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A Breed Standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament and appearance including the correct colour of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function. Absolute soundness is essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be careful to avoid obvious conditions or exaggerations which would be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed. From time to time certain conditions or exaggerations may be considered to have the potential to affect dogs in some breeds adversely, and judges and breeders are requested to refer to the Breed Watch section of the Kennel Club website here http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/watch for details of any such current issues. If a feature or quality is desirable it should only be present in the right measure. However if a dog possesses a feature, characteristic or colour described as undesirable or highly undesirable it is strongly recommended that it should not be rewarded in the show ring.

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:

  1. a) 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 preferably dark.

  1. b) Mantle: Black and white with a solid, black blanket extending over the body. Ideally – black skull with white muzzle, white blaze optional, whole white collar preferred, a white chest, white on part or whole of the forelegs and hindlegs, white tipped black tail. Nose always black, eyes and nails preferably dark

Acceptable Mantles, with 1 being ideal.

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.

Acceptable harlequin markings, with 1 being most desirable.

Size

Minimum height of an adult dog over eighteen months: 76 cms (30 ins); bitches: 71 cms (28 ins). Weight, minimum weight over eighteen months: dogs: 54 kgs (120 lbs); bitches: 46 kgs (100 lbs).

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 and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

Note

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

Great Dane Standard (FCI)

Brief Historical Summary

As forerunners of the present day Great Dane, one must look at the old “Bullenbeisser” (Bulldog) as well as the “Hatz-and Saurüden” (Hunting and wild boar hounds), which were midway between the strong Mastiff of English type and the fast, handy Greyhound. The term Dogge was at first understood to mean a large, powerful dog, not of any particular breed. Later, particular names such as Ulmer Dogge, English Dogge, Great Dane, Hatzrüde (Hunting Dog), Saupacker (boarfinder) and Grosse Dogge (Great Dogge), classified these dogs according to colour and size. In the year 1878 a Committee of seven was formed in Berlin, consisting of active breeders and judges with Dr. Bodinus in the chair, which made the decision to classify all the forenamed varieties as “Deutsche Doggen” (Great Danes). Thus the foundation was laid for the breeding of a separate German breed.

In the year 1880, on the occasion of a show in Berlin, the first standard for the Deutsche Dogge was laid down.This standard has been taken care of since the year 1888 by the “Deutsche Doggen Club 1888 e.V.” (German Doggen Club, registered Club 1888) and frequently been revised over the years. The present Standard meets the requirements of the F.C.I.

General Appearance

The Great Dane in his noble appearance combines a large, powerful well constructed body with pride, strength and elegance. By substance together with nobility, harmonious appearance, well proportioned outlines, as well as an especially expressive head, the Great Dane strikes the onlooker as a noble statue, never coarse or with refined elegance. Perfect in balance and always with clearly defined sexual dimorphism. He is the Apollo amongst all breeds.

Important Proportions

Almost square in build, this applies particularly to males. Females can be a little longer in body.

Temperament

Friendly, loving and devoted to his owners. Might be reserved towards strangers, but required is a confident, fearless, easily tractable, docile companion and family dog with high resistance to provocation and without aggression. Socially acceptable behaviour is of the utmost importance.

Head

In harmony with the general appearance. Long, narrow, distinct and expressive. Never wedge shaped. Finely chiselled, especially under the eyes. The distance from tip of nose to stop and from stop to the slightly defined occipital bone should be as equal as possible: Ratio 1:1. The upper lines of muzzle and skull should definitely run parallel. The head must appear narrow and angular seen from the front with bridge of nose as broad as possible.

Cranial Region:

Top skull must be flat and angular.

Skull: Superciliary ridges well developed but not protruding.

Stop: Clearly defined.

Facial Region:

Nose: Well developed, more broad than round with large nostrils. Must be black with the exception of harlequins (white with black patches). In these a black nose is desired but a butterfly nose (black with pink patches) or flesh coloured nose is tolerated. In blue dogs the colour of the nose is anthracite (diluted black).

Muzzle: Deep and as rectangular as possible. Bridge of nose must never be concave (dish shaped), convex (roman nose) or falling away in front part (eagle nose).

Lips: Front boundary lines of the lips angular, well-defined corners of lips. Lips neither lacking flews nor being too pendulous or rolled in. Dark pigmented lips. In harlequins not totally pigmented or flesh coloured lips are tolerated.

Jaws/Teeth: Well developed broad jaws. Strong sound and complete scissor bite (42 teeth according to the dentition formula). The absence of up to two P1 teeth in the upper or lower jaw is tolerated.

