FEDERATION CYNOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE (AISBL)

SECRETARIAT GENERAL: 13, Place Albert 1

er
B 6530 Thui !Bel"i#ue$
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20.12.2012/EN
FCI-Standard N 235
GREAT DANE
(Deutsche Dogge)
This illustration does not necessarily show the ideal example of the
breed.
TRANSLATION: Mrs. C. Seidler re!ised by Mrs ". Sporre#$illes
%. &eper and C. 'ailey ( )fficial !ersion D%.
ORIGIN: *ermany.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF TE OFFICIAL !ALID
STANDARD: +,.-+..+-..
UTILI"ATION: Companion watch# and guard dog.
FCI-CLASSIFICATION: *roup . &inscher and Schnau/er 0
Molossoid breeds 0 Swiss
Mountain and Cattle
Dogs.
Section ..- Molossoid breeds
Mastiff type.
$ithout wor1ing trial.
BRIEF ISTORICAL SU##AR$: 2s forerunners of the present
day *reat Dane one must loo1 at the old 3'ullenbeisser4 ('ulldog)
as well as the 5 6at/#and Saur7den 8 (6unting and wild boar
hounds) which were midway between the strong Mastiff of %nglish
type and the fast handy *reyhound. The term Dogge was at first
understood to mean a large powerful dog not of any particular
breed. 9ater particular names such as :lmer Dogge %nglish Dogge
*reat Dane 6at/r7de (6unting Dog) Saupac1er (boarfinder) and
*rosse Dogge (*reat Dogge) classified these dogs according to
colour and si/e.
;n the year -,<, a Committee of se!en was formed in 'erlin
consisting of acti!e breeders and =udges with Dr. 'odinus in the
chair which made the decision to classify all the forenamed !arieties
as 3Deutsche Doggen4 (*reat Danes). Thus the foundation was laid
for the breeding of a separate *erman breed.
;n the year -,,+ on the occasion of a show in 'erlin the first
standard for the Deutsche Dogge was laid down.
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This standard has been ta1en care of since the year -,,, by
the 3Deutsche Doggen Club -,,, e.B.4 (*erman Doggen Club
registered Club -,,,) and freCuently been re!ised o!er the years.
The present Standard meets the reCuirements of the >.C.;.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: The *reat Dane in his noble
appearance combines a large powerful well constructed body with
pride strength and elegance. 'y substance together with nobility
harmonious appearance well proportioned outlines as well as an
especially expressi!e head the *reat Dane stri1es the onloo1er as a
noble statue ne!er coarse or with refined elegance. &erfect in
balance and always with clearly defined sexual dimorphism. 6e is
the 2pollo amongst all breeds.
I#PORTANT PROPORTIONS: 2lmost sCuare in build this
applies particularly to males. >emales can be a little longer in body.
BEA!IOUR/TE#PERA#ENT: >riendly lo!ing and de!oted to
his owners. Might be reser!ed towards strangers but reCuired is a
confident fearless easily tractable docile companion and family dog
with high resistance to pro!ocation and without aggression.
EAD: ;n harmony with the general appearance. 9ong narrow
distinct and expressi!e. De!er wedge shaped. >inely chiselled
especially under the eyes. The distance from tip of nose to stop and
from stop to the slightly defined occipital bone should be as eCual as
possible. The upper lines of mu//le and s1ull should definitely run
parallel. The head must appear narrow seen from the front with
bridge of nose as broad as possible.
C"2D;29 "%*;)D:
S1ull: Superciliary ridges well de!eloped but not protruding.
Stop: Clearly defined.
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@
>2C;29 "%*;)D:
Dose: $ell de!eloped more broad than round with large nostrils.
Must be blac1 with the exception of harleCuins (white with blac1
patches). ;n these a blac1 nose is desired but a butterfly nose (blac1
with pin1 patches) or flesh coloured nose is tolerated. ;n blue dogs
the colour of the nose is anthracite (diluted blac1).
Mu//le: Deep and as rectangular as possible. 'ridge of nose must
ne!er be conca!e (dish shaped) con!ex (roman nose) or falling away
in front part (eagle nose).
