Miniature Great Danes (also known as ‘Mini’ Great Danes) are the pocket-sized version of our favorite giant breed dog.
A petite micro Great Dane is still a giant breed dog, but smaller in size. Some people prefer this as it allows them to enjoy the wonderful Great Dane temperament when having a 140+ lb dog isn’t practical.
Are minature Great Danes a breed, and where can you get one? We’ll answer these questions and more below!
Do Miniature Great Danes Exist?
Mini Great Danes are real. They are not a separate breed, but rather they are just small Great Danes.
Miniature Great Danes are not runts. A runt is the smallest pup in a litter and many runts grow into normal sized adults. In some cases, the runt of a Great Dane litter can outgrow their littermates!
On the flip side, some Great Dane runts have health problems and may never reach full size; this does not make them ‘miniature’ in the traditional sense.
Actual mini Great Danes, on the other hand, are dogs of normal weight and proportions. They just happen to be petite.
There is no dwarfism or other genetic condition that causes miniature Great Danes to be small; they simply inherit genes from their parents that result in a smaller size.
On average, an adult Great Dane will weigh between 110 – 170lbs. There are many Great Danes who fall onto the lighter end of the spectrum, with some never even growing past 100lbs!
A ‘miniature’ Harlequin Great Dane
Are Petite Great Danes Healthier?
There is no evidence that Miniature Great Danes are healthier than their larger counterparts.
A well-bred Great Dane from a diligent breeder focused on the written standard for Great Danes is most likely to live a long, robust life.
Breeders who intentionally breed for petite (or huge) size are often utilizing unethical breeding practices. Some of those puppies tend to look more like a ‘small Great Dane looking dog’ than an actual, purebred Great Dane.
Contrary to popular belief, mini Great Danes are not a ‘designer’ dog. You should not pay more for a ‘mini Great Dane’.
A miniature brindle Great Dane
Miniature Great Danes are Still Giant Breed Dogs
While ‘Mini’ Great Danes are smaller than their full-sized cousins, they are still giant breed dogs and have the same nutritional needs.
Mantle Great Danes have a black and white coat pattern that is both striking and regal.
The Great Dane Club of American (GDCA) recognizes two Mantle patterns: the traditional Mantle and the Merle Mantle.
Today we are going to share photos of Mantle and Mantle Merle Great Danes!
MANTLE GREAT DANES
Below is an example of the traditional black and white Mantle pattern.
This dog has a black coat with white markings on the chest, neck, muzzle, underparts, and legs.
The GDCA standard describes the ideal Mantle as follows:
Color – Black and white with a black blanket extending over the body.
Patterns and Markings – Black skull with white muzzle; white blaze is optional; whole or partial white neck; a white chest; white on whole or part of the forelegs and hind legs; white-tipped black tail. A small white break in the blanket is acceptable. Black pigment may be seen on the skin of the white areas.
There is also a merle variety of Mantle Great Dane, which has a marbled or mottled coat with patches of black, gray, and white. The GDCA standard describes the ideal Merle as follows:
Color – A pale gray to dark gray merle base color with black torn patches within.
Patterns and Markings – May be a Solid Merle (white on chest and toes permissible) or a Merle with a Mantle Pattern ( solid merle blanket extending over the body; merle skull with a white muzzle; white blaze is optional; whole or partial white neck; a white chest; white on whole or part of the forelegs and hind legs; white tipped merle tail. A small break in the blanket is acceptable.
Black pigment may be seen on the skin in the white areas.
Many people think of merle Great Danes as having a solid coat, but the mantle coat pattern is considered ideal.
Note: a merle or a mantle merle dog is not the same as a ‘Merlequin’. Merlequin Great Danes are the result of spot-to-spot breedings and are genetically a double-merle dog. A ‘Merlequin’ Great Dane will have a Harlequin coat pattern, but instead of torn black patches all of the patches will be merle.
We ADORE this image of a mantle and mantle merle Great Danes from @altitudegreatdanes in Utah. They have some of the first Champion merle Great Danes and we love seeing their gorgeous dogs!
OTHER MANTLE COAT PATTERNS
A show-marked Harlequin Great Dane is very similar to a mantle, only with torn black patches (spots), instead of the solid black. They will have a white chest, white feet and white-collar, just like a mantle!
Some breeders breed for unusual off-standard colors such as brindle mantle, blue mantle and fawn mantle. These are considered ‘off-standard’ colors and not accepted by the Great Dane Club of America.
If you are looking for a Great Dane puppy, or are just interested in the breed, you may be curious about a lot of things. A very common question that we get is “What does Euro mean in Great Danes?”
There are actually a lot of misunderstandings about ‘Euro’ vs. ‘American’ Danes, and we’re going to clear that up. Fair warning, we like science and the written standard.
What Does Euro Mean in Great Danes?
There are many Great Dane breeders in the U.S. who breed ‘Euro’ Great Danes. Occasionally they come from European lineage, however, more often they are simply dogs who have the ‘Euro’ look.
In other words, being ‘Euro’ and ‘European’ is not necessarily the same thing.
Common features of the ‘Euro’ type Great Dane include:
Shorter, bulkier, and stockier structure
Heavier weight
Slower movement, less athletic
Larger, more dome-shaped or apple-shaped head
Bigger jowls
Heavy ears that may be long and set low on the head
Larger feet
Mastiff-like features
Wide-set eyes that are often droopy and may have red haw showing
Euro is a look, produced by breeders who intentionally breed for these traits. Many of these traits, especially those related to heft, movement, eyes, ears, jowls, and head shape are considered faults in the written standards for Great Danes.
No matter what you think about the different, heftier look of ‘Euro’ Great Danes, it’s important to note that many FCI European Great Dane breeders are actually pretty frustrated that so many people think all European Danes are droopy and heavy.Interested in more information about ‘EURO’ Dane breeders? Read here.
This ‘Euro’ Great Dane below is suffering from poor structure related to breeding for size, heft, and the ‘Euro’ look.
Euro vs. American Great Danes
Every purebred dog has a written standard. The idea that there is a huge difference between American and European Great Danes is a myth.
According to these standards, a Great Dane from Europe should look very much the same as a Great Dane from the U.S., as both standards are nearly identical on paper. A Great Dane is a Great Dane.
Below is a well-bred European Great Dane (used with permission).
Well-bred dogs have good structure, health and type (they look like the breed standard)
Just as ‘Euro’ might imply that a dog is heavier and drooper, many use the word ‘American’ to imply that a dog is lighter and more ‘greyhound’ like.
Neither the ‘Euro’ nor the ‘American’ type dog meets the gold standard or goals for the breed as a whole.
To compare, here is a well-bred Great Dane from the U.S., bred with the standard in mind. He is neither too refined, nor is he droopy and heavy. He is still a large, well-built dog.
Bruce and the European-bred dog above are nearly the same.
What does Ethical Great Dane Breeding Look Like?
In many ways, the deliberate pursuit of some exaggerated ‘Euro’ traits is unethical and problematic.
Great Danes are already huge dogs and should not be intentionally bred for larger and stockier frames, droopier eyes, and larger jowls, especially if structural health, eye health, heart health, and longevity are casually ignored as a result.
If you are looking for a Great Dane breeder, Euro or not, verify the following:
Both parents have excellent structure, including neat eyes, tight feet, straight backs (no ‘roach’ or sway), well-developed chests and well-angled limbs.
Both parents have excellent temperaments, free of aggression, fear and anxiety.
The breeder will support you for the life of the dog.
It’s ok to prefer a Great Dane with larger stature. Unethical backyard breeding practices, however, have led many to believe that all ‘American’ Danes are ‘refined’, which is just as unfortunate as the practice of intentionally breeding for size and droop, regardless of health.
To put it simply, the word ‘EURO’ is a term associated largely with ‘friendly backyard breeding’ . Many of those breeders are more focused on size, heft, and profits than they are on robust health and breed standards.
