Race Standard
Great Dane (Deutsche Dogge)
F.C.I.-Standard Nr. 235/10.04.2002/D
Translation:
Mrs. C. Seidler, revised by Mrs R. Sporre-Willes and E. Peper.
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.
TERMS USED IN THE GREAT-DANE STANDARD:
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 of the tail |
26. Toes |
5. Cheeks |
16. Tail |
27. Pénis |
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 |
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.
GAINT/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:
- 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.
- Fawn: Light gold fawn to deep gold fawn. Black
mask desired. Small white marks on chest and toes undesirable.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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".
- Blue: Pure steel blue, white markings on chest
and feet permitted.
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:
- In fawn: Grey fawn, blue fawn, isabella (cream)
or sooty fawn colour.
- In brindles: Basic colour silver blue or
isabella. Washed-out streaks.
- 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 FAULTSliminating 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.
- 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.
N.B.: Male animals should have two apparently normally developed testicles fully
descended into the scrotum.
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