Cheeks: Cheek muscles only slightly defined and in no way protruding.

Eyes

Of medium size with lively friendly intelligent expression. Almond shaped with close fitting lids. Eyes not set too wide apart or slit eyes. As dark as possible, light piercing or amber coloured eyes are undesirable. Although in blue dogs slightly lighter eyes are tolerated. In harlequins (white with black and grey with black patches) pale (ice blue) eyes or two differently coloured eyes are to be tolerated.

Ears

Naturally pendant set on high, but not lifted above skull or hanging low. Medium sized. Front edges lying close to cheeks but neither hanging flat nor standing off from sides of head.

Neck

Long, clean, muscular and never short or thick. Well formed set on, tapering slightly towards the head, with arched neckline. Carried upright but inclined slightly forward, but no ewe neck. Throatiness or dewlap is highly undesirable.

Body

Withers: The highest point of the strong body. It is formed by the points of the shoulder blades which extend beyond the spinal
processes.

Back: Short, firm and muscular, in almost straight line falling away imperceptibly to the rear. Back never to be long or with top line rising towards the rear.

Loin: Slightly arched, broad, strongly muscled. Croup: Broad, well muscled. Sloping slightly from hipbone to tail
set, imperceptibly merging into the tail set. Croup must never fall away steeply or be completely flat.

Chest: Reaching to the elbows. Well sprung ribs, reaching far back. Ribs must never be barrel shaped or flat. Chest of good width and depth and must never look flat sided or shallow. Well marked fore-chest, although breastbone must not be too strongly pronounced. Underline and belly: Belly well tucked up towards rear, forming a nicely curved line with the underside of the brisket. It is not desirable that females retain a slack belly line after maternal duties.

Tail

Reaching to the hocks, must not be too long or too short. Set on high and broad, neither too high nor too low. Not too thick, tapering evenly towards tip. In repose tail is hanging down with natural curve. When the dog is alert or moving the tail is carried slightly sabre-like but not markedly above the backline, must never be carried above the back line. Hook tail or curled tail as well as a tail carried sideways are highly undesirable. Bristle hair on tail undesirable.

Limbs

FOREQUARTERS:
General appearance: Must be sufficiently angulated and with strong bone and muscles. Viewed from the front, standing straight and parallel.
Shoulder: Strongly muscled. The long, slanting shoulder blade forms an angle of 100 to 110 degrees with the upper arm.
Upper arm: Strong and muscular, close fitting should be slightly longer than the shoulder blade.
Elbow: Turned neither in nor out.

Forearm: Strong, muscular. Seen from front and side, completely straight with vertical stance.
Carpus (Wrist): Strong, firm, only slightly standing out from the structure of the forearm.
Metacarpus (Pastern): Strong, straight when seen from the front, seen from the side, barely slanting forwards.
Forefeet: Rounded, well arched, well-knit toes (cat feet). Nails short, strong and as dark as possible.

HINDQUARTERS:
General appearance: The whole skeleton is covered by strong muscles which make the croup, hips and upper thighs appear broad and rounded. The strong well angulated hind legs, viewed from behind, are parallel to the front legs.
Thigh: Long, broad, very muscular.
Stifle (Knee): Strong, positioned almost vertically under the hip joint.
Lower thigh: Long, of approximately the same length as the upper thigh. Well muscled.
Hock joint: Strong, firm, turning neither in nor out.
Metatarsus (Rear pastern): Short, strong, standing almost vertical to the ground.
Hind feet: Rounded, well arched, well-knit (cat feet). Nails short, strong and as dark as possible.

Gait/Movement

Harmonious, lithe, covering a lot of ground, slightly springy. Never with a short stride or pacing. Legs must be parallel in movement, both coming and going and always well co-ordinated between front and rear.

Skin

Tight fitting. In solid colours, well pigmented. In harlequins, the distribution of pigment mainly corresponds to the markings.

Coat

Hair: Very short, dense, smooth and close lying, glossy. Must never be coarse, dull or a double coat.

Colour: The Great Dane is bred in three separate colour varieties:
Variety 1: Fawn and brindle;
Variety 2: Harlequin: white and black spotted, Merle: grey and black spotted, and black;
Variety 3: Blue.

Fawn: Light gold fawn to deep gold fawn, evenly shaded throughout
the body. Black mask desired. Small white markings on
the chest are permitted.

Brindle: Basic colour, light to deep gold fawn with black stripes as regular and clearly defined as possible, running with the direction of the ribs. Black mask desired. Never with washed-out streaks. No white markings.

