Great Dane
CDA Breed Standard
Registered Great Danes
General Appearance
The ideal Great Dane has a dignified appearance. The body is smoothly-muscled and square in shape. The head is long and rectangular. The eyes are always dark. The only exception is an occasional harlequin that may have light colored eyes or eyes of different colors. The nose is black, except in blues and some harlequins (see Color/Marking). The neck is firm and long. The tail is broad at the base and tapers smoothly to a point. It should never be docked. The forequarters are muscular. The hindquarters are strong and broad. The hocks lean neither inside nor outside. The coat is short.
Color/Marking
The acceptable colors are fawn, brindle, blue, black, harlequin, and mantle (also known as boston). Fawn is a yellow or gold with a black mask. Black may also appear on the ears and tail tip. In brindles, the base color is a yellow or gold similar to that described in Fawn. Strong black stripes cover the entire coat. Brindles typically have a black mask as well. Blue is a pure steel blue, with a blue-gray nose as well. Black is pure black. In harlequins, the base color is a pure white. Torn patches of black are irregular, and usually appear mainly on the head, back, and tail. The nose may be black or black spotted. Mantles are black and white, with a usually solid black blanket covering the body. The head is black and the muzzle white. Typically, the neck, chest, and all or part of the legs are white. The tail is black with a white tip.
CDA Disqualifications
Great Danes of any color other than fawn, brindle, blue, black, harlequin, or mantle.
Other
Unaccepted, but registerable colors include: merle, merle mantle, white, fawnequin, fawn mantle, brindlequin, brindle mantle, bluequin, blue mantle.
For examples of all colors (accepted and otherwise), check out Possible Colors/Patterns. For Great Dane color genetics, check out this Great Dane Color Genetics Guide by Tiju.
� 2001 Tiju and the SDC