Great Dane
Non Sporting

Group:

Non sporting

Size:

very large

Lifespan:

Approx 10 years

Exercise:

medium

Grooming:

very low

Trainability:

high

Watchdog ability:

high

Protection ability:

medium

Area of Origin:

Germany

Date of Origin:

Middle Ages

Other Names:

Deutsche Dogge, German Mastiff

Original Function:

guardian, hunting large game

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.

Official Breed Standard

GENERAL APPEARANCE:
The Great Dane should be remarkable in size and very muscular, strongly though elegantly built; the head and neck should be carried high, and the tail in line with the back, or slightly upwards but not curled over the hindquarters. Elegance of outline and grace of form are most essential to a Dane; size is absolutely necessary, but there must be that alertness of expression and briskness of movement without which the Dane character is lost. He should have a look of dash and daring, of being ready to go anywhere and do anything. The action should be lithe, springy and free, the hocks move freely and the head be carried high except when galloping.

Head and Skull:
The head, taken altogether, should give the idea of great length and strength of jaw. The muzzle or foreface is broad, and the skull proportionately narrow, so that the whole head, when viewed from above and In front, has the appearance of equal breadth throughout. The entire length of head varies with the height of the dog; 33.02 cm (13 in) from the tip of the nose to the back of the occiput is a good measurement for a dog of 81.28 cm (32 in) at the shoulder. The length from the end of the nose to the point between the eyes should be about equal, or preferably of greater length than from this point to the back of the occiput. The skull should be flat and have a slight indentation running up the centre, the occipital peak not prominent. There should be a decided rise or brow over the eyes but no abrupt stop between them; the face should be well chiselled, well filled in below the eyes with no appearance of being pinched; the foreface long, of equal depth throughout. The cheeks should show as little lumpiness as possible, compatible with strength. The underline of the head, viewed in profile should run almost in a straight line from the corner of the lip to the corner of the jawbone, allowing for the fold of the lip, but with no loose skin to hang down. The bridge of the nose should be very wide, with a slight ridge where the cartilage joins the bone. (This is a characteristic of the breed). The nostrils should be large, wide and open, giving a blunt look to the nose. A butterfly or flesh-coloured nose is not objected to in Harlequins. The lips should hang squarely in front, forming a right-angle with the upper line of foreface.

Eyes:
Fairly deep set, of medium size and preferably dark. Wall or odd eyes permissible in Harlequins.

Ears:
Should be small, set high on the skull and carried slightly erect with the tips falling forward.

Mouth:
The teeth should be level and not project one way or the other.

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

Forequarters:
The shoulders should be muscular but not loaded, and well sloped back, with the elbows well under the body. The forelegs should be perfectly straight with big bone, which must be flat.

Body:
The body should be very deep, with ribs well sprung and belly well drawn up. The back and loins should be strong, the latter slightly arched.

Hindquarters:
The hindquarters and thighs should be extremely muscular giving the idea of great strength and galloping power. The second thigh is long and well developed, the stifle and hock well bent, the hocks set low, turning neither in nor out.

Feet:
The feet should be catlike and should not turn in or out. The toes well arched and close, the nails strong and curved. Nails should be black but light nails are permissible in Harlequins.

Tail:
The tail should be thick at the root, and taper towards the end, reaching to or just below the hocks. It should be carried in a straight line level with the back, when the dog is in action, slightly curved towards the end, but in no case should it curl or be carried over the back.

Coat:
The hair is short and dense and sleek-looking, and in no case should it incline to roughness.

Colour:
Brindles: Must be striped, ground colour from the lightest yellow to the deepest orange, and the stripes must always be black. Eyes and nails preferably dark.
Fawns: The colour varies from lightest buff to deepest orange, darker shadings on the muzzle and the ears and around the eyes are by no means objectionable. Eyes and nails preferably dark.
Blues: The colour varies from light grey to deepest slate.
Blacks: Black is black.
(In all the above colours white is only admissible on the chest and feet, but it is not desirable even there. The nose is always black (except in blues). Eyes and nails preferably dark).

Harlequins:
Pure white underground with preferably black patches (blue patches permitted), having the appearance of being torn. In Harlequins, wall eyes, pink noses or butterfly noses are permissible but are 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.

Weight and Size:
The minimum height of adults over eighteen months must be Dogs: 76.2 cm (30 in) Bitch: 71.1 cm (28 in) The minimum weight of adults over eighteen months must be Dogs: 54.4 kg (120 lb) Bitches: 45.3 kg (100 lb).

Faults:
Cow-hocks. Out at elbows. Straight stifles. Undershot or overshot mouth. Round bone. Snipy muzzle. Straight shoulders. Shelly body. Ring tail.

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