On this page, you shall find material pertaining to Great Dane Colours & Other Information.
Wikipedia
Canadian Kennel Club
American Kennel Club
Jill Swedlow’s – The Great Dane, Model of Nobility
Color, Markings and Patterns of the six show-acceptable coat colors for Great Danes and at the very bottom of this page is a CHART of the 100 Colours of Great Danes.
(Click on the Chart to make it larger)
Brindle–The base color shall be yellow gold and always brindled with strong black cross stripes in a chevron pattern. A black mask is preferred. Black should appear on the eye rims and eyebrows, and may appear on the ears and tail tip. The more intensive the base color and the more distinct and even the brindling, the more preferred will be the color. Too much or too little brindling are equally undesirable. White markings at the chest and toes, black-fronted, dirty colored brindles are not desirable.
Fawn–The color shall be yellow gold with a black mask. Black should appear on the eye rims and eyebrows, and may appear on the ears and tail tip. The deep yellow gold must always be given the preference. White markings at the chest and toes, black-fronted dirty colored fawns are not desirable.
Blue--The color shall be a pure steel blue. White markings at the chest and toes are not desirable.
Black–The color shall be a glossy black. White markings at the chest and toes are not desirable.
Harlequin–Base color shall be pure white with black torn patches irregularly and well distributed over the entire body; a pure white neck is preferred. The black patches should never be large enough to give the appearance of a blanket, nor so small as to give a stippled or dappled effect. Eligible, but less desirable, are a few small gray patches, or a white base with single black hairs showing through, which tend to give a salt and pepper or dirty effect.
Mantle–The color shall be black and white with a solid black blanket extending over the body; black skull with white muzzle; white blaze is optional; whole white collar is preferred; a white chest; white on part or whole of forelegs and hind legs; white tipped black tail. A small white marking in the blanket is acceptable, as is a break in the white collar.
Other colors often occur and are referred to as ‘mismarks’ but are not acceptable for conformation showing. Their colour(s) make them no less worthy of great homes and are very much ‘quality’. However; these same colors that include white, fawnequin, merle, merlequin, fawn mantle, and others are often advertised as “rare” colors to unsuspecting buyers by byers and puppymillers. Reputable/Quality Breeders will NOT sell and/or place these colours as ‘rare’. Something I find myself repeating over and over again in the attempt to educate prospective GD buyers when they contact me for assistance is that even though they are not interested in showing in conformation; that they should still purchase from a reputable/quality Breeder for the majority of the pups in any given litter; will be pet marked(too much white for example) yet they have been bred for temperament, health, conformation, longevity and the Breeder is not only out there perserving the GD Breed that we love so much; yet they are also improving on their own lines with each generation bred. These quality/reputable Breeders do the proper health testing(PENNHIP, OFA, CERF, THYROID, CARDIO etc.), their dogs show(I like to see various titles on dogs such as CH. and Therapy etc…titles at both the front and the end of a dog’s name), have contracts, provide 24/7 life-time Breeder/Mentor Support etc.
In Rescue, the most common colour found is Black.There are many reasons and theories on the BBDS(Big Black Dog Syndrome). Statistics show that pretty much no matter the locale; it is pretty consistent with most shelters and rescue org’s that the adoption rate is lower, the surrender rate is higher, the wait time for adoption is longer and euthanasia rate is higher with big black dogs. 🙁
1) Black and black/tan is the most ‘common’ colour of dog out there and is not ‘rare’ or ‘unique’ to those that want the ‘unusual’ colour. Many consider the black dog ‘ordinary’.
2) They don’t show up well in a kennel in a shelter. It isn’t easy to distinguish their features, and, if they have any gray or white hairs on their face, they often appear older than they are.
3) Black dogs are difficult to see in their crates and cages at shelters. It’s hard to see their faces, especially in dimly lit runs
4) Superstitions give black dogs bad press.
5) It is harder to read ‘expression’ / body communication in a black dog & therefore pictures of them posted up by shelters do not convey their great personalities and expressions as well as lighter coloured dogs.
6) People fear the big black dog and are not convinced that they are in fact friendly.
7) There is a cultural bias against big black dogs because of irresponsible black & black/brown dog breed/breed x’s owners in breeds like the Doberman, Pit, Rottie, GS etc. for example.
Below are some examples of various Great Dane Colours that have graced our lives be it through Rescue or as one of our own.
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Black
BHRR’s Liquorice & BHRR’s Samari
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Black & Tan Pointed
BHRR’s Benjamin
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Blue
Our MULTI CH. Bronson, GGN & Our MULTI CH. TAIN, CGN
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Brindle
Our Dragon – An Onyx Brindle & BHRR’s Mazda – A Tiger Brindle
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Fawn
BHRR’s Marmaduke – Fawn No Mask & BHRR’s DBB Abbi – Fawn with Full Black Mask
BHRR’s Apollo – Fawn with Partial Black Mask
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Harlequin
BHRR’s Ava Marie – Harlequin & Our CH. Dyce, CGC – Flashy Harlequin
Our BLK’s Phantom – Light Marked Harlequin & BHRR’s McGee – Heavily Marked Harlequin
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Mantle
BHRR’s Fancy & Our CH. BLK’S Awesum Teacher of Many v Ross
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Fawnequin
BHRR’s Porridge
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White
Allstar’s Frost ‘T’ Ice ‘T’ & Frost ‘T’ (orange collar with littermate) Allstar’s Winter’Girl’
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PiedBald
BHRR’s Buster
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Porecelain(Blue Harlequin)
Wizzie
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Blue Brindle
BHRR’s DBB Mudslide
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Blue Fawn Merle Brindle
BHRR’s DBB Jenni
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Merle
BHRR’s Little Lady & BHRR’s KB/JB
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Merlequin
BHRR’s Miss Gracie
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Mismarked Fawn Mantle or (Mismarked Fawntle)
BHRR’s JS & BHRR’s Emma
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Mismarked Fawn Merle
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Mismarked Lilac Mantle Merle
Our BLK’s Maggi
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Silver Merle
BHRR’s Veteran
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