent boredom and destructive behavior. Their size can make finding the right toys challenging, but we’ve put together a list of our top favorite dog toys for Great Danes, as well as some tips and extra information about entertaining these gorgeous and lovable pets.

Different Types of Dog Toys for Great Danes

There are endless options of toys out there for our furry best friends, so it can be overwhelming trying to decide which toys your Great Dane will love. Before narrowing down your options, it can be helpful to know what the different types are and what benefits they may have for your dog. Different types of toys will serve different purposes, and what some dogs like won’t work for others.

Plush toys are great options as the first toy for puppies, and many adult dogs also love them. They’re basically stuffed animals for your dog to cuddle, bite, and shake, and many come with a squeaker inside that dogs go crazy for.

Puzzle toys are designed to provide a challenge and mental stimulation for your dog. Most of these toys involve putting treats or kibble inside and letting your dog solve the puzzle to get to the prize inside. Great Danes and other “hunters” typically love this challenge.

Fetching toys are ones that make for easy throwing and exciting retrieval. Great Danes love to run and typically enjoy a game of fetch because of their instinct to chase. Fetch toys also provide a great opportunity for bonding with their humans.

Regardless of breed, dogs have an innate need to chew, and chew toys fit the bill in a satisfying and safe manner. Chew toys also keep your dog’s mouth occupied so they don’t start chewing on things laying around the house. Good chew toys are ones that satisfy your dog’s need to chew and won’t break and splinter easily.

The last type is rope toys. Rope toys are free from harmful chemicals and materials that can be found in regular rope and make great toys for fetch and tug-of-war. The fibers also help to keep your dog’s teeth clean and healthy.

You may like to Read: 7 Best Great Dane Dog Foods for an Adult and Puppy Great Dane

Best Toys for a Great Dane

KONG Jumbler Ball Dog Toy

Key Features:

  • Unique two-in-one ball design
  • Tumbling tennis ball inside
  • Loud squeak
  • Two handles for comfortable play
Why You Should Buy

KONG Jumbler Ball Dog Toy

This squeaky dog toy features an internal tennis ball inside a tough thermoplastic with handles, making it perfect as a squeaky toy, tug-of-war toy, or rattling ball toy.

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While playing, the internal tennis ball bounces around inside the translucent exterior ball, causing unpredictable bouncing and rolling.

Dogs can easily pick up, fetch, and shake the ball with one of the two handles, or they can enjoy a rousing and interactive game of tug-of-war with other pets or their human parents. This toy is designed for rough play and does it all – bounce, shake, carry, throw, tug, and squeak. It’s unique and interactive and provides an exciting and active play session.

Made from extremely durable and flexible thermoplastic rubber, the KONG Jumbler is available in two sizes and two shapes. There’s no option to choose the color you’d like, but they come in a variety of bright, fun colors. The KONG brand is well-known for its tough toys, and the Jumbler doesn’t disappoint.

Outward Hound Hide A Squirrel Squeaky Puzzle Plush Dog Toy

Key Features:

  • Hide-and-seek squirrels
  • Plush and squeaky
  • Durable and engaging play
  • Available in four sizes
Why You Should Buy

Outward Hound Hide A Squirrel Squeaky Puzzle Plush Dog Toy

This toy is a fun hide-and-seek game that keeps your dog engaged for endless fun. Simply stuff the squirrels into the tree trunk’s holes and watch while digs and burrows to get them out. The squirrels have a squeaker inside and make a great toy on their own for tossing around and fetching.

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Outward Hound Hide a Squirrel provides your dog with an outlet for their instinct to hunt. It provides mental stimulation and enrichment for your pup and a challenge to encourage problem-solving skills. It’s a fun and positive way to help your dog focus their excess energy and provides opportunities for solo play or interactive fun with you.

The logs are available in different sizes with three to six cute squeaky squirrels for hiding. The size options range from small to ginormous, depending on your dog’s size and needs. If your dog “kills” any of the squirrels, you can easily order replacements or stuff other plush toys into the tree to keep the fun going. This dog toy’s versatility is what makes it a winner in our book.

Petstages Dogwood Tough Dog Chew Toy

Key Features:

  • Real wood and synthetic mix
  • Natural wood smell
  • Floats in water
  • Safer to chew on then real sticks
Why You Should Buy

Petstages Dogwood Tough Dog Chew Toy

The Petstages Dogwood Tough Chew Toy is meant to taste and feel like wood for a less destructive and safer alternative. This wooden chew toy was designed with aggressive chewers in mind.

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Made from a blend of sawdust and polypropylene, it’s durable and bears an irresistible resemblance to the feel and taste of real wood. It comes in four sizes to accommodate dogs of any size. This stick-like dog toy isn’t just great for chewing. It makes a great toy for playing fetch with your pup and even floats in water for those dogs who love to make a splash.

It’s much easier to clean and safer than real wooden sticks, with its smooth surface and lack of splintering. Just like with nylon chew toys, tiny pieces will likely come off during aggressive chewing, but they are safe and gentle on your dog’s digestive system.

