Is it Normal for a Great Dane to Always be Hungry?

I wonder how many people decided they’d one day own a Great Dane while watching Scooby-Doo in their youth! Like our childhood friend Scooby, Great Danes are loyal and loveable, high energy, and smarter than we sometimes think. And hungry? Like Scooby, your Great Dane may try to entice you to feed him (or her) every morsel of food in your house! If this is your first experience owning a Great Dane, surely you have asked…
“Is it Normal for a Great Dane to Always be Hungry?!?”  Yes. It’s completely normal for a Great Dane to always be hungry !! Today you’ll discover why and more importantly, what you can do to help your Great Dane feel more satiated all-over.

Welcome to the big Dog Den, I’m glad you’re here!

In this article you’ll discover:

• Why Your Great Dane Always Seems Hungry
• How much (and How Often) Great Danes Should be Eating
• How Quality Dog Food Helps
• How Your Great Dane “Measures Up” to the Average Breed Standards
• What Things Your Great Dane Should be Chewing On
• 5 Helpful Tips in Dealing With a Great Dane’s Appetite

…And so much more! We have a lot of information to chew on today, collected from the top authorities in the overall health and wellbeing of dogs. For today’s piece, specifically Great Danes. I’ve gathered the most accurate and up-to-date information from the best sources available! These include:

• The American Kennel Club
• The American Veterinary Medical Association
• The Great Dane Club of America
• The United States Department of Agriculture (Which Governs the dog Food Industry)

Without further ado, let’s dig in!

Why is My Great Dane Always Hungry?

There is a difference between your dog always being hungry and seeming to be hungry. Chances are, there are about three times a day when he (or she) is actually requiring sustenance. Aside from genuine hunger, your dog will eat reasons very much like our own. These reasons may be:

• An inherent need to chew: As unusual as it may sound, chewing brings dogs and humans a degree of pleasure and comfort. Think of a baby with a pacifier or a puppy with your bedroom slipper, LOL! Mammals are chewers. Period. As responsible pet owners, it’s on us to govern the amount of food our dogs eat and to provide an adequate “tool” to satiate the chewing urge.
• Restlessness or Boredom: These are actually a symptom, and not the problem itself. Behind restlessness and boredom stands the culprit under-stimulation,  physically or/and mentally.  Your Great Dane Should be exercising from 60-90 minutes daily, depending on his (or her) age. For more extensive coverage on exercise and your Great Dane, please read, “How to Exercise a Great Dane” right here in the Big Dog Den. In addition to stimulating your dog’s body, stimulate his (or her) mind as well! This includes bonding time, training time, playtime together, lots of affection and praises and some interactive toys or other chewing alternatives to stave off boredom hunger.
• Habit: When a dog gets snacks at specific times each day, it can become routine. Habitual. The dog associates the snack with the pleasure of you rewarding him (or her) and of the snack being tasty.

Pleasure+Pleasure=Give me More!

Once you utilize everything you’re learning here today, each factor will contribute to your dog being more satiated and calm. The tips you’ll discover, along with your patience and consistency (key elements to success!) will provide your dog everything he (or she) needs to live a well-balanced life, physically and emotionally.

How Many Times a Day Should I Feed my Great Dane?

Puppies that have been weaned from their mother should eat four small portions of food daily. If this isn’t feasible for your schedule, feed your puppy no less than three times a day. In adulthood, breaking the daily portion up into three meals is ideal, with the minimum being two meals.

Your dog (or puppy) won’t die or starve from eating one meal-a-day, but several smaller meals help to regulate energy and hormone levels throughout the day. In addition, smaller meals will help your great Dane Feel less hungry. It is not recommended you “free feed” your dog. A regular eating routine with regular mealtimes helps you get a clearer picture of how much your dog is actually eating.

Furthermore, one meal a day can promote bloat, a painful (and potentially fatal) condition!

Here are the daily recommendations for feeding your Great Dane (according to age). These are general guidelines, and your dog may eat slightly more or slightly less.  Only excessively more or less would indicate an issue. Please note, females eat at the lower end of the range as a general rule of thumb.

Your Great Dane Should Eat About:

• From 3-6 Months of Age: 3-6 Cups Daily
• From 8-12 Months of Age: 5-10 Cups Daily
• From 1-2 Years Old (Adolescence): 8-15 Cups Daily
• From 2-6 Years Old (Adulthood):  6-10 Cups Daily

As you can see, that’s quite a leeway! You want to give your dog the amount in the above ranges that he (or she) will eat in about 15 minutes, and not be “asking” to be fed in the very next hour. If the bowl is consistently empty in 5 minutes, try increasing the amount by a half to a whole cup at a time. If there is food left in the bowl constantly, decrease the portions by about the same amount that is left over.

When your dog is eating the right amount of food, he (or she) with thrive, have plenty of energy, rest well at night, and not be prone to destructive behaviors.

* This article has been reviewed in accordance with our editorial policy.