The Kennel Club Breed Standard for the Great Dane
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 high quarters. 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 the 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 high of dog. Length from nose to point between eyes about equal of preferably of greater length than from this point to back of occiput. Skull flat, slight indentation running up centre, occiputal peak not prominent. Decided rise or brow over the eyes but not abrupt stop between them, face well chiselled, well filled in between 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 gold 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 the 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, ie. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Neck Neck long, well arched, quite clear and free from lose 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, bell 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 nose preferably dark.
BLUES:colour varies from light grey to deep slate, the nose and eyes may be blue.
BLACKS: black is black.
In all the above colours white is only permissible on chest and feet, but it is not desirable even there. Nose always black, except in harlequins and blues. Eyes and nails perfectly dark.
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 nose or butterfly noses permissible but not desirable.
MANTLES: 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 perfectly dark.
Size Minimum height of an adult dog over eighteen months : 76 cms (30"), bitches : 71 cms (28")
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.
Note Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
Characteristics Alert expression, powerful, majestic action displaying dignity.
Temperament Kindly without nervousness, friendly and outgoing.
Head and Skull Head, taken altogether gives the 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 high of dog. Length from nose to point between eyes about equal of preferably of greater length than from this point to back of occiput. Skull flat, slight indentation running up centre, occiputal peak not prominent. Decided rise or brow over the eyes but not abrupt stop between them, face well chiselled, well filled in between 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 gold 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 the 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, ie. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Neck Neck long, well arched, quite clear and free from lose 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, bell 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 nose preferably dark.
BLUES:colour varies from light grey to deep slate, the nose and eyes may be blue.
BLACKS: black is black.
In all the above colours white is only permissible on chest and feet, but it is not desirable even there. Nose always black, except in harlequins and blues. Eyes and nails perfectly dark.
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 nose or butterfly noses permissible but not desirable.
MANTLES: 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 perfectly dark.
Size Minimum height of an adult dog over eighteen months : 76 cms (30"), bitches : 71 cms (28")
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.
Note Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
1. Throatline 9. Croup 17. Shoulder Joint 25. Nails 33. Rear Pastern
2. Withers 10. Set of Tail 18. Upper Arm 26. Croup 34. Hindfoot/toes
3. Shoulders 11. Tail 19. Elbow 27. Upper Thigh 35. Dew Claw
4. Prosternum 12. Flank 20. Forearm 28. Stifle
5. Forechest 13. Belly 21. Wrist 29. Stifle Joint
6. Rib cage 14. Groin 22. Pastern 30. Lower Thigh
7. Back 15. Underline 23. Forefoot/toes 31. Hock
8. Loin 16. Chestline 24. Paw 32. Hock Joint
2. Withers 10. Set of Tail 18. Upper Arm 26. Croup 34. Hindfoot/toes
3. Shoulders 11. Tail 19. Elbow 27. Upper Thigh 35. Dew Claw
4. Prosternum 12. Flank 20. Forearm 28. Stifle
5. Forechest 13. Belly 21. Wrist 29. Stifle Joint
6. Rib cage 14. Groin 22. Pastern 30. Lower Thigh
7. Back 15. Underline 23. Forefoot/toes 31. Hock
8. Loin 16. Chestline 24. Paw 32. Hock Joint
1. Nostrils 5. Top Lip 9. Forehead 13. Eye 17. Crest of the Neck
2. Nose 6. Corner of Mouth 10. Skull 14. Eyebrow
3. Nosebridge 7. Cheek 11. Occiput 15. Dewlap
4. Upper Jaw 8. Stop 12. Ear 16. Neck
2. Nose 6. Corner of Mouth 10. Skull 14. Eyebrow
3. Nosebridge 7. Cheek 11. Occiput 15. Dewlap
4. Upper Jaw 8. Stop 12. Ear 16. Neck
Gait of the Great Dane Skeletal Structure of the Great Dane
