Great
Danes are judged in South Africa according to the United Kingdom standard.
General Appearance
Very muscular, strongly though elegantly built, with a 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 hindquarters.
Elegance of outline and grace of form most essential.
Characteristics
Alert expression, powerful, majestic action displaying dignity.
Temperament
Kindly without nervousness, friendly and out going.
Head
and Skull
Muzzle or foreface broad, skull proportionally narrow. Skull flat, slight
indentation running up centre. Decided rise to brow over the eyes; face well
pinched; foreface long. of equal depth throughout. Underline of head, viewed in
profile, runs almost in a straight line from corner of lip to corner of jawbone,
allowing for fold of lip, but with no loose skin hanging down. Bridge of nose
very wide with slight ridge where cartilage joins bone. Nostrils large, wide and
open. 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.
Neck
Neck long, well-arched, quite clean and free from loose 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, belly 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
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.
Weight
and Size
Minimum height of an adult dog over 18 months: 76cms (30in); bitches 71cms
(28in). Minimum weight over 18 months: dogs 54kg (120lb); bitches 46kg (100lb).
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 nails preferably dark.
Blues: Colour varies from light grey to deep slate; the nose
and eyes may be blue.
Blacks:
Black.
Harlequins:
Pure white underground with preferably all black patches or all blue
patches, having appearance of being torn. Light nails permissible. Walleyes,
pink noses or butterfly noses permissible but not desirable.
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