Harlequin (white with black splashed patches): Basic colour pure white, preferably with no ticking. Pure black patches well distributed all over the body, having the appearance of being torn. Grey or brownish patches or nuances of those colours in the black are undesirable as well as blue-grey ticking in the white.

Merle: (grey-black splashed patches): Basic colour grey, preferably with no ticking, with well-distributed, irregular, torn, jet-black spots over the entire body. White markings on the chest and paws are allowed. Included here are “Mantel Great Danes”, where the grey-black spotting covers the body like a mantle and the muzzle, neck, chest, belly, legs, and tail tip are white.

Black: Jet black, white markings on chest and feet permitted.
Included here are “Mantle Great Danes” in which the black covers the body like a coat (“mantel”) or blanket and muzzle, throat, chest, belly, legs and tip of tail are white. Also, dogs with basic white colour and large black patches so called “Plattenhunde”. The black colour must never have nuances of fawn or brown or bluish black colour.

Blue: Pure steel blue, white markings on chest and feet permitted. Never with a fawn nuance or blackish blue colour.

Size and Weight

Males: at least 80 cm, should not exceed 90 cm at the withers.
Females: at least 72 cm, should not exceed 84 cm at the withers.

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.
  • HEAD: Insufficient stop.
  • MUZZLE: Tendency for occasional presence of a rolled in lip (covering of the lower jaw incisors by the lower lip).
  • TEETH: Irregular position of individual incisors as long as the bite remains correct, teeth too small. Partial pincer bite.
  • EYES: Protruding or too deeply set.
  • EARS: Set too high or too low, standing out to the sides or lying flat.
  • NECK: Sheep neck.
  • SHOULDERS: Loose or loaded. Upright shoulder blades.
  • BACK: Rising towards the rear, too long.
  • BREAST: Barrel-shaped or flat rips.
  • UNDERLINE AND BELLY: Insufficiently drawn up belly line, insufficiently regressed mammary glands.
  • ELBOWS: Lose.
  • FOREARM: Bent. Distensions above the pastern joint.
  • METACARPUS (pastern): Swolen. Significantly yielding or overbent. Pasterns which are markedly weak, too sloping or too upright.
  • HINDQUATERS: With too much or too little angulations. Cow hocked, close-set, or barrel-hocked stance.
  • TAIL: Set too high or too low, carried hooked or curled, brush tail.
  • FEET: Flat, splayed, long. Dewclaws.
  • COLOUR: Fawn Danes: grey, blue, or sooty fawn; Brindle Danes: grey, blue, or sooty fawn with indistinct brindling; Black Danes: yellow, brown or blue-black coloration; Blue Danes: fawn or blackish-blue coloration.

Severe Faults

  • TEMPERAMENT: Lacking self-confidence, shy, nervous.
  • SKIN: Strong wrinkles in the area of the muzzle and cheeks, strongly pronounced throat skin or dewlap.
  • HEAD: Apple head and too prominent cheek muscles.
  • EYES: Slack eye lids and showing red haw.
  • BACK: Sway back or roach back.
  • CROUP: Too steeply sloping or horizontally positioned.
  • TAIL: Damaged, thickened at the tip or which has been docked.
  • GAIT: Short steps. constant pacing.

Disqualifying Faults

  • Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
  • Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities.
  • TEMPERAMENT: Fear-biting, easily provoked.
  • Blind or deaf Danes.
  • NOSE: Liver coloured or split nose.
  • EYES: Ectropion, entropion, macroblepharia. Differently coloured eyes in all solid-colours.
  • MUZZLE: Permanent presence of a rolled in lip (covering of the lower jaw incisors by the lower lip) or rolled in lip with signs of injury, swelling or inflammation of the oral mucosa.
  • JAW/TEETH: Bite that is overshot, undershot or a wry mouth, pincer bite. Missing teeth apart from up to two P1 in the upper and
    lower jaw.
  • Tail with kink.
  • COLOUR: Fawn and brindle Great Danes: Silver blue or isabellacolored,
    with a white blaze, white neck collar, white paws or “stockings,” and white tail tip. Harlequin Great Danes: White without any black (albinos), known as porcelain Danes (they exhibit mainly blue, fawn, brindle, or grey spots on a white base colour). Blue Great Danes: White forehead stripe, white neck collar, white stockings, or white tail tip.
  • SIZE: Below minimum height.

Important

  • Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
  • Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.
  • 2024 Ammendments in italic bold