A Great Dane is one of the famous dog breeds many people wonder about. Typically, this breed is friendly and makes for an excellent family dog. However, a Great Dane can also be aggressive, and here is what you need to know about it.
The Great Dane breed is calm most of the time, but if your dog is aggressive, there may be many reasons for it. Typically, the pet shows aggression when someone is over-friendly to it. Additionally, it becomes angry when experiencing fear or facing an intruder.
If you want to learn about the aggressiveness of your Great Dane in detail, you’re in the right place. We can help you understand the pet’s behavior to ensure minimum biting cases. Here is all the information you need to know about aggressive Great Danes.
What Is a Great Dane’s Temperament?
The temperament of a Great Dane is relaxed, confident, and loving. This is why the dog is recommended to many families by vets and other professionals. Besides that, the breed is also calm and friendly with its owners.
A Great Dane may be also be referred to as a “gentle giant” because of its relaxing nature. That is why you should not instantly start fearing this dog. The pet also gets along with other animals and does not harm kids. However, keep in mind that the dog can experience sudden mood changes.
How Common Is Aggression In Great Danes?
As mentioned earlier, Great Danes are complacent and friendly dogs. This is why you cannot tie to fixed aggression events. The pet may pose a threat in particular cases only. That is why the occurrence of aggression depends on your pet’s environment.
If your Great Dane meets intruders regularly, it may act more aggressively than other dogs of the same breed. Similarly, the dog can get anxious if you have other pets entering the Great Danes territory.
So there is no way to define the commonness of aggression in Great Danes. It all depends on how you manage your pet. Socializing is one of the things that can help you keep your dog calm. It will also allow you to reduce the occurrences of aggressive events.
Are Great Danes Intimidating?
One of the key things to note about Great Danes is that they are a relatively large dog breed. As such, your pet can be extraordinarily tall, which may cause it to appear intimidating. Typically, people who don’t understand this breed and its nature find it threatening.
However, you may not find a sweeter dog than a Great Dane in many cases. So the breed is not technically intimidating except for the pet’s size. Thus, there is no reason for you to fear your Great Dane.
Are Great Danes Biters?
Great Danes do not bite when they are in a friendly environment and around familiar people. However, they can attack without giving a warning in some cases. That is why you cannot refer to the dog as a biter in general. The pet will not attack if a Great Dane is being cared for and does not feel threatened.
Meanwhile, an intruder can alert your Great Dane and cause it to bite the person. Besides that, another animal in its territory can also make your pet anxious. This may end up in the dog biting the other species.
Apart from that, frustration can also result in the Great Dane becoming a biter. Luckily, you don’t have to worry much because there are ways to calm down your pet. You can easily prevent your Great Dane from biting others by learning the proper techniques.
How Do You Stop A Great Dane From Biting?
There are many reasons why a Great Dane may bite others. One of the top stages during which this breed bites is called teething. All dogs go through this phase, and a great way to help your pup during this time is to offer them a soft toy to chew on.
Another way to stop your Great Dane from biting is to find the cause of its aggressiveness. The best way to do this is by observing your pet’s behavior and its surroundings. Besides that, you should also take the dog to an experienced vet.
The vet will run a checkup to help you determine whether there is a medical reason behind the aggressiveness. Once you understand the cause, you can eliminate it by changing your Great Dane’s environment.
Do Great Danes Attack Their Owners?
Great Danes do not attack their owners in typical situations. Not only that, but they feel a strong bond towards their guardians. That is why such biting cases do not occur typically.
However, if your pet feels danger, frustration, or anxiety, they end up attacking you. You can reduce the incidents by always making your furry companion feel safe.
Do Great Danes Attack Other Dogs?
This breed of dog is usually protective of other animals and people. However, environmental changes may result in the Great Dane attacking other dogs. Typically, this happens when your pet is territorial, or the other animal is causing them harm.
Will A Great Dane Attack An Intruder?
A Great Dane is more aggressive towards unknown people, especially if they pose a threat. That is why they are more prone to attack intruders than to harm their owners. However, this does not happen if the stranger is friendly and does not threaten the dog.
When Do Great Danes Get Aggressive?
Here are the top situations during which your Great Dane can act highly aggressive:
Fear
Fear is one of the top reasons behind a Great Dane’s aggressiveness. This is because it changes the mood of your pet significantly. Typically, the dog may be fearful because of a sharp thing in its surroundings.
Besides that, intruders also cause Great Danes to fear a bit, and over-friendly behavior also results in the same. When your dog feels scared, it may seem a bit anxious. However, it can also attack without warning or showing signs of fear.
Being Territorial
Great Danes are territorial dogs and require you not to cross their boundaries. That is why you should avoid being too friendly with your pet or playing with it for a long time. Apart from that, other animals can also result in your Great Dane being territorial.
So if you have pets, you should consider keeping them in different environments. Otherwise, it is best to observe the pattern of the Great Dane around the alien animal. This will help you determine if the pet is being territorial or not.
Frustration
Frustration is another thing that can turn your friendly Great Dane into an aggressive one. Many reasons invoke this feeling in your furry companion. For instance, the dog may be tired of your constant petting.
Besides that, you may be over-exercising your dog by taking it on long walks or playing with it too much. These are a few things that can cause the Great Dane to feel frustrated. In such a case, the dog may appear distant to you and bite others.
Dominance
Many breeds of dogs do not manage well when another pet or human is exhibiting dominant behavior. This can result in the Great Dane becoming aggressive instantly to take power back. However, the occurrence of such a case is relatively lower than others.
Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the top reasons that can cause your Great Dane to exhibit biting behavior. The surroundings may be making your pet anxious, or it may be a threat to its environment. Besides that, intruders also make Great Danes anxious.
Illness Or Injury
The final reason that can cause a Great Dane to be aggressive is an illness or an injury. Your pet may be in pain and reacting to it by showing biting and attacking behavior. That is why you should never let any injury go untreated.
How Can I Prevent My Great Dane From Being Aggressive?
The best way to prevent your Great Dane from being aggressive is by understanding the root cause. After that, you should eliminate the factor that makes your pet aggressive. It is also best to be friendly around the dog and not take it to unfamiliar places.
Is It Possible To Train A Great Dane Not To Be Aggressive?
It is possible to train a Great Dane to be calm by keeping a safe environment and eliminating factors that would invoke aggressive conditions. However, you can eradicate the aggressive behavior depending on various factors.
Why Is It Important To Socialize Dogs With A High Potential For Aggression?
One of the top ways to reduce attacking behavior in your pet is by allowing it to socialize with other animals and people. The best way to eliminate unfamiliar things is by helping your pet adjust to the environment. This is why socializing can reduce aggressive behavior.
Final thoughts
This is everything you need to know about why Great Dane may be aggressive. Controlling your pet’s environment is the best way to reduce attacking incidents. Meanwhile, regular checkups with a vet can also help diagnose underlying conditions resulting in aggressive behavior.