Use the slider below to toggle between a poorly bred EURO (hyper type) and a poorly bred AMERICAN (hypo type) Great Dane. Neither of these dogs meets the breed standard.
For comparison, below are some very well-bred Great Danes that could fit any proper written standard (GDCA/U.S., GDCC/Canada, FCI/Europe).
Do you like modern positive+balanced off-leash dog training, science-based information, life with Danes, educated ownership and chatting with other like-minded people?
Great Danes come in a range of beautiful colors. Brindle, merle, black, mantle, fawn, blue, and harlequin are the 7 colors typically accepted in the written breed standards. Deviations from the breed standard can result in a range of coat colors not traditionally associated with Great Danes. There exists a prevailing concern among breed enthusiasts and experts regarding the intentional breeding of off-standard and designer color Great Danes.
Merlequin, Brindlequin, Fawnequin, Lilac Merle, Tan Point, and chocolate are popular ‘off-standard’ colors, to give you some examples.
Many Great Dane owners are drawn to breeders who focus on creating eye-catching coat patterns in their puppies. Read on to learn more about this controversial practice!
What is an Off-Standard Color Great Dane?
This is a big one folks, buckle up!
What is an off-standard color Great Dane, or “designer color’ Great Dane?
Mis-marked versions of the accepted colors (for example, a Fawn with no black mask or a Brindle with a white chest are always a penalty in the show ring, and any color that isn’t one of those seven is automatically disqualified from the show altogether. Most can be registered, however!
Color Purists vs. Color Enthusiasts
There are two major schools of thought on this one.
Color Purists & Breed Preservationists
This group believes that purposefully breeding Danes in off-standard colors is bad and that new colors should only be added to the accepted color code following diligent research into the color and its benefit to the preservation and health of the breed.
They believe that breed color families should rarely be mixed.
Color Enthusiasts
Believe that if a color is naturally occurring in the breed, it should be allowed to be bred and allowed in the show ring and that it’s in some ways discriminatory to exclude quality Danes that come in colors outside of the 7 outlined in the written standard.
They believe there is no problem with mixing color families.
How do Great Dane Color Families Work?
Without getting into the nitty gritty of genetics, it’s important to understand that as a general rule there are only a few ‘color’ families:
The color purist breeders will mix and match within those families. They may pair a fawn and a brindle together or a harlequin with a mantle, for example. Their goal is to create colors that meet the breed standard.
The color enthusiast breeders will mix them up, choosing to pair a harlequin and a brindle or a blue and a merle, for example.
If you are a geek about this stuff, we encourage you to visit the fun coat colors group on Facebook!
An all-white double-merle Great Dane
Is Breeding Off-Standard Colors Ethical?
Now of course, we can look at this and think ‘well, what’s wrong anyways with pairing a harlequin and a brindle together? Brindlequin dogs are so neat looking!’
The issue is actually more complicated than many think.
Many color enthusiast breeders will intentionally pair already off-color-standard dogs with other off-color-standard dogs.
For example, fawnequin + lilac merle or chocolate + mantle-marked brindle to see what neat colors come from the pairings.
The result? Tons and tons of ‘new’ and interesting markings on litters of Dane puppies. Great Danes are very special this way.
In many cases, the off-standard litters being born are a FUN surprise for the breeder and those interested in the puppies! It’s incredible for social media AND for sales. That right there is a major red flag.
This practice of creating off-standard colors is naturally rewarding because of this. The problem? These breeders are being rewarded for focusing on color first, not temperament, structure, and health.
A sickly merlequin Great Dane puppy
Off-Standard Colors are Fun
Here is the problem, though.
Off-standard colors are excluded from being shown.
Say what you want about show dogs, but dog shows are one of the only ways a breeder can verify that the dogs they are breeding are structurally sound.
What we are seeing as a result?
100’s of Great Dane breeders so focused on creating fun designer colors that they cannot see the forest for the trees.
Great Dane health & structure are suffering.
Yeah, we’re going to go there.
When a breeder is choosing dogs to breed, they should be first focused on structure and health.
Ethically, they must choose full health testing of both parents (hips, heart, eyes AND thyroid) and seek feedback from peers (in dog shows and otherwise) to make sure that they are breeding dogs that have excellent genetics.
Unfortunately, many (of course, there are exceptions) ‘color breeders’ are so focused on color that they disregard the original form, shape and function of the Great Dane….often to the detriment of their health.
What ends up happening is the creation of 1000’s of Great Danes in ‘unique’ colors, made to sell easily to unsuspecting buyers, that come from breeders who don’t have the best interest of the puppies in mind.
Basically put, that’s a lot of Great Danes that are contributing to an increasingly alarming problem of poor overall health, temperaments and structure.
Extremely droopy eyes, flat feet, roached backs, bloat, wobblers, cancer, cardiac problems, cataracts, entropion, seizures and thyroid problems plague Great Danes. While one individual puppy may be ok, over time these incremental changes are problematic.
Because off-standard colors cannot be shown, there are no checks and balances for breeders that focus their breeding program on color.
Basically put? It’s a free-for-all.
Some breeds have addressed a similar problem by creating a scoring sheet that can be used to evaluate if a single dog is breeding quality, without the breeder needing to get into the show circuit.
That’s not happening in Danes that I am aware.
Some Off-Standard Dane Colors are Especially Bad
All or mostly white Great Danes and Merlequin Great Danes (looks like harlequin but with merle patches, no black ones) are most often the result of unethical spot-spot pairings.
Also known as Double Merle Great Danes, white Danes may be deaf or blind and many have internal health problems (autoimmune disorders, seizures, allergies, etc.) and poor temperaments.
These dogs are 100% preventable through thoughtful breeding practices & genetic color testing.
Double Merle Breeding in Great Danes
What’s so interesting about double merle Great Dane dogs is that it’s a problem for both color pure and color enthusiast breeders!
Color Purist breeders
These breeders may pair Harlequin + Harlequin to create ‘show marked’ Harlequin dogs.
They often cite that there aren’t enough quality black or mantle studs to use, so this is the only way. They know that double-merle puppies are a consequence of that, and some will even euthanize those puppies before 5 weeks of age. The GDCA condones this practice.
At least these puppies DO tend more often to come from well-structured, well-tempered proven dogs, and some breeders who do this see to it that the DM dogs from these litters live long, healthy lives in carefully selected homes.
Advances in genetic screening and our understanding of the Merle gene have made this practice safer, too.
Color Enthusiast breeders
These breeders often end up with double-merle puppies because they weren’t aware it could happen (for example, if they pair a fawnequin with a lilac merle, which sounds cool but is a really, really bad idea), or because they didn’t color test and know that a solid-color dog in their program was a cryptic merle (a black Dane, for example, that recessively carries the merle gene), or they did it intentionally because they know they could get the super popular color puppies (which may also be deaf or blind).
Great Dane Coat Color and Health
Double Merle puppies will nearly always have some kind of health issue, mild to extremely serious.
There is some information bouncing around that modifying the black spots to fawn on a Great Dane (Fawnequin) for example may impact internal health, though we’d like to find more information on this.
If that is truly the case, there are many off-standard colors that would be extremely unethical to pursue off-standard colors for this reason alone. More research is needed.
Off-Standard Colors in Well-Bred Litters
Ethical breeders who work within the outlined standard color families can and do occasionally get a surprise off-standard color puppy.
Some are mis-marked, heavily marked, or the result of recessive genes.
Unlike dogs from color-focused backyard breeders, however, the random off-standard pup in a litter will never be sold for breeding, will have come from well-structured dogs, will not be sold at a higher price as ‘rare’, and will be supported for life.
We will continue to repeat this:
Ethical breeders focus first on structure, genetic health and temperament. If the focus is first on creating unique colors, there is a problem.
Off-Standard Colors and ‘Racism’
Some backyard breeders, when faced with those that don’t support intentional off-color breeding, will say that those people are being ‘racist’.
