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When choosing a loyal and dependable family dog, the Great Dane is a great choice. They enjoy the company of people and are even good with children. But, what if you live in a household with more than one pup? Will a Great Dane get along with them? The good news is, yes, they will likely get along with another dog!
In this article, we discuss what makes Great Danes good with other dogs, their aggressive tendencies, and how to manage them!
Do Great Danes Get Along With Other Dogs?
Great Danes may be intimidating due to their stature, but these gentle giants have a great reputation for being the friendliest dogs around! They are generally known for getting along with not just other dogs but cats too! This makes them good for multi-pet households.
Although unintentional, they are most likely to hurt other pets during play time due to their size, especially if they are significantly bigger. They do not understand their size and strength, and their excitement can cause them to clumsily injure other pets.
Like other things surrounding dogs’ behavior, early socialization and exposure to other pets can increase the chances of your Great Dane doing well around other pets.
Are Great Danes Good With Kids?
Great Danes are also good with children! They love their company and have a natural protective instinct with small kids. They enjoy playing with them, but just like with other pets, they may unintentionally hurt little children because of their size and strength. Due to this, it is recommended that you do not leave your Great Dane to play with them unsupervised, to prevent any unwanted accidents.
Despite cases of accidental injury, Great Danes are gentle in nature and can learn how to appropriately gauge their level of play with little children.
Are Great Danes Good Family Dogs?
Great Danes are also good family dogs. They are naturally protective, making them great guard dogs over their family and home. They are also affectionate and gentle and enjoy the company of their humans.
These are active dogs that require occasional walks to burn some of their energy and keep their nails worn down. Great Danes are calm and laidback and do not mind simply lounging at home with their humans. Due to their size, you may also need to account for the space they need to move around the house with ease.
Due to their personality with people, children, and other pets, Great Danes make excellent and reliable family dogs overall!
Can Great Danes Be Aggressive?
Like all dogs, Great Danes may have some aggressive tendencies, as no breed is considered to be “without aggression.” Although calm, friendly, and gentle overall, they can exhibit a few types of aggressive behaviors in certain situations.
Stranger Aggression
Great Danes are territorial and protective in nature. They may exhibit some form of aggression toward strangers who enter their homes. You may also find them barking loudly whenever strangers go near their property.
In most cases, this characteristic makes them the perfect guard dogs, and authoritative barking may be the most aggressive behavior you may see from your Great Dane. They have an instinct to protect, though attacking tendencies are rare among the breed.
Leash Aggression
Going back to Great Danes’ protective instincts, walking on a leash can naturally trigger their protective tendencies toward their owner. You may find your dog barking at strangers or other dogs during walks, the same way they do at home. This is not because they want to attack them but because they are exhibiting dominance to protect their owners.
While not alarming on its own, this behavior should still be properly managed through early socialization as a puppy. This can help lessen the dog’s need to exhibit dominance toward others that they encounter on the street while still maintaining their protective nature.
Other Forms of Aggression in Great Danes
Great Danes can exhibit other forms of natural aggression that they may never outgrow, typically as a result of improper socialization. The types commonly observed are as follows:
- Food aggression is when your Great Dane shows signs of aggression over their food, and this must be corrected immediately. It is commonly found among puppies because when growing up, they often have to compete with their siblings for food.
- Fear aggression, like food aggression, can come from puppyhood, when the dogs are helpless and depend on their mothers or owners for protection. This is manifested whenever they perceive something as a threat. Nervous and anxious Great Danes may be impulse biters, especially if other pets or people get too close.
- Conflict aggression is a form of aggression rooted in dominance. Great Danes with conflict aggression will use their large stature and intimidating barks to assert dominance over people and other pets.
These various forms of aggression must be addressed immediately by consulting with a professional for animal behavior. This also further highlights the importance of early socialization for all puppies.
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Safety Tips for Preventing Aggression
Great Danes are naturally friendly and gentle dogs that love interacting with people and pets. But not all Great Danes are the same, and some may exhibit undesirable behaviors. To prevent any unwanted aggressive behaviors and promote healthy interactions with people and other pets, early socialization is key!
It is also recommended that your dog is exposed to different situations. This helps them get comfortable with dealing with unfamiliar circumstances, especially if they are exposed to a variety of smells, sights, places, temperatures, and even levels of light. This should drastically decrease their risk for fear aggression while promoting positive experiences for them as puppies.
For first-time Great Dane owners, enrolling the dog in professional training programs may also be recommended. Proper training, exposure, and socialization can help your pup become an excellent family dog, especially with other pets.
Conclusion
Great Danes are naturally impressionable canines that work well with other dogs. With proper socialization and early exposure as young puppies, they can be trained to be the perfect family dog for you, your children, and your other pets!
Featured Image Credit: DragoNika, Shutterstock
