Breed standard
GREAT DANE (Deutsche Dogge)
FCI-Standard N° 235 /
09. 08. 2002 / GB
TRANSLATION:
Mrs. C. Seidler, revised by Mrs R. Sporre-Willes and E.
Peper.
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ORIGIN
Germany
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF
THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD
13.03.2001
UTILIZATION
Companion, watch- and guard dog.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I.
Group 2
Pinscher and Schnauzer – Molossoid breeds – Swiss Mountain and
Cattle Dogs and other breeds.
Section 2.1
Molossoid breeds, Mastiff type.
Without working trial.
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 a specially expressive head,
the Great Dane strikes the onlooker as a noble statue. He is
the Appolo amongst all breeds.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS
Almost square in build, this applies particularly to males. The
length of the body (point of sternum to point of buttocks)
should not exceed height at withers in dogs by more than 5%, in
bitches by more than 10%.
BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT
Friendly, loving and devoted to his owners, specially to the
children. Reserved towards strangers. Required is a confident,
fearless, easily tractable, docile companion and family dog with
high resistance to provocation and without aggression.
HEAD
CRANIAL REGION
Skull: In harmony with the general appearance. Long,
narrow, distinct, full of expression. Finely chiselled,
specially under the eyes. Superciliary ridges well developed
but not protruding. The distance from tip of nose to stop and
from stop to the lightly defined occipital bone should be as
equal as possible. The upper lines of muzzle and skull should
run parallel. The head must appear narrow seen from the front
with bridge of nose as broad as possible. Cheek muscles only
slightly defined and in no way protruding.
Stop:
Clearly defined.
FACIAL REGION
Nose: Well
developeded, rather 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. Well defined corners of
lips. 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).
Eyes:
Of medium size with lively friendly intelligent
expression. As dark as possible, almond shaped with close
fitting lids. In blue dogs slightly lighter eyes are
tolerated. In harlequins light eyes or two differently coloured
eyes are to be tolerated.
Ears:
Naturally pendant, set on high, of medium size, front edges
lying close to cheeks.
NECK
Long, clean, muscular. Well formed set on, tapering slightly
towards the head, with arched neckline. Carried upright but
inclined slightly forward.
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 and firm, in almost straight line falling away
imperceptibly to the rear.
Loins:
Slightly arched, broad, strongly muscled.
Croup:
Broad, well muscled. Sloping slightly from hipbone to tail set,
imperceptibly merging into the tailset.
Chest:
Reaching to the elbows. Well sprung ribs, reaching far back.
Chest of good width with marked forechest.
Underline and belly:
Belly well tucked up towards rear, forming a nicely curved line
with the underside of the brisket.
TAIL
Reaching to the hocks. Set on high and broad,
tapering evenly towards tip. In repose hanging down with
natural curve. When dog is alert or moving, carried slightly
sabre-like but not markedly above the backline. Bristle hair on
tail undesirable.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS
Shoulders: 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.
Elbows:
Turned neither in nor out.
Forearm:
Strong, muscular. Seen from front and side, completely straight.
Carpus:
Strong, firm, only slightly standing out from the structure of
the forearm.
Pastern:
Strong, straight when seen from the front, seen from the side,
barely slanting forwards.
Front feet:
Rounded, well arched, well-knit toes (cat feet). Nails short,
strong and 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 set parallel to the front legs.
Upper thigh:
Long, broad, very muscular.
Stifles:
Strong, positioned almost vertically under the hip joint.
Lower thigh:
Long, of approximately the same length as the upper thigh. Well
muscled.
Hocks:
Strong, firm, turning neither in nor out.
Metatarsus:
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, ground covering, slightly springy. Legs must
be parallel in movement coming and going.
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.
COLOUR:
The Great Dane is bred in three separate colour varieties: Fawn
and brindle, harlequin and black, and blue.
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● Fawn:
Light gold fawn to deep gold fawn. Black mask desired.
Small white marks on chest and toes undesirable. |
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Brindle:
Basic colours, 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. Small white markings on chest and toes are undesirable.
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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 undesirable. |
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Black:
Jet black, white markings permitted. Included here are
« Manteltiger » in which the black covers the body like
a coat (“mantel”) or blanket and muzzle, throat, chest,
belly, legs and tip of tail may be white. Also dogs with
basic white colour and large black patches so called “Plattenhunde”. |
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● Blue:
Pure steel blue, white markings on chest and feet
permitted. |
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HEIGHT
Height at withers :
Dogs at least 80 cm
Bitches at least 72
cm.