We cannot think of a more tone-deaf statement, to be honest. Comparing human skin and human experiences involving racism and discrimination to dogs’ coat colors is extremely misguided and ignorant.
The Honest Truth About Intentional Designer Color Breeding
Take a look at this sickly designer color puppy above while you hear us out.
There are two kinds of Great Dane breeders.
BREEDER #1
Cares very much about the puppies they produce. Profit is not the goal, health is.
Temperament, longevity, and structure matter to the point where they are willing to NOT breed a dog that doesn’t meet their standards.
They support buyers for life.
They spend a lot of money on health testing, genetic screening, training and socialization.
They invest hours of blood sweat and tears into their dogs and care very much about every puppy they produce.
Breeder #1 is breeding dogs to better the breed and to ensure that those who share their lives with that puppy are presented with an animal that has every opportunity to be a happy, healthy, friendly and robust family pet, in ANY color.
BREEDER #2
Cares mostly about profits and fun.
They may be friendly and even caring towards owners and the puppies they produce, but they are willing to cut corners.
They may only partially health test the parents (choosing to do only hip scans, for example, so they can tell you that they are ‘reputable and health test’)
They are often blind to the structural problems they are passing on.
Droopy eyes, roached backs and a mild problem with aggression towards dogs or people may be common.
They don’t always support buyers for life
Breeder # 2 has learned that there is no reason to fully health test the parents or ask for honest feedback on their structural health when they can paint the puppies ‘Lilac Merle Euro‘ and sell them at a premium, basically.
Now be honest…knowing that this is how it often works for ALL Great Dane breeders (standard colors or not), which breeder would you rather support?
Off-Standard Colors can Muck Things Up
We are already having a huge and growing problem in Great Danes when it comes to longevity, health and temperament.
So when breeders intentionally pump dogs into the system that don’t meet the breed standard for structure and come in a range of neat colors, things get messy.
This is especially true if breeders are selling off-standard color dogs to other breeders.
This practice is introducing a massive range of new color genetics (dominant and recessive) as well as perpetuating common structural & health problems.
Over time, this could mean that it becomes more and more difficult for breeders to find and use quality dogs for breeding.
Many say that additional colors are necessary to diversify the gene pool, and we don’t necessarily disagree. It honestly seems pretty silly to exclude a healthy, well built dog from a breeding program or dog show just because it’s not a ‘standard’ color!
However, those additional colors need to be ethically produced. As it stands right now? Most really aren’t.
Dare we say this?
Off-standard color breeding is largely a practice of backyard breeders. This is a sad and unfortunate truth that needs to be addressed if more off-standard colors are to become a reality in the Great Dane color code.
Adding New Colors to the Great Dane Breed Standard
Merle was added to the GDCA color code in 2019 when it was recognized that this color was a common and natural by-product of ethical pairings, served to help diversify the gene pool, was being bred with outstanding health and structure and wasn’t resulting in notable health problems.
Mantle was added in 1999, for the same reasons.
Chances are, additional colors can be added to the color code and eventually shown as well, especially if those colors are a natural byproduct of thoughtful dam/sire pairings.
Unfortunately, backyard breeders are not going to be able to make that happen. As long as their focus is on color and not health, the breed club has no legitimate interest in listening.
The currently accepted colors are there for a reason, while the off-standard colors are not…for a reason. Those reasons need to be addressed.
How Do We Fix This?
How do we encourage ALL color-focused breeders to choose ethics, and to focus on the breed as a whole before focusing on color-driven profits? Here is what we would love to see:
No more cutting corners. FULL health testing of both Dam & Sire, no matter what. Heart, Hips, Eyes & Thyroid, no excuses.
Genetic screening and pedigree study for color genes and common genetic issues (bloat, Von Willebrand’s and IMGD, for example).
Submit dogs for structural evaluation. While off-standard pups cannot be shown, there is no reason to hide them from the world. The Great Dane Conformation Clinic on Facebook is a great resource.
Be willing to wash dogs from the breeding program that don’t pass health testing or meet basic standards. There is no excuse in the world for breeding a dog that has flat feet, a roached back, narrow hips and a genetic history of aggression, bloat or wobblers!
Stop selling ‘designer’ color puppies to other backyard breeders. Be choosy!
Stop marketing off-standard color puppies as ‘unique’, ‘designer’ or ‘rare’. It’s misleading to buyers who want a healthy, robust family pet and believe they are receiving a ‘premium’ dog.
Only breed parents that have excellent temperaments.
Title the dogs! Train them and get CGC or trick or dock diving titles. Prove them in some way. Stop hiding them from the world. A lilac merle or brindlequin Dane with exemplary structure and temperament kicking butt in obedience and sports would go a LONG way towards encouraging positivity towards off-standard color breeding!
Stop hoarding dogs; if there are too many for each to have a rich family life, enrichment and loving retirement, it’s not ethical.
Support puppies and buyers for life. Keep those babies out of uneducated or abusive homes and out of rescue, please.
Don’t breed spot-to-spot, especially if the result is that the sick pups will be euthanized or dumped into rescue or into abusive and dog hoarding situations.
We’d like to think that none of this is all that difficult, but we understand that for many profits and fun will always trump ethics.
Our hope is that buyers see this, know the difference and choose which breeders to support accordingly.
See it yet?
It’s not the color of the puppy itself that’s the problem.
It’s the unethical corner-cutting profit-driven breeding practices that led to it.
We understand that off-standard color puppies are fun and unique.
It’s so simple. Meet the basic standards of ethics. Prove us wrong! Show us that breeding for off-standard colors can be done right ethically
Want a Great Dane in a Designer Color?
Don’t feel guilty about that. Danes come in some really unique colors!
This fawnequin (from a breeder on our ‘bad breeders list’) is a classic example of backyard breeding, and exactly what you want to avoid, however. The pursuit of this color meant that aspects of health and structure were grossly disregarded.
Look for and verify that the breeder you are interested in is FULLY health testing both parents (hips, heart, eyes, thyroid), is supporting buyers for LIFE no matter what, is fully socializing the puppies and keeping them until at least 8 weeks of age, and that the pedigree is free of heart problems, wobblers, bloat, dysplasia and aggression.
If they cannot answer those questions or share that information, look elsewhere. We can paint puppies any color we want to, but it the color won’t matter if they are sick.
If you have an off-standard pup, get out there and love the CRUD out of it! All Great Danes deserve the best home ever. We love all Great Danes, no matter what color they come in!
We will never fault a Dane owner for the dog they have and love; after all, these beautiful creatures become loved family members no matter what they look like!
Our hard stop is on the bad breeding practices though. That needs to be brought to light…so where we are. Please share this post. Dig deep! Re-evaluate what you think you know about off-standard colors and hold breeders to a higher standard!
If you recently got a Great Dane puppy, you may be wondering if your puppy is growing well and the right size!
We’ve recently seen many people with extremely small 8 and 9 week old Great Dane puppies asking this question, and it turns out that one of three things is happening:
Chances are, your Great Dane puppy is perfect! Each dog is different. Even from the same litter, sizes can vary, especially when comparing males to females or looking at a known runt that is still trying to catch up.
RED FLAGS
Here are the red flags that your puppy is actually behind, underage or struggling to thrive:
The puppy isn’t gaining quickly and may appear scrawny and weak: see a veterinarian.
The puppy has a large, round distended tummy: parasites and worms may be a problem.
The puppy has sores and infections; chat with your veterinarian. You may also need to report the breeder to animal control.
The puppy lacks energy while awake.
The puppy has low muscle tone, flat feet, weak pasterns, weak hips and a weak core.
The puppy is vomiting, shaking, and/or has diarrhea (see a veterinarian immediately).
The puppy is extremely fearful and timid.
.A puppy that is under 15 lbs may just be a small puppy, especially if it came from a particularly large litter. If your puppy is otherwise thriving, don’t stress! He or she will likely catch up.
