The Great Dane- F.C.I.-Standard Nr. 235/14.09.1994/D
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 specially expressive head, the Great Dane strikes the onlooker as a noble statue. He is the Apollo amongst all dog breeds.
Behavior/Temperament  
Friendly, kind and devoted to his owners, specially to children; reserved towards strangers. A self-assumed, 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.
   
  Click on the number in the picture, or on the left or on the short description to receive an explanation
1. Head 2. Body
1.1 Nose 2.1 Withers
1.2 Muzzle 2.2 Back
1.3 Jaws/Bite/Teeth 2.3 Croup
1.4 Eyes 2.4 Tail
1.5 Ears 2.5 Brisket 
1.6 Neck 2.6 Lower Line
   
3. Forquarters 4. Hindquarters
   3.1 Shoulders    4.1 Upper Tigh
   3.2 Upper Arm    4.2 Stifles 
   3.3 Ellbows    4.3 Lower Tigh
   3.4 Lower Arm    4.4 Hock Joints 
   3.5 Pastern Joint    4.5 Hocks
   3.6 Pasterns    4.6 Hind Feet
   3.7 Front Feet  
   
   
 
 
1.1 Head - 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.
 
1.2 Head - 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.
 
1.3. Head - Jaws/Bite/Teeth
Well developed broad jaws. Strong, healthy and complete scissor bite (42 teeth according to usual tooth formation).
 
1.4 Head - 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.
 
1.5 Head - Ears
Set on high, dropping by nature, medium size. Front rims lying close to the cheeks.
 
1.6 Head - 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.
 
2.1 Body - Withers
The highest point of the strong body. Formed by the highest point of the shoulder-blades which extends beyond the spinal processes.
 
2.2 Body - Back
Short and taut. Falling away imperceptibly to the rear.
 
2.3 Body - Croupe
Broad, well muscled. Falling away very slightly from the sacrum to the tail set-on and merging imperceptibly with the latter.
 
2.4 Body - Tail
Reaching to hooks. 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.
 
2.5 Body - Brisket
Reaching to the elbows. Well sprung ribs reaching far back. Chest of good width with well defined forechest.
 
2.6 Body - Lower Line
Belly well tucked up towards rear, forming a gently curved line with the underside of the brisket.
 
3.1 Forequarters - Shoulders
Strongly muscled. The long slanting shoulder-blade forms an angle of approximately 100 to 110 degrees with the upper arm.
 
3.2 Forequarters - Upper Arm
Strong and muscular, close fitting, should be slightly longer than shoulder blade.
 
3.3 Forequarters - Ellbows
Turned neither out nor in.
 
3.4 Forequarters - Lower Arm
Strong, muscular. Seen from front and side, completely straight.
 
3.5 Forequarters - Pastern Joint
Strong, firm, only slightly distinguishable from the structure of the lower arm.
 
3.6 Forequarters - Pasterns
trong. Straight when seen from the front. Seen from side, slanted very slightly towards the front.
 
3.7 Forequarters - Front Feet
Round, well arched and tightly closed (cat food). Nails short, strong, as dark as possible.
 
4.1 Hindquarters - Upper Thigh
Long, broad, muscular.
 
4.2 Hindquarters - Stifles
Strong, standing almost vertically under the hip joint.
 
4.3 Hindquarters - Lower Thigh
Long, approximately same length as upper thigh. Well muscled.
 
4.4 Hindquarters - Hock Joints
Strong, sturdy, turning neither in nor out.
 
4.5 Hindquarters - Hocks
Short, strong, almost perpendicular to the ground.
 
4.6 Hindquarters - Hind Feet
Rounded, well arched and tight (cat foot). Nails short, strong, as dark as possible.
 
 
5. Movement
Harmonious, lithe, covering the ground and slightly springy. The legs seen from either front or back must be parallel in movement.
 
6. Skin
Tight fitting. In solid colours well pigmented. In harlequins the distribution of pigment is mostly in accordance with markings.
 
7. Coat
    7.1 Texture of coat 
         Very short and dense, smooth and shiny looking.
 
    7.2  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 boy 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.
 
 
8. Faults
 
9. Serious Faults
 
10. Disqualification Faults
 
11. Note
Male dogs must have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.