9ips: $ell defined corners of lips. 9ips neither lac1ing flews nor
being too pendulous or rolled in. Dar1 pigmented lips. ;n harleCuins
not totally pigmented or flesh coloured lips are tolerated.
Eaws(Teeth: $ell de!eloped broad =aws. Strong sound and complete
scissor bite (F. teeth according to the dentition formula). 2ny
de!iation from a complete scissors bite (except for &M-s in lower
=aw) is highly undesirable.
Chee1s: Chee1 muscles only slightly defined and in no way
protruding.
%yes: )f medium si/e with li!ely friendly intelligent expression.
2lmond shaped with close fitting lids. %yes not set too wide apart or
slit eyes. 2s dar1 as possible light piercing or amber coloured eyes
are undesirable. 2lthough in blue dogs slightly lighter eyes are
tolerated. ;n harleCuins pale (ice blue) eyes or two differently
coloured eyes are to be tolerated.
%ars: Daturally pendant set on high but not lifted abo!e s1ull or
hanging low. Medium si/ed. >ront edges lying close to chee1s but
neither hanging flat nor standing off from sides of head.
NEC%: 9ong clean muscular and ne!er short or thic1. $ell formed
set on tapering slightly towards the head with arched nec1line.
Carried upright but inclined slightly forward but no ewe nec1.
Throatiness or dewlap is highly undesirable.
BOD$:
$ithers: The highest point of the strong body. ;t is formed by the
points of the shoulder blades which extend beyond the spinal
processes.
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F
'ac1: Short and firm in almost straight line falling away
imperceptibly to the rear. 'ac1 ne!er to be long or with top line
rising towards the rear.
9oin: Slightly arched broad strongly muscled.
Croup: 'road well muscled. Sloping slightly from hipbone to tail
set imperceptibly merging into the tail set. Croup must ne!er fall
away steeply or be completely flat.
Chest: "eaching to the elbows. $ell sprung ribs reaching far bac1.
"ibs must ne!er be barrel shaped or flat. Chest of good width and
depth and must ne!er loo1 flat sided or shallow. $ell mar1ed fore#
chest although breastbone must not be too strongly pronounced.
:nderline and belly: 'elly well tuc1ed up towards rear forming a
nicely cur!ed line with the underside of the bris1et. ;t is not desirable
that females retain a slac1 belly line after maternal duties.
TAIL: "eaching to the hoc1s must not be too long or too short. Set
on high and broad neither too high nor too low. Dot too thic1
tapering e!enly towards tip. ;n repose tail is hanging down with
natural cur!e. $hen the dog is alert or mo!ing the tail is carried
slightly sabre#li1e but not mar1edly abo!e the bac1line must ne!er
be carried abo!e the bac1 line. 6oo1 tail or curled tail as well as a
tail carried sideways are highly undesirable. 'ristle hair on tail
undesirable.
LI#BS
>)"%G:2"T%"S:
*eneral appearance: Must be sufficiently angulated and with strong
bone and muscles.
Shoulder: Strongly muscled. The long slanting shoulder blade forms
an angle of -++ to --+ degrees with the upper arm.
:pper arm: Strong and muscular close fitting should be slightly
longer than the shoulder blade.
%lbow: Turned neither in nor out.
>orearm: Strong muscular. Seen from front and side completely
straight with !ertical stance.
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A
Carpus ($rist): Strong firm only slightly standing out from the
structure of the forearm.
Metacarpus (&astern): Strong straight when seen from the front seen
from the side barely slanting forwards.
>orefeet: "ounded well arched well#1nit toes (cat feet). Dails short
strong and as dar1 as possible.
6;DDG:2"T%"S:
*eneral appearance: The whole s1eleton is co!ered by strong
muscles which ma1e the croup hips and upper thighs appear broad
and rounded. The strong well angulated hind legs !iewed from
behind are parallel to the front legs.
Thigh: 9ong broad !ery muscular.
Stifle (Hnee): Strong positioned almost !ertically under the hip
=oint.
9ower thigh: 9ong of approximately the same length as the upper
thigh. $ell muscled.
6oc1 =oint: Strong firm turning neither in nor out.
Metatarsus ("ear pastern): Short strong standing almost !ertical to
the ground.