Some small puppies are not actually full Great Dane; study the pedigree and ask questions. Look at the parents and compare them to the written standard for Great Danes. Unethical breeding practices are resulting in a lot of ‘papered’ Great Danes that don’t really look like Great Danes. If this has happened to you, it’s ok! You have a wonderful family pet and that is what matters.
Do not overfeed or supplement your puppy to make it grow faster.
With Great Danes, slow growth is key.
Over-nutrition and fatty foods can cause pancreatitis or increase the risk that the puppy develops hip dysplasia and other bone and growth disorders such as knuckling, HOD and Panosteitis.
Bigger is not better! Forcing growth on a Great Dane and promoting overweight and oversized structure is painful, unhealthy and unfair.
If your Great Dane puppy is actually struggling to thrive, see a veterinarian with Giant Breed experience.
No matter what, love the dog in front of you!
It is OK to have a smaller Great Dane! Your dog does not have to be larger than life to still be a very large, wonderful dog.
If you are concerned about the health of your Great Dane puppy, chat with your veterinarian!
The information contained in this post is for informational purposes only. We do our best to present the most up-to-date research, however it is up to the reader to make decisions regarding the health and well-being of their dog. We make no claims here to prevent or treat bloat or any other condition related to Great Danes. Find a veterinarian with GIANT breed experience, and chat with them.
Some of the products we list on our website contain affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase, we may receive a small commission for referring you. We only recommend products that we truly believe in. This commission does not affect the price of the product and is used to fund our content and expenses related to operating this website. We are powered by YOU!
Great Danes come in a variety of gorgeous colors. 7 of them are considered ‘standard’ colors, and all others are considered ‘off-standard’ colors. Being ‘off standard’ is not necessarily a bad thing, and if your Great Dane is considered ‘off-standard’ or ‘mis-marked’, it just means they cannot be shown.
There is a growing movement of people who believe more colors should be considered acceptable within the standard and at dog shows. Unfortunately, this is a complicated issue rooted partially in cosmetic preferences that also involve ethics and health. More discussion is definitely needed!
At this time, the standard colors for Great Danes are: Harlequin, Merle, Mantle, Black, Fawn, Brindle and Blue. Each of those colors has even further direction on its presentation, and dogs can fall on a spectrum between fully ‘mis-marked’ to ‘show marked’.
Off standard colors in Great Danes may include ‘Fawnequin’, ‘Chocolate’, ‘Tan Point’, ‘Lilac’, ‘Merlequin’, ‘Brindlequin’, and variations of all of the above (including ‘Lilac Merle’, ‘Lilac Brindle’, ‘White’, ‘Lilac Fawn’, ‘Piebald’, etc.).
Unfortunately, many breeders that focus on creating ‘designer’ colors don’t necessarily focus on health, structure and temperament, and that’s a problem. (See below; lilac fawn merle and fawnequin puppies from an unethical breeder; these puppies have severe edema, which may be indicative of internal health problems).
Flashy colors equal sales, and that’s what some of these breeders want; your money.
Some off-standard colors occur naturally when otherwise thoughtful breeders pair dogs appropriately in their program. Those colors (Fawnequin is a good example) are a good place to start when it comes to considering the addition of more acceptable colors to the written standard.
Off-standard colors can be gorgeous and flashy; make sure you are choosing ethical breeders that are focused first on longevity, structure, and eliminating painful and expensive problems from their pedigree (including bloat, allergies, aggression, dysplasia, heart problems and disorders of the eyes, thyroid and blood).
We have no problem with off-standard colors from ethical breeders.
DOUBLE MERLE DANES
Some off-standard colors in Great Danes are produced by pairing two dogs that carry the Merle gene. Dogs that carry merle include Harlequin, Merle, White, and any coat color ending in ‘quin’.
If a breeder pairs a Merle to a Harlequin, some of the puppies may be ‘Merlequin’, a popular off-standard color that is unethically produced.
Each puppy in the litter will have a 1 in 4 chance of receiving a copy of the merle gene from each parent, making them ‘double merle’.
Double Merle Danes are often deaf or blind and may also have significant, expensive and painful health and temperament problems.
Double Merle Great Danes are 100% preventable. Ethical breeders genetically test all of their dogs (even the ones with solid colors) to confirm the presence of absence of the Merle gene.
Treat cautiously with backyard breeders who will tell you that a white or Merlequin puppy is ‘rare’, and desirable. Entire Great Dane rescues are set up around helping these dogs, who often require veterinary care and training beyond what the average family is able or willing to provide.
It’s also important to note that the breed clubs sometimes encourage breeders to euthanize Double Merle puppies by 5 weeks of age, effectively allowing breeders to pair merle-gened dogs in pursuit of ‘show quality’ or ‘show marked’ Harlequin dogs, with an ‘out’ when they produce unhealthy dogs as a result. We do not support or condone this practice.
HARLEQUIN GREAT DANE
Harlequin Great Danes are very popular, and also the hardest color for breeders to produce both ethically and correctly!
Harlequin dogs most often come from Harlequin + Harlequin (double merle pairing, unethical) OR from Harlequin + Mantle (ethical).
A properly marked Harlequin dog will have a white base coat with torn black patches with a white chest, feet and collar. Some merle patches may also be present and are considered acceptable.
A ‘heavily marked’ or ‘blanketed’ Harlequin will have excessive black and large black patches, which is less desirable in the show ring.
MERLE GREAT DANE
The Merle Great Dane only recently became a standard and acceptable color in the GDCA standard, and can now be shown.
Merle is very similar to Harlequin, except with a grey base coat instead of white. Solid Merle (no white) OR Mantle markings (white socks, chest and full white collar) are considered the ideal markings for Merle Great Danes.
A white dog with patches of merle and no black patches is NOT a merle, but rather a Merlequin and is the result of a double-merle (unethical) breed pairing.
The Mantle Great Dane is sometimes called a ‘Boston’ Great Dane. It is not to be confused with a mis-marked black Great Dane (Black with white markings) or a piebald Great Dane.
A properly marked Mantle Great Dane has a pure black coat that looks like a ‘blanket’ over the dog, with white socks and/or legs, a white chest, a full white collar, and white on the muzzle. A white blaze on the head is also considered acceptable as are small black spots or ticking in the white areas.
Mis-marks in Mantle Great Danes may include excessive white or excessive black. Brindle Mantle & Merle Mantle are different colors.
BLACK GREAT DANE
A black Great Dane can come from Harlequin, Blue or Black genetics, stressing the importance of genetic color testing before pairing black dogs.
Black Great Danes are pure black with a striking and shiny coat, however mis-marks (white patches on the chest & feet) are not unusual.
Black Great Danes are very common and come from many ethical breedings, however there is an unfortunate truth to the fact that they are often passed over for adoption and purchase. People always want the flashier colors, and may find Black Great Danes to be intimidating.
We think black Great Danes are gorgeous!
FAWN GREAT DANE
Fawn Great Danes are the most famous color. They have a solid golden fawn coat and should have a solid black ‘mask’ on their face that includes black markings around the eyes and on the muzzle.
Markings or colors that appear ‘dirty’, as well as white or black on the chest or feet are considered less desirable.
We’re recently heard that the breeders are seeing less and less of the proper black mask in the fawn lines, perhaps because of indiscriminate breeding practices leading to fewer dogs carrying the necessary genes. Ethical preservation breeders will work to make sure the Fawn mask sticks around.
BRINDLE GREAT DANE
Brindle Great Danes are in the same color family as Fawn.
The coat should have a fawn base layer with evenly distributed black stripes. Brindle Great Danes should have a black mask with black near the eyes and possibly on the ears and tail tip. White patches are considered a mismark,.
Brindle can present in a range of patterns, with some brindle Great Danes showing darker than others. Evenly distributed stripes are preferred.
Off-standard versions of Brindle include Lilac Brindle, heavy or lightly marked Brindle, Mantle Brindle and Brindlequin.
BLUE GREAT DANE
Blue Great Danes are a dilute black that shows up as a beautiful steel blue grey color.
