Breed Standard
An Illustrated Standard And Guide for the Evaluation of the Great Dane
These sections have been prepared by The Great Dane Club of America to assist fanciers, breeders and judges in their assessment and understanding of desired Great Dane type. Nothing in the discussions or illustrations contained herein should be construed as altering or contradicting the provisions of the Official Standard for the Great Dane adopted by this Club and approved by The American Kennel Club. It is rather to be considered as a supplement to, and expansion on, the Official Standard.
The reader should remember that the Official Standard describes the ideal Great Dane. In the following commentary we discuss common deviations from that ideal, and the relative importance to be placed on such deviations in the overall evaluation of an individual specimen of the breed.
Any deviation from the Official Standard should be penalized to the extent of the deviation, keeping in mind the extent to which such deviation affects the structural function of the working dog and the aesthetic appearance of the overall dog. The dog should be judged as a whole, balancing his positive qualities with his faults and giving due consideration to those areas in which he may excel.
Some countries do have a variance in these standards and it is advisable to check the requirements of the kennel club rules your particular club operates under. All information is given purely as a guide and, the writer is not held responsible for any information that may have changed since going to print.
