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Great Danes are often called gentle giants, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t tear a toy apart in a matter of minutes with their huge, strong jaws. As such, it can be a challenge to find toys that can stand up to fast growing Great Danes who are even just moderate chewers, and if your Dane is teething? Forget about it!
However, toys are very important for Great Danes and all dogs, as they provide mental stimulation, exercise, comfort, fun, bonding opportunities, and more.
So, to make the toy selection process a little easier for you, we’ve rounded up a list of 7 of the best toys for Great Danes. We’ll review each one and outline the pros and cons in just a bit, but in case you want to get right to the good stuff, here’s the list:
- Best Overall: Kong XXL Classic Dog Toy
- Best for Fetch: ChuckIt! Large Kick Fetch Ball
- Best for Tug: Indestructible Cotton Rope
- Best for Chewing: Nylabone XXL Power Chew Toy
- Best Soft Toy: Kong Comfort Kiddos Lion
- Best Interactive Toy: ZippyPaws Burrow Hide and Seek Toy
- Best Dental Chew Toy: Voerou Dental Chew Toy
Now, before we look at each toy individually, let’s first talk briefly about what to look for in a Great Dane toy.
What To Look for in Great Dane Toys
There are about a million different dog toys available these days, so let’s narrow down what to look for in a toy for your Great Dane:
Type of Toy
There are many different types of dog toys, and your Great Dane will likely enjoy playing with different types of toys at different times, or maybe he’ll have one favorite toy and that’s all he’ll play with.
It will take some experimentation to determine your Great Dane’s favorite types of toys. In general, dog toys can be categorized as fetch toys, tug toys, chew toys, soft/plush toys, interactive toys, dental chew toys, or some combination of the above. We’ll look at a little of everything on this list.
Size
Since Great Danes are so huge, they will generally need XL toys that are hefty enough for them to actually play with, without risking accidentally swallowing and/or choking on the toy. Some toys actually have size/weight recommendations as far as which dogs can safely enjoy them, but even if a toy doesn’t have this type of recommendation, you can easily apply common sense to determine if a toy is appropriately sized for your Great Dane.
Durability
Of course, you want to select toys that are quite durable so they last a reasonably long time against a Dane’s big chompers. While Danes may not have jaws as powerful as the Rottie (another breed that needs special toys) they can still destroy dog toys with the best of them.
Look for toys that are made out of heavy-duty rubber, tough rope, and/or rip-resistant fabric.
Engagement
Some toys are designed for a Great Dane to play with by himself, while others are much more fun with a little human involvement (fetch and tug toys, for example). Ideally, you’ll want to choose a selection of toys that offer different types of engagement for your Dane – some chew toys and stuffed toys he can play with on his own, some toys you’ll play with together, and some that are designed to keep his attention for a long time like treat puzzles and/or interactive toys.
Toys to Avoid
Unfortunately, there isn’t any real regulation surrounding the creation of dog toys, so it’s up to you to ensure that your Great Dane’s toys are safe for him to play with. This also means regularly checking over his toys to see when they need to be washed or replaced.
Rawhide/Antlers/Bones
Despite the classic image of a dog with a bone, it’s actually not safe for Great Danes or any dogs to have bones, antlers, or even rawhide “bones” or chew toys. True bones can cause a dog’s teeth to crack (causing pain, abscesses, etc.), and the bone itself can splinter into small, deadly pieces, which your dog can accidentally eat (causing all kinds of internal havoc and potentially even having fatal consequences).
While antlers are often touted as good alternatives to bones since they have less of a tendency to splinter or break, it can still happen, which can lead to dangerous, painful, and expensive-to-treat internal blockages.
Rawhide chews are often made with unpleasant leftovers from the leather industry, and are generally augmented with all kinds of chemicals. They also have a tendency to break off into large pieces, especially when a strong chewer is involved, and the pieces can then become choking/blockage hazards.
Stuffed Toys with Toxic/Messy Stuffing
If your Great Dane has a tendency to rip apart stuffed toys, you’ll want to be extra careful to ensure that he doesn’t eat the stuffing or any components of the toy because, again, it can cause choking/blockages.
Plus, you’ll probably also soon have stuffing strewn all over your house. There are alternatives available that have the cozy feel of plush toys without including any actual stuffing, to avoid this exact problem.
If you do decide to give your dog any of these types of toys, you can mitigate the risk by only allowing your dog to have them when you are present, and supervising him closely to make sure he doesn’t ingest any stuffing, small pieces of antler, etc. And, every time you introduce a new toy, it’s a good idea to supervise play for a while until you are sure that your dog won’t immediately destroy the toy.
Best Toys for Great Danes
At the end of the day, each Great Dane is different and will have different toy preferences. So, that’s why we’ve included a variety of different toy types on this list. Let’s dive in!
Best Overall: Kong XXL Classic Dog Toy
The Kong Classic dog toy has been around decades, because it’s just that good. This toy spans many different categories: it’s a chew toy, but also can be used for fetch, or you can stuff it with treats and it becomes a treat dispenser puzzle toy.
It bounces around unpredictably, so your Great Dane can chew it for a bit, drop it, and then chase it around. You can also put some yummy treats inside and then freeze the treat for a few hours to create a dog-sicle that will keep your Dane busy for a long time. The Kong Classic is even dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. The XXL toy is designed for dogs over 85 pounds.