6ind feet: "ounded well arched well#1nit (cat feet). Dails short
strong and as dar1 as possible.
GAIT / #O!E#ENT: 6armonious lithe co!ering a lot of ground
slightly springy. De!er with a short stride or pacing. 9egs must be
parallel in mo!ement both coming and going and always well co#
ordinated between front and rear.
S%IN: Tight fitting. ;n solid colours well pigmented. ;n harleCuins
the distribution of pigment mainly corresponds to the mar1ings.
COAT:
6air: Bery short dense smooth and close lying glossy. Must ne!er
be coarse dull or a double coat.
Colour: The *reat Dane is bred in three separate colour !arieties:
>awn and brindle harleCuin and blac1 and blue.
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>awn: 9ight gold fawn to deep gold fawn. 'lac1 mas1 desired.
De!er to be grey fawn blue fawn or a sooty fawn colour Do white
mar1ings.
'rindle: 'asic colour light to deep gold fawn with blac1 stripes as
regular and clearly defined as possible running with the direction of
the ribs. 'lac1 mas1 desired. De!er with washed#out strea1s. Do
white mar1ings.
6arleCuin (white with blac1 splashed patches): 'asic colour pure
white preferably with no tic1ing. &ure blac1 patches well distributed
all o!er the body ha!ing the appearance of being torn. *rey or
brownish patches or nuances of those colours in the blac1 are
undesirable as well as blue#grey tic1ing in the white. So called
3*rautiger4 occur they are neither desirable nor to be disCualified.
'lac1: Eet blac1 white mar1ings on chest and feet permitted.
;ncluded here are 3Manteltiger4 in which the blac1 co!ers the body
li1e a coat (3mantel4) or blan1et and mu//le throat chest belly legs
and tip of tail may be white. 2lso dogs with basic white colour and
large blac1 patches so called 3&lattenhunde4. The blac1 colour must
ne!er ha!e nuances of fawn or brown or bluish blac1 colour.
'lue: &ure steel blue white mar1ings on chest and feet permitted.
De!er with a fawn nuance or blac1ish blue colour.
SI"E AND &EIGT:
6eight at the withers:
Males: at least ,+ cms should not exceed J+ cms.
>emales: at least <. cms should not exceed ,F cms.
FAULTS: 2ny 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.
;nsufficient stop.
"olled in lip (the lower lip is pinched between the incisi!es of
upper and lower =aw).
;rregular position of indi!idual incisors as long as the bite
remains correct teeth too small. &artial pincer bite.
%yes protruding or too deeply set.
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Shoulders that are loose or loaded or with upright shoulder
blades.
%lbows lose.
Carpus bent enlarged or 1nuc1ling o!er.
&asterns which are mar1edly wea1 too sloping or too upright.
6indCuarters with too much or too little angulations.
6oc1 =oints that are open enlarged or unstable.
Cow hoc1ed as well as rear pasterns too close together.
Dewclaws.
>eet splayed or long.
SE!ERE FAULTS :
9ac1ing self#confidence shy ner!ous.
2pple head and too prominent chee1 muscles.
Slac1 eye lids and showing red haw.
Sway bac1 or roach bac1.
Croup sloping too much.
Constant pacing.
Tail which is damaged thic1ened at the tip or which has been
doc1ed.
DIS'UALIF$ING FAULTS:
2ggressi!e or o!erly shy dogs.
2ny dog clearly showing physical or beha!ioural abnormalities
shall be disCualified.
>ear#biting easily pro!o1ed.
9i!er coloured or split nose.
'ite that is o!ershot undershot or a wry mouth pincer bite
missing teeth apart from two &- in the lower =aw.
%ctropion entropion or macroblepharia.
$all eyes or differently coloured eyes in all solid colours except
in harleCuins.
Tail with 1in1 (i.e. deformed !ertebrae).
Sil!er blue or isabella colour in fawns and brindles.
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>awn brindle or blue dogs with white as bla/e collar soc1s or on
tip of tail.
Miscoloured harleCuins: brindle or blue patches (Kporcelain
tigerL) white with fawn.
2lbino i.e. no pigmentation.
Deafness.
'elow minimum height.
N.B: Male animals should ha!e two apparently normal testicles fully
descended into the scrotum.
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