Solid blue is preferred; white, mantle, black, patches or other markings are not desirable. Dark, charcoal or ‘dirty’ blue is also considered a fault.
Some people say that blue Great Danes are more susceptible to skin conditions, bloat, clotting disorders and tumors, however as with any genetic condition indiscriminate breeding for profit is a significant contributing factor.
Choose your breeder carefully, in other words. AKC registration and ‘Euro’ lineage do not automatically make a dog breeding quality.
I’m going to go there. We need to talk about Euro Danes.
I will preface this by mentioning that I believe, fully, that every dog deserves love and a home. No dog should be cast out because it doesn’t fit some mold we’ve created. As a matter of fact, both of my Danes are true underdogs. Love the dog in front of you.
What is a Euro Great Dane?
The term ‘Euro’ is used to describe Great Danes with a certain look. These are the traits commonly associated with the ‘Euro’ Dane:
Shorter and more stocky build
Larger head
Lower Energy/calmer
Huge jowls
Excess drool
Droopy face
Extra skin/baggy
Large chest
Saggy eyes, redness
Overall heavier frame
Many people love and prefer the ‘Euro’ look in Great Danes, and purposefully seek it out when choosing a breeder.
Great Dane breeders that sell ‘Euro’ Great Danes typically make it very clear on their websites and social media that their puppies are ‘Euro’ or have a percentage of ‘Euro’ in them.
Are Euro Great Danes European?
Many breeders will import ‘Euro’ Great Danes from other Countries for their program, however, ‘Euro’ Great Danes aren’t actually a reliable or accurate representation of actual European dogs.
If we look at the written standards for Great Danes, both ‘American’ (GDCA) and ‘European’ (FCI) Great Danes are nearly identical.
If a breeder is breeding dogs according to the written standards outlined by nearly every Country (including Europe, the U.S. and Canada), they look like Great Danes, Apollo dogs. Not the ‘Euro’ Great Danes as we know them.
(BELOW: European fawn and brindle Great Danes. Notice that they are not refined nor are they too droopy).
Many European breeders that follow the written standard for Great Danes are understandably frustrated that the word ‘Euro’ has been attached to dogs from their Country, effectively changing the overall perception of what European dogs actually look like.
Well Bred Standard Great Danes in Europe don’t actually look like this droopy Euro dog below.
If they do, it’s because the breeder is breeding off-standard ‘Euro’ Great Danes, not because they are ‘European’.
The trend of ‘Euro’ look dogs is happening all over the world and is even pervasive in other breeds such as Dobermans
An obese Great Dane with droopy eyes that was likely sold as ‘Euro’
‘Euro’ vs. ‘American’ Great Danes
Great Danes were originally bred in Germany, and it is believed that they were a cross between English Mastiffs and Irish Wolfhounds or other sighthounds.
A bred to standard Great Dane is neither ‘hypertype’ nor is it ‘hypotype’.
Many people believe that ‘American’ Great Danes are too refined. However, a well-bred Great Dane that meets the written standard is a large, robust dog!
Every breeder and Great Dane owner will have an aesthetic preference, and some variance of the standard is normal depending on the pedigree.
‘Euro’ and ‘American’ are simply marketing terms that indicate a dog was bred out of standard.
There is a problem in desiring those things without regard to the overall health of the breed and the dog being purchased and without regard to the time-tested Apollo Great Dane breed type.
Euro, the Catch-All
The term ‘Euro’ has become a catch-all for dogs that are overweight, heavy, stocky, and often very poorly structured.
CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENT TIME:
Somehow, breeders have made the term ‘Euro’ sound desirable.
The word ‘Euro’ is most often used by backyard breeders and often as a means to glorify or justify breeding dogs that often (though not always) have serious structural and health faults.
Because there is no written standard for a ‘Euro’ Dane, there are no checks and balances. This is a key point.
Health, structure and temperament problems abound in Great Danes, and it all comes back to unethical breeding practices in both standard breeders and ‘Euro’ breeders.
With the term ‘Euro’, anything goes.
When a breeder imports a ‘Euro’ Dane to use in their breeding program, they often believe (as do the buyers) that being ‘Euro’ is enough to merit that dog as quality breeding stock.
What we are seeing in the popularity of Euro Danes is a progressive issue that is absolutely devastating to the Great Dane breed.
Euro Danes are becoming more and more ‘Euro’, and are looking less and less like actual Great Danes.
Euro Dane Health Problems
Great Danes are giant breed dogs that absolutely need solid structure and good basic conformation to live a comfortable life.
Backyard breeders produce dogs who are susceptible to fearfulness, aggression, joint issues, cancer, bloat, and heart disease.
This is the reason we have written standards (checks & balances); for the overall health and longevity of the breed.
Euro Great Danes often suffer from:
Cherry eye, entropion, vision obstruction
Painful joints and mobility issues
Obesity, allergies, infections & skin problems
Wobblers & other genetic disorders related to structure & movement
Flat feet, cow hocks, weak rear & front
Roach & other topline problems
Recently we’ve begun seeing ‘Euro’ Danes that are so droopy that they cannot see because excess skin obstructs their eyes.
The older they get, the more gravity does its job and the more likely they are to suffer from additional irritation and other preventable eye problems.
The Great Dane written standard (both European and American) state essentially that eyes “shall be medium size, deep set, and dark, with a lively intelligent expression. The eyelids are almond-shaped and relatively tight, with well developed brows. Haws and Mongolian eye(s) are very serious faults.
Roached backs, flat feet and cow hocks are also not uncommon in ‘Euro’ Great Danes.
Fat Great Danes are not healthy nor are they normal. Fearful, anxious or ‘protective’ temperaments are not actually in line with the breed standard either, however, all of these things tend to be ‘common’ among breeders that promote ‘Euro’ litters.
We cannot justify these health problems by saying that ‘It’s ok, he’s Euro‘. Being ‘Euro’ does not make it ok for a dog to be heavy, unable to see or struggling to move gracefully.
A ‘Euro’ Great Dane with Droopy Eyes that may require surgical intervention
A standard Great Dane with normal eyes
EURO %
Many breeders focused on ‘Euro’ type Great Danes will indicate that their puppies have a specific percentage of ‘Euro’.
Short of actually genetically testing every puppy in a litter, it’s impossible to definitively state how much of the ‘Euro’ lineage one dog may have received from its ancestors.
This is a sneaky marketing tactic meant to make ‘Euro’ puppies sound more desirable and appealing than Great Danes that have a long pedigree of beautiful standard well-bred dogs.
Ethical breeders care very much about health and structure before droop.
CHAMPION LINES
Some breeders will say that their dogs, Euro or otherwise come from ‘Champion lines’.
Tread cautiously with this. Ask to see pedigrees and the titles that were awarded. Anybody can put a bunch of ‘Euro’ Danes into a weekender ‘dog show’ and award made up ‘champion titles’. The exotic ‘European’ names may be an additional draw.
Not all breed and pedigree registries are created equal. Unfortunately, this practice may in some ways dilute the value of a true AKC or Canadian Kennel Club Champion titled dog.
A ‘European’ Mantle Great Dane, AKA ‘EURO’
THE APOLLO OF DOGS
A well-bred Great Dane from parents with a quality, studied pedigree is an absolutely stunning dog.
They are elegant, athletic, robust, large, and have incredibly stable and confident temperaments.
Some breeders are highly focused on preserving and improving the original Great Dane Breed type.
They study their pedigrees and work to actively minimize and eliminate congenital and genetic problems in the breed, including bloat, wobblers, heart disease, eye problems and more.
This is the work of a quality, ethical and thoughtful breeder.
If you are interested in more of the ‘Euro’ look in Great Danes, make sure you are choosing breeders that first truly care about health, structure and longevity.
It may seem exotic and unique to import a dog or to choose a dog from imported lines, but we encourage you to take a good look at what ‘Euro’ actually means.
A little extra droop in the jowls is one thing, but hiding poor genetics and breeding practices behind the word ‘Euro’ is another.
