The Great Dane is known for being an active and energetic dog breed, so it is important to understand their exercise needs. So, we researched how much exercise a Great Dane needs and the various exercise options that are recommended.
On average, Great Danes require 2 hours of exercise per day to remain healthy. Not only will this keep them in good physical health, but it also stimulates them mentally, and will boost their mental health. Regular exercise also avoids boredom and unwelcome behavior in your dog.
There are many options to consider when meeting the exercise needs of your Great Dane, along with the benefits these provide. Read on to find out more.
How Much Exercise Does a Great Dane Need Per Day?
If you are new to owning a Great Dane, or a dog in general, it is completely normal to wonder how much exercise is the right amount for your pet.
One thing is for sure, Great Danes need to be exercised every day, so one walk per week will not suffice. But how much exercise should your Great Dane be getting per day?
You will want to aim for 2 hours of exercise per day for the average Great Dane. However, it is vital that you realize that no two dogs are alike. That being said, older dogs will likely require less exercise while younger dogs will need more.
On the other hand, you do not want to overwork young puppies as their joints and bones are still forming. Regular light exercise for puppies is great but avoid forcing them to run for prolonged periods of time or for long distances when they are young because this can cause health problems down the road.
As your dog ages and enters its senior years the type and amount of exercise will need to be modified to reduce the risk of injury.
How Much Should Great Danes be Walked?
While we have already established the fact that Great Danes need roughly 2 hours of exercise per day at a minimum, this exercise does not need to be 100% walking. There are other ways of exercising your dog such as swimming or playing fetch, but it is still important that you walk your dog often enough.
As a rule of thumb, you should aim for 50/50 when it comes to walking and other exercises. Therefore, an hour of walking per day is recommended by most professionals. This can be done in one long walk or separated into two or three smaller walks throughout the day; the choice is yours.
Remember that even on cold days, your dog will need to be walked or they may become bored and chew things or display other unwanted behaviors. Therefore, even if you reduce the length of their walk, never skip out on walking them.
How Far Can Great Dane Puppies Walk?
As we have briefly mentioned previously in this article, overworking your young dog can cause certain health conditions down the road. These include but are not limited to hip dysplasia and arthritis.
To prevent this, while your puppy is still under 6 months of age, you should not exceed 15 minutes of walking time per day, otherwise, your puppy may become exhausted.
When your Great Dane puppy enters the 6–12-month range, you can increase the length of their walks. At this age, it is safe to walk your puppy for up to 30 minutes per day.
Beyond this stage, walking them for long periods of time is not a problem, despite 1 hour being the recommended walking time per day for dogs. Don’t forget that they need more exercise than this to stay healthy!
Best Ways to Exercise a Great Dane
When you hear about exercising a Great Dane, walking them comes to mind. And while walking is often the primary way to exercise your dog, it is certainly not the only or most fun way to do so.
- Fetch: We all know the game fetch. You can enjoy a game of fetch with your Great Dane buddy by throwing their favourite toy or a stick as far as you can and letting them run after it. While it may take some time to teach them to do this, they should learn to return the toy to you after they retrieve it so you can throw it again.
- Swimming: Most dogs love swimming! That is why it is a great idea to let your dog join you for a swim next time you go swimming. However, keep in mind that not all dogs are natural swimmers, so investing in a life jacket is a great idea. You should also avoid rapids and fast-moving rivers when it comes to swimming with your four-legged friend.
- Tug of War: You have probably played it before. Tug of War is that classic game where two people pull a rope from each side, and whoever manages to take down the other player with their strength wins. You can play this with your dog too! Just remember they may become aggressive when playing.
Benefits of Exercising a Great Dane
In case you are still not sure why exercising your Great Dane is as important as it is, let us explain some of the key benefits that come with proper exercise for your Great Dane:
- Improves Physical Health: Just like humans, dogs will naturally be healthier if they take part in regular exercise. Just like how you get on the treadmill to stay healthy, dogs need daily exercise so that they can stay healthy too. Proper exercise can keep their weight under control and avoid health conditions in their legs, joints, hips, and body in general.
- Mental Stimulation: Dogs have to have their mental health taken care of too! Just because a dog looks healthy does not mean they are healthy mentally. A dog that is not exercised sufficiently can become lonely, bored, or depressed. This will often cause them to become aggressive, chew things or get into other kinds of trouble.
- Bonding: Exercising your Great Dane does not only benefit them. Finding ways to exercise alongside your dog can be a great way to bond and strengthen your relationship with your pet. Swimming, tug of war, and hide and seek are a few examples of games/exercises that you can do together to bond!
Overall, whether you like it or not, exercise for your Great Dane is a must and this is not something you can choose to ignore.
How Much Exercise is Too Much for Great Danes?
While people always encourage dog owners to get out and exercise their dogs, there is also a certain point at which you may be overworking your Great Dane and giving them too much exercise.
Unfortunately, we are not able to give you a set number of hours that would be considered too much exercise as this simply does not exist, but there are some signs you can look out for in your Great Dane that may indicate they have had enough exercise for the day:
- Dehydration: If you find that your dog won’t stop drinking water because they are dehydrated, you should most likely lay off the exercise for some time. Dehydration can be dangerous if it becomes extreme, so always ensure your dog has access to clean water.
- Tired: Exercise can be tiring for dogs, just like it is for humans. Therefore, if you find that your dog is tired, they are probably not in the mood to continue exercising. Signs of tiredness include moving slower and laying down to sleep in the middle of exercise.
- Reduced Skills: Another sign that your dog is exhausted and should not be exercised any further is if they seem to be underperforming with a certain activity. For example, failing to catch tennis balls when they usually do it flawlessly.
By keeping an eye out for any of these signs, you can know when to stop pushing your dog to exercise more and avoid overworking your Great Dane.
Final thoughts
There we have it! The Great Dane needs quite a bit of exercise due to their large size, and there are many ways to go about that. However, remember that too much exercise is not good either! We hope this article has helped you and we thank you for reading.
