How to Get Great Danes to Calm Down

Great Danes are gentle giants, but the “gentle” part does not always show up right away. Young Great Danes can be surprisingly hyper, and when a dog that weighs 100 plus pounds decides to do zoomies through your living room, things can get real interesting real fast. If you are dealing with a Great Dane that seems to have more energy than they know what to do with, you are not alone and there are real solutions that work.

Most Great Danes start to calm down between 2 and 3 years of age. Some take a bit longer, especially males. The key to getting through the energetic phase without losing your mind (or your furniture) is a combination of patience, consistent training, proper exercise, and understanding what your Great Dane needs at each stage of their development.

Why Great Danes Are So Energetic

It might seem counterintuitive that one of the largest dog breeds would also be one of the most energetic as a puppy, but it makes sense when you think about their development. Great Danes take a long time to mature both physically and mentally. While a small breed dog might be fully grown by 12 months, a Great Dane is not considered physically mature until 18 to 24 months and mentally mature until 2 to 3 years.

During that extended puppyhood, they have all the energy and enthusiasm of a puppy packed into a body that just keeps getting bigger. A 6 month old Great Dane might already weigh 70 pounds but have the impulse control of a Golden Retriever puppy. That combination is why Great Dane puppies are so famously chaotic. Understanding the Great Dane temperament helps you set realistic expectations for each phase.

Exercise That Actually Helps

The right kind of exercise makes a huge difference in your Great Dane’s energy levels. But there is an important catch with this breed. You need to be careful not to over exercise a growing Great Dane because their bones and joints are still developing.

For puppies under 12 months, keep exercise moderate. Short walks (15 to 20 minutes a few times a day), gentle play in the yard, and supervised socialization with other dogs are all great options. Avoid activities that involve a lot of jumping, running on hard surfaces, or sudden stops and starts, as these can damage growing joints.

For adult Great Danes (over 2 years), 30 to 60 minutes of daily exercise is usually sufficient. This breed is not built for marathon running sessions. A couple of moderate walks per day, some play time, and the occasional adventure to a dog park or hiking trail will keep them satisfied. The goal is consistent daily activity rather than occasional intense workouts.

Mental Stimulation Is Just as Important

A bored Great Dane is a destructive Great Dane, and when a dog this size gets destructive, the damage can be impressive. Mental exercise tires them out just as effectively as physical exercise, sometimes even more so.

Training sessions are one of the best forms of mental stimulation. Great Danes are intelligent and respond well to positive reinforcement. Even just 10 to 15 minutes of practicing commands, learning new tricks, or working on impulse control exercises can drain their mental energy significantly. Puzzle toys and treat dispensing toys also work well. Kong toys stuffed with peanut butter or frozen broth, snuffle mats, and interactive feeders all give your Great Dane something productive to focus on.

Training Techniques That Build Calm Behavior

Teach a “place” command. This is one of the most valuable commands for any large breed dog. “Place” means go to your bed or mat and stay there until released. Start by luring your Great Dane to their bed with a treat, say “place,” reward them for lying down, and gradually increase the duration they need to stay. Once mastered, this command gives you a way to instantly settle your dog when things get hectic.

Reward calm behavior. Most owners only pay attention to their Great Dane when they are being wild. Flip that script. When your dog is lying quietly, chewing a toy peacefully, or just hanging out calmly, praise them and offer a treat. This teaches them that being calm earns them good things.

Practice impulse control. Exercises like “wait” before meals, “leave it” with treats on the floor, and calm greetings at the door all build your Great Dane’s ability to control their impulses. The more they practice self control in structured situations, the better they get at it in everyday life. Great Danes make wonderful pets when they have been given the structure they need to succeed.

When Nothing Seems to Work

If you have been consistent with exercise, training, and mental stimulation and your Great Dane is still bouncing off the walls, there are a few more things to consider.

First, look at their diet. Some dog foods contain fillers and additives that can contribute to hyperactivity. Switching to a high quality food with whole ingredients and no artificial colors or preservatives has helped some owners see a noticeable difference in their dog’s behavior.

Second, consider whether your Great Dane might be dealing with anxiety. Anxious dogs often appear hyperactive because they cannot settle. If your dog paces, pants excessively, or seems unable to relax even in calm environments, anxiety could be the underlying issue. A veterinary behaviorist can help diagnose and treat anxiety with a combination of training techniques and sometimes medication.

Third, make sure they are getting enough sleep. Adult Great Danes need 12 to 14 hours of sleep per day, and puppies need even more. If their sleeping environment is noisy, uncomfortable, or constantly disrupted, they may not be getting the rest they need to be calm during waking hours.

Finally, be patient with the timeline. Some Great Danes, especially males, do not fully mature until closer to 3 or even 4 years old. If your dog is under 2, they are likely still in their energetic phase and time truly is the best remedy. Keep training, keep exercising, and know that the calm, noble Great Dane you signed up for is on the way.