HOW TO FIND A REPUTABLE GREAT DANE BREEDER
Look for and verify:
Full health testing of both dam & sire, including x-rays, echocardiogram, eye exam and blood panels in addition to genetic screening.
Focus on health and temperament, including bloat, cancer, eye problems and heart problems
Puppies stay with the breeder until 8 weeks of age and are thoroughly and thoughtfully socialized (Puppy Culture or otherwise).
A contract & owner education.
Lifetime breeder support and a return contract that keeps Danes out of rescue.
We encourage you to be patient and thoughtful when searching for a breeder for your next Great Dane, especially if what you want is purposefully bred out of standard in some way (designer color, ‘Euro’, mixed breed Dane, etc.).
GREAT DANE RESOURCES
This list of resources will be helpful to you if your idea of ‘Euro’ vs. ‘American’ Danes has been challenged by this article! We are here to educate and help:
Do you like modern positive+balanced off-leash dog training, science-based information, life with Danes, educated ownership and chatting with other like-minded people?
A lot of people are intimidated by Great Danes because they are so large. There is this assumption that Great Danes are aggressive, perhaps because they are large and generally protective. To make matters worse, many landlords and leasing companies, as well as homeowners insurance companies will list Great Danes as a restricted or ‘aggressive’ breed.
So, are Great Danes aggressive? Do Great Danes make good family dogs? Are Great Danes good for protection work?
We are going to look first at the actual written breed standard.
Just because Great Danes are not supposed to be aggressive, doesn’t mean that they never develop it. There are many factors that contribute to temperament problems in Great Danes.
Breeders that breed poorly tempered dogs
Unethical and unhealthy breeding practices
Poor early experiences in the litter
Puppy mills & backyard breeders
Nutrition issues, including malnutrition
Genetics
Health problems, including thyroid disease, dysplasia, poor eyesight, cancer, overgrown nails, bad teeth, arthritis, hormones, etc.
Training practices that employ intimidation, fear or pain, including alpha rolls
Poor socialization and poor early social experiences, lack of training
The tragic part here is that nearly every single one of those circumstances is preventable through thoughtful breeding practices, educated ownership, positive socialization and appropriate training.
Aggression, resource guarding, leash reactivity and nipping at children are major reasons that Great Danes are surrendered to rescue.
PUPPIES vs. RESCUE
Many people choose a breeder over a rescue because they want to raise the puppy ‘their way’ and make sure it isn’t ‘aggressive’, which is an interesting thought. It comes with one major stipulation, however.
So many temperament problems could be greatly reduced in Great Danes if we all made the effort to only support breeders that truly care about health, temperament and structure.
Dogs from rescue and dogs from breeders can have amazing temperaments, or they can be aggressive and unpredictable. If you absolutely need a dog with an outstanding temperament, choose a rescue with a well-known and well-tested personality, or choose a highly ethical breeder with fully tested, proven lines and a thoughtful socialization program.
HEALTH & HORMONES
Spay and neuter are often advertised as the solution to behavior problems. While removing those hormones may help, it is unlikely to eliminate aggressive behaviors.
There are many other health problems that can lead to snapping, growling and aggression.
Just like humans, dogs can have mental health conditions that may be treatable with prescription medications.
Painful health problems such as hip dysplasia, overgrown nails, growths, and even cancer can cause a dog to have a short temper.
Thyroid disease or even eyesight and hearing problems can also present first as aggression.
If your Great Dane has become aggressive suddenly or over time, we highly recommend that the first step, in tandem with the help of a highly qualified, credentialed behaviorist be a thorough and complete vet check. A blood panel should include screening for diabetes and thyroid disease. The heart, hips and eyes should also be evaluated.
A note on ‘BE THE BOSS’
Many people believe (perhaps because they were taught this from reality TV star Cesar Milan) that the solution to all aggression is to ‘Be the boss’ and ultimately lead with some form of intimidation (physical or emotional).
An aggressive dog that is met with such a challenge may actually become more aggressive…and dangerously so.
Science tells us that aggression is not related to pack hierarchy as previously thought. Find a qualified trainer or behaviorist to help you.
The biggest problem with a blanket approach to aggression of ‘be the boss’ or ‘be the alpha’ is that it fails to take into account the many reasons a Great Dane may be aggressive: fear, pain, hormones, undiagnosed medical problems, lack of mental and physical enrichment or mental health issues.
Calm, benevolent leadership, training, management, enrichment and respect are needed. Not intimidation, isolation and a power struggle.
GREAT DANES & CHILDREN
Great Danes that are well socialized, trained and raised around children make wonderful family dogs!
The majority of real bites to children happen from known family dogs, and often ‘out of the blue’. Children should never:
Scold, pinch, shout, hit or scream at dogs
Chase, corner or pin dogs
Ride, bounce, lay or sit on dogs
Bug dogs when they are sleeping
Take their food, toys or bones
Proper socialization of Great Danes around children means teaching them to be calm around children (go to a mat, sit near them, no jumping) and teaching them that children are positive, fun and great to be around. Manage your puppy so that jumping, nipping and chasing children are not behaviors that are practiced.
A well socialized Great Dane has a much higher tolerance for those times when a child (or even an adult) does something rude, scary or annoying.
GREAT DANES PROTECTIVENESS
At their core, Great Danes are still working dogs. They have protective tendencies.
Do not mistake fear and aggression with protection! A fearful or aggressive dog will hide, growl, snarl and even snap, lunge or bite.Those behaviors are NOT necessarily protective or appropriate.
A protective Dane may bark as a form of alert, but will be able to move on if threat is determined safe.
They act out of protection, not blanket fear or frustration towards dogs and people.
NOTE: This is very different than Danes that are trained in actual bite and protection work.
Great Danes that are prone to contact (biting, nipping) should be considered dangerous, and muzzle training, strict management and working with a highly qualified trainer is highly encouraged.
Dogs that are trained to bite on command (bite work/Schutzhund) are dogs with excellent impulse control and obedience, not dogs that are aggressive, fearful, confused, under-enriched or out of control.
RESCUE AND ABUSE
Some Great Danes in rescue may be aggressive because they come from an abusive or difficult background.
It’s important, however, to never assume that all aggressive or fearful rescue Danes were abused.
They may simply be the result of poor breeding practices and improper socialization and training.
They may be fearful of men, for example, but that doesn’t always mean they were abused by men.
Many rescue Danes just need a chance to build trust and to be respected and appreciated; they open up and can become wonderful, friendly, safe and happy family pets.
We encourage all Great Dane owners and breeders to support rescue through volunteering, donations, advocacy, education and adoption. You may never choose adopt a Great Dane, but even a small donation to their operating expenses is a meaningful way to support Great Danes.
DO YOU HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE GREAT DANE?
If you are struggling with a Great Dane that is nipping, lunging, growling and even biting it is extremely important to follow these steps:
Use management tools to prevent the behavior: space, time, crates, muzzles & leashes.
Create a journal and document the body language leading up to the aggression, as well as the situation and reaction that happened.
Have your dog thoroughly checked by a veterinarian (blood panel at minimum).
Seek out the help of a highly qualified trainer with behavior credentials, or a Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist.
There are questions to ask a dog breeder to examine whether they are producing quality puppies!
We hear often from people who brought a puppy home from a bad dog breeder, an unethical or back-yard breeder and said ‘I just didn’t know any better’.
Breeding dogs should be something for responsible dog breeders, NOT for everyone. Likewise, a new puppy owner should be educated on what puppy is the right puppy for them, be sold a healthy puppy, and be prepared to take care of them for the entire puppy’s life.
Questions to Ask Dog Breeder
Responsible breeders LOVE to answer questions from puppy buyers!
Reputable dog breeders pour their life and heart into their new puppies. A dog breeder who is hesitant to answer questions is NOT a good breeder!
Puppy buyers should never be afraid to ask ALL of the questions, as a legitimate breeder will love to discuss all of your wonderings.