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.
General appearance:
Lack of male or female characteristics, lack of balance, too
light, too coarse in built.
Temperament:
Lacking self-confidence, nervous, easily provoked.
Head:
Lines of head not parallel, apple head, wedge shaped head, too
little stop; too prominent cheek muscles.
Muzzle:
Pointed, lacking flews, lips too pendulous. Bridge of nose
concave (dish shaped), convex (roman nose), falling away in
front part (eagle nose).
Jaws/Teeth:
Any deviation from a complete set of teeth (only the missing of
both PM1 in the lower jaw may be tolerated). Irregular position
of individual incisors as long as the bite remains otherwise
correct), teeth too small.
Eyes:
Slack lids, haw too red. Light, piercing, amber coloured eyes.
Wall eyes or differently coloured eyes in all solid coat colours.
Eyes too wide apart or slit eyes. Eyes protruding or
too deeply set.
Ears:
Set on too high or too low. Standing off from the sides of the
head or flat lying.
Neck:
Short thick neck, ewe neck, throatiness or excess of dewlap.
Back:
Sway back, roach back. Too long in back. Topline rising
towards rear.
Croup:
Falling away steeply or completely flat.
Tail:
Too thick, too long or too short, set on too low or too highly
carried above the back line. Hook tail or curled tail as well
as tail carried sideways. Tail which is damaged, thickened at
the tip or has been docked.
Ribcage:
Flat or barrel-shaped ribs. Lack of width or depth of chest.
Too strongly protruding breastbone.
Lower line:
Belly line not sufficiently tucked up. Teats not sufficiently
retracted.
Forelegs:
Insufficient angulation. Light bone, weak muscles. Stance not
vertical.
Shoulders:
Loose or loaded. Upright shoulder blade.
Elbows:
Loose, turning in or out.
Forearm:
Bent, enlarged above pastern.
Pastern:
Enlarged, markedly weak or knuckling over.
Metacarpus:
Too sloping or too upright.
Hindquarters
: Too much or too little angulation. Cow hocked, close
together or open hocked when standing.
Hocks:
Exaggerated large or unstable.
Feet:
Flat, splayed, long. Dewclaws.
Gait/Movement:
Covering too little ground, lack of freedom in action. Frequent
or constant pacing. Lack of co-ordination between front and
hind movement.
Coat:
Double coat (coarse, short coat), dull coat.
Colour:
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In fawn : Grey fawn, blue fawn,
isabella (cream) or sooty fawn
colour.
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In brindles : Basic colour silver
blue or isabella. Washed-out
streaks.
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In harlequins : Blue-grey ticked
basic colour. Large
fawn-grey or blue-grey parts in the patches.
- In blacks : Fawn, brown or blue-black colour.
- In blues: Fawn or black-blue colour.
SERIOUS
FAULTS
Temperament:
Shyness.
Jaws/Teeth:
Pincer bite.
Eyes:
Ectropion, entropion.
Tail:
Kinky tail.
ELIMINATING
FAULTS
Temperament:
Aggressiveness, fear-biting.
Nose:
Liver coloured; split nose.
Jaws/Teeth:
Overshot, undershot, wry mouth.
Colour:
- Fawn or brindle
dogs with white blaze, white collar, white feet or socks and
white tip of tail.
- Blue dogs with white blaze, white collar, white feet or socks
or white tip of tail.
- Harlequin dogs : White without any black (albinos), deaf. So
called Porcelain tigers (dogs that show predominantly blue,
grey, fawn or brindle patches), so called “Grautiger” (dogs that
have a basic grey colour with black patches).
Height:
Below minimum height.
Any dog clearly showing physical
or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
N.B.:
Male animals should have two apparently normally developed
testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
| 1 Nose |
12 Back
and Loin |
23 Forearm |
| 2
Nasal-bridge |
13 Croup |
24 Carpal joint |
| 3 Lips |
14 Pelvis |
25 Pastern |
| 4 Stop |
15 Set on
of the tail |
26 Toes |
| 5 Cheeks |
16 Tail |
27 Penis |
| 6 Skull |
17
Forechest |
28 Upper thigh |
| 7 Throat |
18 Ribcage |
29 Patella |
| 8 Ears |
19
Breastbone |
30 Lower thigh |
| 9 Neck |
20
Shoulder blade |
31 Point of the hock |
| 10 Nape |
21 Upper
arm |
32 Hock |
| 11 Withers |
22 Elbow |
33 Rear Pastern |