KONG Classic Dog Toy

Key Features:

  • Can be stuffed with treats
  • Fun, unpredictable bounce
  • Recommended by vets
  • Highly-durable rubber
Why You Should Buy

KONG Classic Dog Toy

The KONG Classic is a versatile, durable, and interactive toy that keeps dogs entertained and reinforces good chewing behavior. The KONG brand is well-known for durable toys that can be stuffed with treats.

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Dogs have to work to get the treats out of this fun, entertaining toy, which keeps them occupied and can even help with dogs who tend to overeat.

You can put almost any sort of treat inside and have your dog work to get it out. The firm rubber has a great texture for teething puppies and is durable for moderate chewers. This toy is good for chewing, fetching, and dispensing treats and is a great option for dogs with anxiety as it keeps them occupied and stimulated to reduce anxious behavior.

The KONG Classic has a very simple design in four size options. It can get rather dirty, but it is also easily cleaned in warm water and is dishwasher safe. KONG offers its own line of treats to fill the classic toy, but you can also fill with an endless combination of your own concoctions.

Starmark Treat Dispensing Bob-a-Lot Dog Toy

Key Features:

  • Can be stuffed with treats and kibble
  • Easy to clean and fill
  • Bobs and tilts for stimulating play
  • Adjustable difficulty level
Why You Should Buy

Starmark Treat Dispensing Bob-a-Lot Dog Toy

If you have a food-motivated dog, then they’ll love the Starmark Treat Dispensing Bob-a-Lot Dog Toy. You can fill the toy with kibble or treats and watch as they paw, bump, and nuzzle to get to the prize inside.

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This toy has a weighted bottom and wobbles back and forth as your dog plays, and the kibble or treats fall out of the small holes in the toy. You can easily adjust the difficulty level while your dog gets used to their new toy.

This toy is a great option for dogs who eat too fast because you can fill it with their favorite kibble at mealtimes and make them work to get their meal. This will force your dog to slow down and provide him with mental stimulation.

Hyper and destructive dogs can also benefit from this toy since they are often simply lacking in challenging mental stimulation to burn off excess energy. Instead of attempting (and sometimes succeeding) in chewing up your furniture, this toy provides an outlet for acceptable behavior. It comes in two sizes and is suitable for all sizes and breeds of dogs. The small toy holds up to a cup of kibble, and the large holds up to three cups of food.

Chuckit! Classic Launcher Dog Toy

Key Features:

  • Hands-free ball pickup
  • Ergonomic handle
  • Allows you to throw farther
  • Prevents arm strain
Why You Should Buy

Chuckit! Classic Launcher Dog Toy

Some dogs could play fetch for hours on end, but as a dog owner, it’s exhausting for your arm to throw the ball over and over again. The Chuckit! Classic Launcher has a simple and effective design that allows for hands-free pickup and easier launching.

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You can easily throw balls farther with minimal effort, and there’s an ergonomic handle that makes the launcher easy and comfortable to hold. It has a lightweight and portable design and allows you to easily pick up slobbery balls without bending over or getting your hands wet.

It comes with one ball to get you started with your rousing game of fetch, and there is a range of sizes to choose from depending on your dog’s breed and size. Your arm likely tires out far sooner than your dog ever will, so this launcher allows you to keep the game going longer and enjoy it a bit more and allows you to launch balls farther to wear your dog out more quickly.

Mammoth Cottonblend 3 Knot Dog Rope Toy

Key Features:

  • 100% natural cotton
  • Cleans in between teeth
  • Great for a variety of play
  • Strong and durable for heavy chewers
Why You Should Buy

Mammoth Cottonblend 3 Knot Dog Rope Toy

Ollie Healthy Turkey Feast is a super-premium, human grade dog food. This service delivers freshly prepared meals to your door on a weekly basis, and the recipes are customizable based on your dog’s needs.

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Ropes make a great toy for fetch and tug-of-war games. Mammoth makes hundreds of rope toys, and their classic Cottonblend 3 Knot Dog Rope Toy hits all the marks for a winner. This rope toy is incredibly durable and doesn’t split, fray, or fall apart easily. It comes in a range of lengths, from mini to extra large.

Rope toys can often outlast rubber fetch and chew toys for dogs with strong bites. The rope is durable when bitten down on, and the fibers in the rope are perfect for cleaning the teeth by providing a flossing action. The fibers in this rope toy are the perfect size to slide in and out between the teeth to keep your dog’s mouth healthy while they enjoy playing.

This three-knot rope toy is perfect for a variety of games, like fetch, tug-of-war, and interactive play with their other pup friends. The three-knot design allows you and your dog to keep a good grip on the rope during games of tug-of-war and is made to last.

