Great Dane

General Information - Great Dane

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History

Referred to as the "Apollo of dogs", the Great Dane combines such impressive physical and mental characteristics as to make it one of the most majestic breeds known. Pictures in Egyptian tombs, dating as far back as 3000 BC, depict dogs resembling the Great Dane; and, Celtic and Germanic tribes used the early breed types as war dogs. Authorities state that the breed was already established in Britain before the Roman Conquest and that Romans took the dogs home with them where they were used as fighting dogs. Refinement and development of the breed, however, started in Germany during the Middle Ages, and not in Denmark as the name might imply. Founding of Great Dane Clubs in Germany and England took place in the late 1800's. The breed, when it was introduced to America in 1877, was markedly vicious. American breeders were credited with transforming the Great Dane into a sweeter, well-mannered breed by the early 1900's. The breed continues to make a good family protector and pet.

Temperament

Although the Great Danes in Germany were often bred and used as estate guards and still maintain a protective instinct, the breed today is a friendly and even-tempered one. Great Danes are spirited, fearless, loyal and dependable. They make superb family pets.

Upkeep

The Great Dane needs daily moderate exercise. Its needs can be met with a good walk or romp. Despite its sturdy appearance, it is not well-suited to living outdoors and is best suited to dividing its time between indoors and out. Inside, it needs soft bedding and sufficient room to stretch out when sleeping. Some tend to drool. Coat care is minimal.

Great Dane

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be careful to avoid obvious conditions and exaggerations, as well as being mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

Breed Standard - Great Dane

General Appearance: Very muscular, strongly though elegantly built, with look of dash and daring, of being ready to go anywhere and do anything. Head and neck carried high, tail in line with back, or slightly upwards, but never curled over hindquarters. Elegance of outline and grace of form most essential.

Characteristics: Alert Expression, powerful, majestic action displaying dignity.

Temperament: Kindly without nervousness, friendly and outgoing.

Head and Skull: Head, taken altogether, gives idea of great length and strength of jaw. Muzzle broad, skull proportionately narrow, so that whole head when viewed from above and in front, has appearance of equal breadth throughout. Length of head in proportion to height of dog. Length from nose to point between eyes about equal or preferably of greater length than from this point to back of occiput. Skull flat, slight indentation running up centre, occipital peak not prominent. Decided rise or brow over the eyes but not abrupt stop between them; face well chiselled, well filled in below eyes with no appearance of being pinched: foreface long, of equal depth throughout. Cheeks showing as little lumpiness as possible, compatible with strength. Underline of head, viewed in profile, runs almost in a straight line from corner of lip to corner of jawbone, allowing for fold of lip, but with no loose skin hanging down. Bridge of nose very wide, with slight ridge where cartilage joins bone (this is a characteristic of breed). Nostrils large, wide and open, giving blunt look to nose. Lips hang squarely in front, forming right angle with upper line of foreface.

Eyes: Fairly deep set, not giving the appearance of being round, of medium size and preferably dark. Wall, or odd eyes permissible in harlequins.

Ears: Triangular, medium size, set high on skull and folded forward, not pendulous.

Mouth: Teeth level. Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck: Neck long, well arched, quite clean and free from loose skin, held well up, well set in shoulders, junction of head and neck well defined.

Forequarters: Shoulders muscular, not loaded, well sloped back, with elbows well under body. Forelegs perfectly straight with big flat bone.

Body: Very deep, brisket reaching elbow, ribs well sprung, belly well drawn up. Back and loins strong, latter slightly arched.

Hindquarters: Extremely muscular, giving strength and galloping power. Second thigh long and well developed, good turn of stifle, hocks set low, turning neither in nor out.

Feet: Cat:like, turning neither in nor out. Toes well arched and close, nails strong and curved. Nails preferably dark in all coat colours, except harlequins, where light are permissible.

Tail: Thick at the root, tapering towards end, reaching to or just below hocks. Carried in straight line level with back, when dog is moving, slightly curved towards end, but never curling or carried over back.

Gait/movement: Action lithe, springy and free, covering ground well. Hocks move freely with driving action, head carried high.

Coat: Short dense and sleek:looking, never inclined to roughness

Colour:

• Brindles - must be striped, ground colour from lightest buff to deepest orange, stripes always black, eyes and nails preferably dark, dark shadings on head and ears acceptable.
• Fawns - colour varies from lightest buff to deepest orange, dark shadings on head and ears acceptable, eyes and nails preferably dark.
• Blues - colour varies from light grey to deep slate, the nose and eyes may be blue.
• Blacks - black is black.

In all above colours white is only permissible on chest and feet, but it is not desirable even there. Nose always black, except in blues and harlequins. Eyes and nails perfectly dark.

• Harlequins - pure white underground with preferably all black patches or all blue patches, having appearance of being torn. Light nails permissible. In harlequins, wall eyes, pink noses, or butterfly noses permissible but not desirable.
•  Mantle - The colour shall be black and white with a solid black blanket extending over the body; black skull with white muzzle; white blaze is optional; whole white collar preferred; a white chest; white in part or whole of forelegs and hind legs; white tipped black tail. A small white marking in the black blanket is acceptable as a break in the white collar.

Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

01 Oct 2008

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.