QUESTIONS FOR YOUR DOG BREEDER
Does the mom and dad have temperament testing?
Do the puppies come with a health guarantee?
Are there health certificates to show the health tests that have been done on the mom/dad?
What is the breed’s temperament?
Are there any genetic diseases in the genes?
Are you able to visit the breeder’s home and see the puppies in real life?
How many dogs does the potential breeder own?
Is the dog breeder apart of a kennel club?
Are you able to speak with previous puppy buyers?
Does the breeder own the puppy’s parents?
Do the puppies get taken to vet visits?
Do the puppies and dogs get socialized from a young age, and if so what are the methods?
How many litters has the female and stud dog had?
RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS VS. BACKYARD BREEDING
Whether we like it or not, bad breeders are out there. They are everywhere. Some are even scams: they just want your money and have no puppies to sell at all.
If you are looking for your next (or first!) Great Dane puppy, we wrote this post for you. Just because a breeder has puppies doesn’t mean that they are operating ethically or selling healthy puppies that were raised with care.
Look for Red Flags When You Are Getting a New Puppy
Responsible breeding is not easy to do. Dogs and puppies cost a lot of money and time to care for properly. If a breeder is not asking questions about you and your home, they may not be as interested in finding the best homes for their puppies as they should be.
A responsible dog breeder will:
Be able to tell you about the temperament of the parents and grandparents
Have done health testing on the parents
Ask you a lot of questions about your home and family
Help you to pick the right puppy for your lifestyle
Give you a contract that outlines their health guarantee and terms of sale.
When you are looking for a breeder for a puppy, look for ‘red flags’ to help you identify the reputable breeders from the ones who may not be the right breeder for ou.
RED FLAG NUMBER 1: The breeder has no name or a bad name in the local community.
Keep in mind that just because people might know about your breeder or may even recommend them, does not mean that they don’t have other red flags!
A newer responsible breeder may not have an established presence, but if they are operating ethically, they are working under the mentorship of other breeders and will have a reputation that way.
It is ultimately the breeder’s responsibility to make connections within the breed clubs and find mentors that will help them produce the best puppies for their puppy buyer.
RED FLAG NUMBER 2: No or limited OFA Health Testing.
Breeders that invest in OFA health tests are more likely to be interested in the breed standard and health as a whole. When both parents have been fully tested, they are less likely to pass on painful, preventable, and sometimes life-threatening conditions such as hip displasia, thyroid disease, and cardiomyopathy. Ensuring that your puppy has a health certificate can be the difference between many breeders who are breeding solely for financial gain vs. buying a puppy from a reputable breeder who wants to better the breed.
Ask the breeder for the CHIC # for both dogs contributing to the litter. If they cannot give you this number, don’t have it, or you cannot verify it in the database at www.ofa.org, it is a MASSIVE red flag.
Outside of the U.S. the process for this will be different, however, it is a red flag if the breeder doesn’t complete at minimum x-rays, echocardiograms, eye exams and blood work to check for hip dysplaysia, elbow dysplays, eye disorders, thyroid disease and cardiac problems on both dam and sire.
Expect NOTHING less. A vet check is NOT health testing.
RED FLAG NUMBER 3: They seem desperate, too ‘perfect and impersonal’ or require a deposit provide more information.
Desperation is a classic breeder red flag that may also indicate that the breeder is a scam and may not even have real puppies to sell you.
If they seem pushy and offer high-pressure sales, list off all of the triggers (‘Health tested’, ‘Raised in a Home’, ‘Comes with a Leash and Collar’, ‘Snuggly and cute’), and seem to have very little interest in making sure you are the right home for the dog, tread cautiously.
Great dog breeders don’t have the capacity to get an entire litter of puppies potty trained, leash trained, and even ‘fully trained’ before sending them home. Yes, a responsible breeder can get started on these things and other dog related activities, but it is ultimately up to the puppy’s parents to finish these tasks1
A breeder should NEVER require you to place a deposit before answering your questions, and good breeders are exceptionally picky about buyers. You should have to work a little to prove yourself. If it’s the other way around, be wary.
RED FLAG NUMBER 4: The breeder won’t show the parents, or the parents are aggressive, look sick, or don’t look like Great Danes or the breed.
A professional breeder is proud of their Dam and Sire dogs. They keep them in a home environment and make sure that they are healthy, clean, and well-cared for.
Run from any breeder that won’t show you the parents, or if you see that the parents are kept in a kennel/barn, are not well-kept or lack breed type. It is unacceptable to see dogs being bred that have roached or sway backs, narrow hips, minimal substance, flat feet and overall poor structure. The parents should be excellent example of breed type in both structure and temperament.
RED FLAG NUMBER 5: The puppies are sick, weak, timid, roached or are knuckling and have flat feet.
Ask to see photos and videos of the puppies often as they are raised.
They should have plenty of substance (they should not appear wimpy or scrawny), great structure, nice head shapes and large, solid tight well-knuckled feet.
A reputable breeder will be exposing them to a variety of textures and obstacles (ramps, tunnels, boxes, grass, tile, gravel, etc.) that help build their confidence and strength. Additionally, the breeder should keep the puppies clean and trim their nails often.
IS YOUR GREAT DANE PUPPY KNUCKLING?
Check out our science-based and constantly growing knuckling resource page.
Timid or ill-tempered puppies (those that resource guard or are pushy and rude) often become timid and ill-tempered adults.
Quality breeders work very hard through thoughtful breeding practices and socialization to make sure puppies have excellent substance and temperaments.
Ideally you want to see that the puppies are curious, stand up tall and appear enthusiastic and healthy.
If you notice something looks off about the entire litter, there could be something amiss with the breeder. A whole litter getting sick is a red flag.
RED FLAG NUMBER 6: The breeder doesn’t have a contract or lifetime breeder support and return guarantees.
Don’t get sucked into the line that the dog breeder is ‘desperate’ or ‘has cancer and cannot offer support’. Dog breeders who do this solely for the money will make up all kinds of lies to tug at your heartstrings.
Ethical breeders care very much about their puppies and never, ever want them surrendered or ending up in rescue. Run from any breeder that doesn’t state in the contract that they want the dog back for any reason.
The contract will also outline breeding rights, spay/neuter timelines, and care guidelines. A dog breeder who truly cares about their dogs will be there for the entire dog’s life. Buying a puppy from a good breeder is not ‘a moment’, but a relationship!
The dog breeder should require you to return the dog to them if you are unable to keep it for some reason.
As a dog owner, this gives you an opportunity to return the dog to a safe place (the breeder who can then rehome him or her) if needed, instead of dumping the dog into the lap of our already strained Great Dane rescue system. If the breeder doesn’t offer lifetime support and at least a 2 year guarantee warranting the dog against certain health problems, run.
RED FLAG NUMBER 7: The dog breeder allows the puppies to go home prior to 8 weeks of age.
Inexperienced or careless breeders may claim that the mom ‘lost interest’ and ‘isn’t caring for the puppies’ around the time that the puppies naturally wean from the mother.
The mother may snap at the puppies to remind them to stop nursing or to correct them for being rude, and breeders will use this as an excuse to send the puppies home weeks before they should be leaving their mom.
The communication the mom gives the pups, and the communication the pups give each other is an incredibly important part of their development.
Puppies that go home prior to 8-10 weeks are extremely immature and struggle with bite control and potty training. There is rarely a reason for a puppy to go home earlier than this; if the mom is truly exhibiting dangerous aggressive behavior towards the pups, she should not have been bred.
Be patient and hold your dog breeder to a higher standard!
Double Merle puppies can be deaf, blind, or may have allergies and other health conditions. In the right hands these dogs can live a wonderful life, but many of them are either euthanized or end up in rescue and have questionable temperaments and high veterinary bills.
It is very important when buying a puppy to be able to see a full health certificate of all of the dogs within their genetics to make sure that your puppy was not the result of a double merle breeding.
