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14 Mental & Physical Exercises for Great Dane

  • Great Dane
  • Posted 4 months ago

Great Danes are wonderful companions who, due to their enormous size, stand out from other dog breeds.

They are, however, prone to various diseases and physical concerns, but with proper exercise and nutrition, you may reduce their chances of disease.

But the question is, what type of exercise do they require? I’ve included 14 activities here for both physical and mental health, you can pick and choose from them.

Let’s get this started!

Physical Exercises For Great Danes

A lack of physical activity might make your Great Dane weaker and more susceptible to sickness.

Even though they are large dogs and do not require high-intensity exercise, they still require some exercise to keep extra fat and diabetes at bay.

The seven physical exercises listed below might help your Great Dane stay physically fit.

1: Daily Walks

A simple 40-minute stroll every day may appear simple to you, but it is the best exercise your great dane can get on a daily basis.

Daily walks or jogs are beneficial to your great dane’s heart, muscle, and bone health, as well as providing mental stimulation.

Because dogs, such as great danes, are relatively heavy, vigorous running or over-exercise can put a strain on their joints, so experts advise owners to begin with simple exercises such as walking and jogging.

You may allow one or two sprints per day, but no more than that.

2: Swimming

Great Danes may not appear to be good swimmers at first glance, but you would be surprised to learn that they are quite competent once properly trained.

They have webbed feet, which allows them to float in water. If your amazing Dane knows how to swim, providing weekly or monthly swim sessions can be a terrific way to maintain their body physically healthy.

Remember, putting your Great Dane in the pool if he doesn’t know how to swim could endanger his life, so do not just toss your great dane and expect it to swim out.

3: Fetch and Retrieval Games

When in a playful mood, Great Danes like playing fetch. You can use a squishy ball or a strong toy and throw it a long distance for your great dane to retrieve.

This practice will not only give them physical exercise, but will also stimulate their innate retrieving instincts.

However, make sure not to execute this exercise for an extended period of time; two or three times is OK, but doing more than that, especially on a daily basis, can be harmful to their joints.

4: Agility Training

Despite belonging to the mastiff family, Great Danes are quite nimble dogs; in fact, according to some experts, Great Danes were bred to be agile and powerful.

You may increase their agility and overall physical fitness by training them with hurdles, tunnels, weave poles, and other obstacles in your backyard.

Again, don’t overwork them; start with the basics and gradually work your way up.

5: Doggy Playdates

If your great dane has been well socialized from an early age and does not become hostile when meeting other dogs, you can take it to a dog park and let it play with other dogs.

This will help both its physical and mental health; however, ensure that the other dog is equally friendly and that the size difference isn’t too great.

6: Tug of War

Tug of War is a physically demanding game that, according to experts, is a terrific sport for improving health since it strengthens the muscles of the chest, shoulders, forearms, and core.

Is this game, however, safe for dogs? Some dog owners feel that allowing a game like this can cause behavioral issues in their dogs, but experts say this is a misconception.

Tug games, according to specialists, can genuinely increase impulse control and confidence and strengthen the link between dogs and their owners.

It’s also a terrific method for your dog to burn off excess energy and keep him physically and psychologically occupied.

7: Hiking

Great Danes make fine hiking dogs; they aren’t the best, but they can walk with you for 2 to 3 miles every day.

Hiking is another excellent technique to improve your Great Dane’s health; try it once or twice a month.

But have enough water, dog booties, and first aid supplies on hand, and make sure you give your great dane ample rest as great danes cannot walk continuously and require breaks in between.

8: Weight Pulling

Weight pulling is a wonderful exercise for developing muscle and strength. To train your great dane, you can use a lightweight sled and a well-designed weight-pulling harness, but always start softly and raise the weight gradually.

Before adding weight-pulling exercise, be sure to check with your local veterinarian as some great danes aren’t built for it.

Mental Exercises For Great Danes

Your great dane’s physical well-being is vital, but so is their mental well-being, since without it, they may turn destructive.

The incredible mental exercises listed below will improve and brighten your great danes’ mental state.

1: Puzzle Toys

Puzzle toys are a wonderful method to increase your dog’s happiness and keep it interested and occupied. They are an excellent source of entertainment for your great dane, particularly when you are away from home.

Additionally, toys might lessen destructive behavior. These toys are available for purchase online, but before you buy, be sure to read reviews and watch comments.

2: Teaching Basic Commands

It’s crucial to teach your great dane basic commands like “Sit” and “Leave it” if you want them to behave properly.

Being large canines, they run the risk of inadvertently injuring people when they pounce on them.

It could take some time to teach your great dane simple commands, but once it does, it will be smarter than it was before.

3: Hide and Seek

Hide and seek is a game that can be enjoyed by both people and dogs. The rule will be modified somewhat.

To play this modified version of hide and seek, you need to hide a treat or a toy that your dog loves somewhere, and then ask your dog to find the toy or treat.

This activity can help them with natural instincts like sniffing and searching while also stimulating their minds.

4: Name The Toy

Because Great Danes are more intellectual than other mastiff breeds, they can learn to distinguish between different toys by name.

You can train your Great Dane to retrieve certain toys by teaching them the names of their toys. It’s another approach to keep your mind active.

5: Rotating Playthings

Your great dane might get bored by playing with the same toy again and again, and boredom could lead to destructive behavior.

Rotating toys is a good way to keep your companion engaged and stimulated.

Once you find out that your great dane isn’t taking the interest it used to take when the toy was new, rotate the toy.

6: Visit New Places With Your Great Dane

When you take your dog to a new location, they are exposed to new scents, sights, and experiences, which can enhance their lives and keep them cognitively busy.

Living in a tiny environment, such as an apartment, can bore your great dane because there is no fresh place to explore. Whenever you have spare time, go somewhere new with your great dane, whether it’s a garden, a hill, a nearby forest, or anything else.

Do Great Danes Need a Lot Of Exercise?

Great Danes require little exercise because they are large canines prone to joint problems and overheating.

However, this does not imply that they do not any exercise at all. A small amount of activity, such as walking, spriniting once or twice a day, and swimming, might help them build strength and keep excess fat at bay.

A moderate amount of exercise is advised for them.

Final Words…

If you truly want your great dane to live a longer life and reach its full potential, you must provide it with mental and physical activity.

But, as great danes are large dogs, excessive activity might have the reverse effect and cause joint problems.

Everything, including their food and workout regimen, should be done in moderation.

All things considered, great danes are wonderful dogs that know how to defend their area and remain devoted to their family.

I hope you liked this post.

Thanks for reading!

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