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GREAT DANE (DEUTSCHE
DOGGE)
Translation: Mrs C. Seidler.
Origin: Germany.
Utilization: Companion, Watch-and Guard Dog.
Date of publication of the valid original standard: 27.07.1994
Classification FCI: Group 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer type, Molossian type
and Swiss mountain and cattledogs.
Section 2 Molossian type.
Without working trial.
Brief historical summary: As forerunners of the present day Deutsche Dogge
one must look at the old "Bullenbeisser" (bulldog) as well at the "Hatz-and
Saurüden" (Hunting and wild boar hounds) which were midway between the
strong English type Mastiffs and a fast, agile Sighthound. The term "Dogge"
was first understood to mean a large, strong dog which did not have to be
of any particular breed. Later, particular names such as "Ulmer Dogge", "Englische
Dogge", "Dänische Dogge", "Hatzrüde", "Saupacker" and "Grosse Dogge",
defined different types of 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 under the chairmanship of Dr.Bodinus, which
made the decision to classify all the forenamed varieties as "Deutsche
Doggen". Thus the foundation was laid for the breeding of a seperate
German breed.
In the year 1880, on the occasion of a show in Berlin, the first standard
for Doggen was set down. This has been controlled by the "Deutscher
Doggen-Club 1888 e.V." and altered on a number of occasions through the
years. The present day version conforms to F.C.I. model.
General appearance: The noble general appearance of the Great Dane
combines a tall, strong, well made body with pride, strength and elegance.
Through substance paired with nobility, balance, well proportioned outline
as well as a specially expressive head, the Great Dane strikes the
onlooker as a noble statue. He is the Apollo amongst all dog breeds.
Important proportions: The build is nearly square, this applies in
particular to males. The length of back (point of sternum to pelvic tuber)
should not exceed height at withers in dogs by 5%, in bitches by 10%.
Behaviour/temperament: Friendly, kind and devoted to his owners, specially
to children; reserved towards strangers. A self-assured, unafraid, easily
guided and docile companion and family dog is required. He must have a
high resistance to any provocation and must not be aggressive.
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HEAD
Head: In harmony with the general appearance. Long, narrow, striking, full
of expression, fineley chiselled (especially under the eyes). Superciliary
ridges well developed but not protruding.
The distance from the tip of the nose to the clearly defined stop and from
the stop to the only lightly defined occipital bone, should be as equal as
possible. The upper line of the foreface and skull should run parallel.
The head must appear narrow when seen from the front, but with the bridge
of nose as broad as possible. Muscles in cheeks only lightly defined and
in no way protruding.
Nose: Well developed, more broad than round with large nostrils. Must be
black with the exception of harlequin (white with black patches) coloured
Great Danes. In these a black nose is desirable but a butterfly nose (partly
depigmented) or flesh coloured nose is tolerated.
Muzzle: Deep and as rectangular as possible. Well defined corners of lips.
Dark pigmented lips. In harlequins not totally pigmented or flesh coloured
lips are tolerated.
Jaws/bite/teeth: Well
developed broad jaws. Strong, healthy and complete scissor bite (42 teeth
according to usual tooth formation).
Eyes: Medium size, round, as dark as possible with lively intelligent
expression. In blue Great Danes slightly lighter eyes are permissible. In
harlequins light eyes or two differently coloured eyes can be tolerated.
Lids should be close fitting.
Ears: Set on high, drooping by nature, medium size. Front rims lying close
to the cheeks.
Neck: Long, clean, muscular. Well defined set on, tapering slightly
towards the head with arched neckline. Carried upright but inclined
forward on a slight slant.
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BODY
Withers: The highest point of the strong body. Formed by the highest point
of the shoulder-blades which extends beyond the spinal processes.
Back: Short and taut. Falling away imperceptibly to the rear.
Loins: Slightly arched, broad, well muscled.
Croup: Broad, well muscled. Falling away very slightly from the sacrum to
the tail set-on and merging imperceptibly with the latter.
Tail: Reaching to the hocks. Set on high and broad, tapering evenly
towards the tip. In repose hanging down with natural curve. When excited
or moving, can be carried slightly sabre-fashion but not markedly above
the back line. Coarse hair underneath the tail not desirable.
Brisket: Reaching to the elbows. Well sprung ribs reaching far back. Chest
of good width with well defined forechest.
Lower line: Belly well tucked up towards rear, forming a gently curved
line with the underside of the brisket.
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FOREQUARTERS
Shoulders: Strongly muscled. The long slanting shoulder-blade forms an
angle of approximately 100 to 110 degrees with the upper arm.
Upper Arm: Strong and muscular, close fitting, should be slightly longer
than shoulder-blade.
Elbows: Turned neither out nor in.
Lower Arm: Strong, muscular. Seen from front and side, completely straight.
Pastern joint: Strong, firm, only slightly distinguishable from the
structure of the lower arm.
Pasterns: Strong. Straight when seen from front. Seen from side, slanted
very slightly towards the front.
Front Feet: Round, well arched and tightly closed (cat food). Nails short,
strong, as dark as possible.
HINDQUARTERS
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, seen from behind, are parallel to the front legs.
Upper Thigh: Long, broad, muscular.
Stifles: Strong, standing almost vertically under the hip joint.
Lower Thigh: Long, approximately same length as upper thigh. Well muscled.