Overall Best Dog Toys for Great Dane Puppies

Listed below are the overall best dog toys for your Great Dane pup:

Multipet Lamb Chop Squeaky Plush Dog Toy

Key Features:

  • Super soft and plush
  • Exciting internal squeaker
  • Classic, lovable character
  • Great for cuddling, chewing, and fetch
Why You Should Buy

Multipet Lamb Chop Squeaky Plush Dog Toy

If your dog likes to carry around plushies and snuggle with his toys in his bed, he’ll love this super cute Lamb Chop squeaker plush. This dog toy is designed to look like the famous puppet character and is so soft and precious that it’s sure to be a hit with any dog.

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Your furry friend will love chomping down on the squeaker, shaking, and tossing around their new toy. The lamb’s plush material is super soft but durable enough for fun games of tug-of-war. It’s stitched very well and should hold up to pulling and light chewing. This toy is available in three sizes, from mini to jumbo, so there’s a perfect Lamb Chop for every size dog.

Nylabone Teething Keys Puppy Chew Toy

Key Features:

  • Durable and long-lasting
  • Teaches puppies healthy chewing habits
  • Ridges and nubs promote clean and healthy teeth
  • Bright, enticing colors
Why You Should Buy

Nylabone Teething Keys Puppy Chew Toy

Nylabone Teething Keys satisfy your puppy’s need to chew in a healthy way while providing a deep cleaning for the teeth and massaging the gums.le=”text-decoration: none;” href=”/shop/dog-toy/great-dane/nylabone/”>View Latest Price

These Nylabone keys are made with a slightly softer material than the regular Nylabone, so they’re easier on more fragile puppy teeth but durable enough to last through the puppy stage.

This toy is great for teething puppies and for teaching them non-destructive habits. These keys have a slight texture to them to help with sore gums from teething and are appealing to puppies with their bright colors and fun shapes. They’re also flavored to entice your puppy even further (and keep him away from your shoes).

They’re fun to shake because of all the moving parts, and the variety of shapes and textures provide options for your pup to chew on. Chewing creates bristles on the toy that gently scrub away tartar buildup. They’re small enough to throw around in the house and have multiple points to hold and bite for fun games of tug-of-war or fetch.

What to Look for in a Good Toy for Great Danes

Unless you have a very gentle chewer on your hands, your Great Dane will need toys that are very tough and durable, especially for their plush toys. While Great Danes are “gentle giants,” they can certainly rip some toys to shreds. When deciding if a toy will hold up to your dog, look closely at the materials. High-quality materials, like firm rubber and double-stitched fabrics, will certainly hold up better.

Great Danes also typically love a challenge, so interactive puzzle toys will provide necessary mental stimulation and allow them to use their problem-solving skills. Great Danes long for tasks to perform, so interactive puzzle toys fill that need and keep them from more destructive behaviors.

Great Danes love to play fetch but aren’t especially hyper. The toys your dog would enjoy fetching will vary greatly depending on their personality. It may take a bit of experimenting to find the right fetch toy that appeals to your dog.

Because of their size, Great Danes may also enjoy playing with larger toys that they can romp with and bat around on their own in the yard. A good toy will keep your dog’s attention, be durable, safe, and large enough to withstand your Great Dane’s strength.

Tips for Playing With/Entertaining Your Great Dane

Great Danes are a giant breed and are very strong, moderately energetic, and playful. Puppies are especially energetic but will tend to calm down a bit by the age of two. Providing plenty of entertainment options and giving your Great Dane tasks to perform will keep them happier and teach them good non-destructive habits. Try these tips for entertaining and playing with your Great Dane.

  1. Train them for basic commands like sit, down, and come.
  2. Help them burn off excess energy with walks and runs and games like fetch and tug-of-war.
  3. Give them tasks to perform like getting treats or kibble out of a puzzle toy.
  4. If you enjoy hiking, your Great Dane will happily hike with you for at least a few miles.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Stop my Great Dane Puppy from Chewing on my Stuff?

Puppies of all breeds love to chew, especially when they’re dealing with painful teething. The best thing you can do is purchase a teething toy specifically made for puppies to help them massage their gums and meet their chewing needs. Anytime your puppy goes for your stuff, redirect them to their favorite chew toy.

What Do I Do if my Great Dane isn’t Interested in Their Toy?

Each dog’s personality is different, so it’s important to test out various toys to see what your Great Dane prefers. If your Great Dane seems bored with ordinary chew toys, try puzzle toys that provide more mental stimulation for this inquisitive breed.

Are Kid Toys Safe for my Great Dane?

Toys designed for children are likely not made with materials that can withstand a Great Dane’s teeth. There’s a risk of the toys splintering and cutting your dog’s mouth or causing injuries to your dog’s digestive tract if swallowed. It’s best not to give kids’ toys to your Great Dane and only stick to toys designed for large breed dogs.

Overall Best Dog Toys for Great Danes

Conclusion

Great Danes are known as gentle giants, but even the most gentle chewers have strong jaws that may require strong toys. Due to their inquisitive nature and natural inclination to hunt, unique interactive toys tend to be a hit with this breed. And as with all breeds, you can’t go wrong with a great chew toy. Just make sure it’s a jumbo size for your massive friend!

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