Read reviews and check the current price on Amazon here.
What I love about it: It spans many different toy categories, dishwasher safe, durable, can hold food or treats, good for fetch and chewing, very engaging.
What I wish it had: I can’t think of anything that would improve this classic toy!
Best for Fetch: ChuckIt! Large Kick Fetch Ball
This extra-large ball is perfect for extra-large dogs, and it’s so big that you can kick it for your Dane to fetch rather than having to pick up a slobbery ball. The 7.5-inch-diameter ball floats too so you can bring it to the beach or pool, and the bright colors make it easy to see.
The ball is also grooved so your Great Dane can easily pick it up in his mouth, and the grooves make it bounce unpredictably for extra fun chasing it- especially for your sometimes goofy Great Dane. It’s made from squishy foam, rubber, and durable canvas so it can handle many hours of rough play.
Check out some reviews and check the current price on Amazon here.
What I love about it: It’s truly big enough for Danes, kickable so you don’t have to touch it with your hands, floats, bright colors, durable materials, grooved for fun bouncing and easy pick-up.
What I wish it had: Some reviewers reported that it won’t stand up to intense chewing, but it’s meant more for fetch than chewing anyways.
Best for Tug: Indestructible Cotton Rope
This 3-foot-long cotton rope has 5 giant knots in it for chewing and to provide grip for some serious tug-of-war.
It’s designed for large dogs and strong chewers, although as usual, Great Danes should be supervised when playing this toy and you should check it regularly to ensure that it’s not coming apart or fraying – the last thing you want is to be playing tug and have the rope break, sending you and your Dane flying.
Read reviews and check the current price on Amazon here.
What I love about it: Simple design, made for big dogs, plenty of knots for chewing and grip.
What I wish it had: It’s hard to beat this basic tug toy!
Best for Chewing: Nylabone XXL Power Chew Toy
As we mentioned earlier, it’s generally not considered safe to give rawhide, bones, or antlers to your Great Dane.
However, a Nylabone can be a good alternative for a strong chewer! These chew toys come in a variety of tantalizing flavors and various sizes, with the XXL rated for dogs who are “50++” pounds. The toy has a variety of different textures that feel good on your Dane’s teeth and gums, and the whole toy is easily cleanable.
Especially if your Great Dane is a particularly voracious chewer, be sure to inspect the Nylabone regularly and replace it if you start to notice pieces breaking off or the toy getting worn down. Nylabones also come in a variety of different ‘strengths’ for gentle to extreme chewers.
Read reviews from happy customers and check the current price on Amazon here.
What I love about it: Safe alternative to other chew toys, flavored throughout, easily cleanable, textured, variety of flavors and strengths.
What I wish it had: This simple, basic chew toy doesn’t leave much to be desired.
Best Soft Toy: Kong Comfort Kiddos Lion
If your Great Dane loves plush toys, this adorable lion is a great option. It features a removable squeaky toy so you don’t have to lay awake at night while your Great Dane chomps away, but he can still have fun with the squeak during the daytime.
This toy is made by Kong, so it’s reasonably durable as far as soft toys go. Plus, is there anything cuter than a giant Great Dane snuggling with a tiny lion? I don’t think so.
Read reviews and check the current price on Amazon here.
What I love about it: Removable squeaker, durable construction, cute design.
What I wish it had: Some reviewers mention that the velcro on the back (where the squeaker comes out) is a weak point of the design – stronger velcro or a different closure system could improve this toy.
Best Interactive Toy: ZippyPaws Burrow Hide and Seek Toy
First of all, this toy is outrageously cute, featuring three squeaky little chipmunks who can burrow within a plush log.
Not only does this toy serve all the benefits of a regular plush toy, but it can also be used as a mental puzzle for your Great Dane – hide the chipmunks within the log and allow your Dane to work out how to get them out. That’s why this toy also made the list of our favorite toys for dogs that like to dig.
However, just remember to supervise your Great Dane as you introduce this toy to make sure he doesn’t immediately try to tear it apart.
Check out reviews and check the current price on Amazon here.
What I love about it: Super cute, fun design, mental puzzle will keep your Dane engaged.
What I wish it had: The toy could be a bit more durable.
Best Dental Chew Toy: Voerou Dental Chew Toy
This dental chew toy is made from durable, pet-safe rubber and has ridges that both feel good when your Great Dane sinks his teeth into them and serve to clean his teeth and gums.
The toy is scented and squeaks to encourage your dog to chew it, but you can also smear dog toothpaste or a tasty treat into the alligator’s ‘teeth’ to provide extra incentive for your Great Dane to chew away and brush his own teeth. It comes with a cleaning brush to keep the toy fresh for repeated use.
Manually brushing your dog’s teeth can be difficult and stressful for you both, so a toy that is fun and cleans his teeth can be a great alternative!
Read reviews and check the current price on Amazon here.
What I love about it: Fun design, multiple textures to clean teeth and gums, scented, squeaks, comes with a cleaning brush.
What I wish it had: It would be nice if the squeaker was removable, so you don’t have to listen to it constantly while your Great Dane cleans his teeth. However, you could always have him chew it outside!
Closing Thoughts
There are thousands of options when it comes to dog toys, so this is simply a small sampling to help you get started with choosing the best toys for your Great Dane. Does your Dane have a favorite toy that’s not on this list? Share it in the comments!