Hock Joints: Strong, sturdy, turning neither in nor out.
Hocks: Short, strong, almost perpendicular to the ground.
Hind Feet: Rounded, well arched and tight (cat foot). Nails short, strong,
as dark as possible.
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MOVEMENT
Harmonious, lithe, covering the ground and slightly springy. The legs seen
from either front or back must be parallel in movement.
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SKIN
Tight fitting. In solid colours well pigmented. In harlequins the
distribution of pigment is mostly in accordance with markings.
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COAT
Texture of coat: Very short and dense, smooth and shiny looking.
Colours
The Great Dane is bred in three separate varieties: Fawn and brindle /
harlequin and black / and blue.
Fawn: Pale golden fawn to deep golden fawn. Black mask desired. Small
white marks on chest and toes not desirable
Brindle: Basic colour pale golden fawn to deep golden fawn with black
stripes running out in direction of ribs. The markings must be as clear
and regular as possible. Black mask desired. Small white marks on chest
and toes undesirable.
White with black patches (Harlequins, formerly "Tigerdoggen"): Basic
colour pure white, as far as possible without any ticking. Jet
black,irregular, well broken patches well distributed on the whole body.
Gray or brownish patches not desired.
Black: jet black, white markings permitted. Included here are also "Manteltiger"
in which the black covers the body like a blanket but muzzle, throat,
chest, belly, legs and tip of tail may be white.
Blue: Clear steel blue, white markings on chest and feet permissible.
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HEIGHT
Height at withers: Dogs at least 80 cm. Bitches at least 72 cm.
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FAULTS
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and
the seriousness with which the fault is regarded should be in exact
proportion to its degree. This applies particulary to the following
departures from the standard.
General Appearance: Lack of correct gender characteristics, lack of
harmony. Too light, too coarse.
Temperament: Lack of self assurance, nervous, easily provoked.
Head: Upper lines of foreface and skull not parallel, apple head, wedge
shaped head. Too little stop, over developed muscles in cheeks.
Muzzle: Pointed, lacking in flews, flews too pendulous. Bridge of nose
dished, Roman nose or aquiline nose.
Mouth/teeth: Any departure from a complete set of teeth (only the absence
of both PM1 in the lower jaw can be tolerated); irregular position of
individual incisors as long as bite remains overwhelmingly closed. Too
small teeth. Pincer bite.
Eyes: Slack lids, haw too red. Light, piercing or amber coloured eyes.
Watery blue eyes or two different coloured eyes in all solid colours. Eyes
too far apart or slit eyes.
Ears: Set on too high or too low. Standing off sideways or lying quite
flat to the cheeks.
Cropped ears: shape and length ill matched with the head, not carried
evenly taut and erect.
Neck: Short, thick neck, ewe neck, throatiness or dewlap.
Back: Sway back, roach back, too long in back. Backline running up towards
rear.
Croup: Falling away steeply or completely level.
Tail: Too thick, too long or too short. Set on too low or too high above
the back line. Hook shaped or squirrel tail as well as tail turned
sideways. Tail which is damaged, thickened at the tip or has been docked.
Thoracic Cage: Flat or barrelshaped ribs. Lack of width or depth of chest.
Strongly protruding sternum.
Lower Line: Belly line not sufficiently tucked up. Teats which have not
retracted.
Forequarter: Insufficient angulation. Light bone, weak muscles. Stance not
vertical.
Shoulders: Loose, loaded. Steep set of shoulder-blade.
Elbows: Loose, turned in or out.
Fore Arm: Distorted. Distended above the pastern.
Pastern-Joint: Distended, very flexible or knuckled over.
Pastern: Too slanted or too steep in position.
Hindquarter: Too much or too little angulation. Cow hocks, too narrow or
bow legged stance.
Hocks: Distended, unstable.
Feet: Flat, splayed, long shaped.
Movement: Covering too little ground, restricted action. Frequent or
constant pacing. Lack of co-ordination between front and hind action.
Coat:
Make up: Stockhaar (double coat), dull coat.
COLOURS
Fawn: Gray-fawn, blue-fawn, isabella (cream) - fawn or dirty fawn.
Brindle: Ground colour silver blue or isabella. Smudged markings.
Harlequin: Blue-Gray ticked ground colour. Largish fawn-gray or blue-gray
patching.
Black: Fawn, brown or blue-black colour.
Blue: Yellowish or black-blue colour.
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SERIOUS FAULTS
Temperament: Shyness.
Mouth/teeth: Overshot, undershot, wry mouth.
Eyes: Entropion, ectropion.
Tail: Kink in tail.
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DISQUALIFYING FAULTS :
Temperament: Aggressiveness or fear biting.
Nose: Liver colour or split nose.
COLOUR
Fawn or brindle Great Danes with white blaze, white neck collar ring,
white feet or "stockings" and white tip of tail.
Blue Great Danes with white blaze, white neck collar ring, white feet or "stockings"
and white tip of tail.
Harlequin Great Danes which have white without any black (albinos), as
well as deaf dogs. So called china-brindles (they show predominantly blue
gray, fawn or brindle patches); "gray-brindles" (these have gray ground
colour with black patches).
Height: Below minimum height.
NOTE ! : Male dogs must have two apparently normal testicles fully
descended into the scrotum
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