Great Dane Conformation Clinic
BODY
FRONTS || REARS || BODY || HEAD
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The following is from the Great Dane Standard:
General Appearance
The Great Dane combines, in its regal appearance, dignity, strength and elegance with great size and a powerful, well-formed, smoothly muscled body. It is one of the giant working breeds, but is unique in that its general conformation must be so well balanced that it never appears clumsy, and shall move with a long reach and powerful drive. It is always a unit-the Apollo of dogs. A Great Dane must be spirited, courageous, never timid; always friendly and dependable. This physical and mental combination is the characteristic which gives the Great Dane the majesty possessed by no other breed. It is particularly true of this breed that there is an impression of great masculinity in dogs, as compared to an impression of femininity in bitches. Lack of true Dane breed type, as defined in this standard, is a serious fault.
Size, Proportion, Substance
The male should appear more massive throughout than the bitch, with larger frame and heavier bone. In the ratio between length and height, the Great Dane should be square. In bitches, a somewhat longer body is permissible, providing she is well proportioned to her height. Coarseness or lack of substance are equally undesirable. The male shall not be less than 30 inches at the shoulders, but it is preferable that he be 32 inches or more, providing he is well proportioned to his height. The female shall not be less than 28 inches at the shoulders, but it is preferable that she be 30 inches or more, providing she is well proportioned to her height. Danes under minimum height must be disqualified.
Neck, Topline, Body
The neck shall be firm, high set, well arched, long and muscular. From the nape, it should gradually broaden and flow smoothly into the withers. The neck underline should be clean. Withers shall slope smoothly into a short level back with a broad loin. The chest shall be broad, deep and well muscled. The forechest should be well developed without a pronounced sternum. The brisket extends to the elbow, with well sprung ribs. The body underline should be tightly muscled with a well-defined tuck-up. The croup should be broad and very slightly sloping. The tail should be set high and smoothly into the croup, but not quite level with the back, a continuation of the spine. The tail should be broad at the base, tapering uniformly down to the hock joint. At rest, the tail should fall straight. When excited or running, it may curve slightly, but never above the level of the back. A ring or hooked tail is a serious fault. A docked tail is a disqualification.
1. Close to ideal Great Dane Dog. Danes don't get much closer to our standard than this. |
2. An excellent example of what our standard describes as the 'perfect' Great Dane bitCh. |
3. Another handsome, typy male. Some might want a little more substance overall, but still a lovely boy. |
4. A lovely, correct bitch if a tad on the 'doggy' side. |
5. A lovely femine and typy bitch. |
Different 'styles' of Danes
A nice male who conforms well to the Standard. |
A pretty bitch, but she has some faults. Although her body is nice, she's a bit lacking in drop of forechest and perhaps a bit cowhocked. |
This is a good example of a 'pretty' bitch who has several faults. She has a very straight upper arm, is high in rear, appears to have a steep croup and very straight stifles. Yet she is femine, has breed type and holds herself well. |
This dog is a good example of a basically 'correct' body, but who badly lacks breed type. No elegance due to a short thick neck, heavy, coarse head and too short a back. He is severely lacking in the elegance called for in the American standard. |
Here is a nice head and neck on a very lacking body. Topline has a dip behind the withers, a roach and a steep croup. His body lacks substance and the brisket is too shallow. Rear is extremely straight and lacking in angle as is the forequarters. |
Another extremely coarse and faulty individual, who does, however, seem to have pretty good angulation both front and rear. But a too short neck, roached back and steep croup over a too short back badly lacks quality. |
Another rather nice head and neck on a very poor body. (However I will say that the visible faults could be greatly improved by a correct stack). But even despite the handlers attempt to lower a very high rear, she's still too high behind. She's also too long in loin. |
Not a bad dog. Just generally lacking in overall bone and substance. |
This Dane bitch is a good example of the use of the Greyhound in developing our breed. Complete lack of type here. She'd actually make a better Greyhound than a Dane. |
Here is a good example of a dog who is very lacking in type (especially in the head) and is extremely unbalanced. His shoulders stick out in front of his pigeon breasted front and the upper arm is very straight. Compare this to the very over angulated rear end. This dog must have had a hard time keeping his forelegs out of the way of his rear when he moved. |