Double Merle puppies are preventable. Make sure your breeder only pairs genetically proven (through testing) solid colors (such as mantle, black or blue) when breeding to a harlequin, merle or piebald dog.
Did you buy from a ‘red flag’ breeder? We’d love to hear your experience!
You may have heard the term ‘Double Merle’ associated with Great Danes. Double Merle Great Danes can be beautiful, but why are they this color? How do you get a pure white Great Dane?
Here are 5 facts about white Great Danes that you maybe didn’t know!
What Are Double Merle Great Danes?
A double merle Great Dane will be most often all white or close to it. (White Great Danes). Some may have merle patches and not be pure white.
As striking as they can be, this is not a color that should be intentionally produced, celebrated, or desired in Great Danes.
Double Merle Great Danes are often blind and/or deaf and can have other significant health problems, including autoimmune disorders, eye disorders, deformities, aggression, allergies, and problems with their heart, thyroid, and digestive system.
It’s important to note that not all ‘double merle’ dogs will have health or temprement problems. However, many will.
Many DM (double-merle) Great Danes are pure white, however, they can have some spots (most often merle patches). The absence of color around the ears and eyes is a contributing factor to deafness and blindness.
A Harlequin Great Dane is white with torn black patches and is NOT double-merle. Fawnequin and brindlequin are also not double merle, even though they have a white base coat like a harlequin does.
A double-merle white Great Dane
How Are Double Merle Great Danes Made?
Many Great Danes carry the merle gene. Merle genes are responsible for creating the beautiful Merle and Harlequin coats, as well as many off standard colors with spots (‘merlequin’, ‘fawnequin’, etc.).
By itself, the merle gene is ok.
When a puppy receives TWO copies of the merle gene (one from each parent that carries it), they are ‘double-merle’.
Double Merle puppies happen in litters where a breeder paired (either intentionally or accidentally) two dogs that each carry the merle gene. Not all puppies in a litter bred like this will be double-merle.
Each puppy in the litter has a 1-in-4 chance of receiving BOTH merle genes. To put this into perspective, that’s leaves each puppy (in the litter) a 75% chance that they will NOT be double merle, and have a normal single-merle coat pattern.
It is important to note that Double Merle dogs are 100% preventable.
This highlights the importance of genetic color testing prior to breeding, for breeders that are unsure if either dog in the pairing is merle or not. Color testing can be done HERE.
Double Merle Great Dane Health Problems
Not all white Great Danes will have health problems. However, because of their unique genetic makeup, many of them do. Here are some common things seen in double-merle Great Danes.
Deafness
Blindness
Under developed eyes
Eye problems that lead to pain or blindness
Auto-immune disorders
Allergies and skin sensitivities
Poor overall conformation (resulting from bad breeding practices)
Aggression, fear, and other temperament problems (instability)
A white Great Dane
Double Merle Practices & History in Great Danes
Double merle dogs are most often produced by unethical backyard breeders who either had “no idea this could happen“, or didn’t care.
Some breeders pair merle + merle dogs because they are in pursuit of ‘interesting’ designer colors. The flashy merle gene may result in some puppies getting catchy or trending colors that sell well and result in profits for the breeder.
Additionally, in the world of show dogs, some show breeders intentionally pair two Harlequin Great Danes with exceptional pedigrees because the pairing may produce desirable ‘show marked Harlequins’.
At times, this is done because well-built and appropriate black or mantle studs are hard to find, and keeping the gene pool diverse is important.
Unlike the backyard breeders who don’t understand genetics, however, a show breeder pairing merle + merle will often utilize genetic testing and a thorough study of the pedigree, which can help greatly reduce the risks associated with this practice.
The actual length of the merle gene carried by each parent can affect the outcome, and will be part of the considerations involved when pairing two dogs with a merle gene. This is what makes color testing so important.
The GDCA condones this practice, as of this writing.
Editor’s Note: At Hello Danes we are fierce advocates for truly ethical show breeders. It’s important to note that there is a massive difference between a backyard breeder (whom we don’t support for any reason) and a breeder who is showing, color testing, and fully OFA health testing their dogs prior to breeding.
While we don’t personally condone the practice of breeding “spot to spot” for show purposes, we recognize that it happens and understand why. It’s seen in MANY pedigrees.
Our stance is that backyard breeders and unethical breeders, especially those breeding for fancy colors and dumping puppies in rescue are the biggest issue to contend with when it comes to double-merle dogs.
It’s important that Dane owners not get ‘lost’ in the double-merle discussion, as 100% of sick, unhealthy, abandoned double-merle puppies are coming from unethical breeders.
Double Merle Danes & Breeders
Unethical breeders who produce white puppies may lie to buyers about them. They will often say that they are a ‘designer color’ and sell them at a premium price. Many others will dump them on rescues when they are born.
These are not reputable practices. It doesn’t matter how ‘friendly’ or nice the breeder seems, if they are dumping white puppies or selling them at a premium, they are a backyard breeder.
The Great Dane Club of America condones the practice of hard culling (euthanizing) deaf double-merle puppies by 5 weeks of age; this is practiced by some breeders, most often the ‘old school’ type.
Advances in merle gene color testing, we believe, has greatly reduced this practice.
Other breeders (typically the show breeders that are focused on structure, health, and temperament) take responsibility for these pups (if they end up with some in a litter) and will find them suitable, quality homes and support them for life.
Always ask questions and never support breeders that don’t ethically take care of pups from their double-merle pairings!
In a spot-spot pairing, each puppy has a 25% (or 1 in 4) chance of receiving both copies of the merle gene (one from each parent), making them ‘double merle’.
Some of the double merle puppies will be reabsorbed by the mother long before birth, they simply don’t make it.
In a live litter, there may be no double merle puppies or there could be several.
Be clear about statistics with this one. Some people will say that 25% of the litter will be double merle, and that’s not how it works.
Each puppy is the one saddled with that 1-in-4 statistic, not the litter as a whole.
Great Dane Genetics & Color Testing
Ethical, educated breeders who aren’t sure and want to avoid breeding double-merle dogs in the first place will use modern advances in genetics testing to confirm the colors of each dog in a potential pairing.
If you are looking for a color that isn’t accepted by the AKC as a show color, tread cautiously.
Some fancy colors are the result of spot-spot breedings, and unethical breeders will do this because they know it may get you to spend your money with them.
Merlequin is a popular off-standard color that comes from spot-spot breed pairings. Genetically, a Merlequin is actually a double-merle dog.
Like any other double-merle, this dog may or may not have health problems.
If you are set on finding a puppy in a ‘designer‘ color, make sure your breeder is focused first on health, structure, and temperament.
Merlequin are double-merle dogs who have the harlequin pattern (torn patches of color) but instead of having mostly black torn patches, all of their patches are merle. Imagine a harlequin Dane with merle spots instead of black and merle spots, essentially.
Double Merle Great Danes in Rescue
Entire rescues are dedicated to helping the double-merle dogs that are created by unethical breeding practices, and they are FULL.
Just the other day I saw a 4-month-old white puppy. The rescue was looking for a very special and hard-to-find home because the puppy was already showing signs of aggression, fear, and guarding.
She required surgery to remove her eyes because they did not develop properly. She also had additional structural problems that will lead to pain later in life.
Backyard breeding is not ok. This is not ok. We have to STOP supporting breeders that do this, whether it was intentional or not. The breeders won’t stop, so it’s up to us as puppy buyers and advocates for Great Danes.
Adopt a Double Merle Dog
If we want to stop the production of double-merle dogs, we have to educate people so that they stop rewarding breeders for producing them.
Double Merle dogs are 100% preventable. There is no excuse, but despite the existence of blogs, veterinary documents, reputable breeders, educated buyers, rescues, and people like us who shout from the rooftops, it still happens.
Share this with others, keep spreading the word. Great Dane owners with ‘ooops’ litters that happen ‘accidentally’ between their pet Danes are another contributor. This is also preventable through educated ownership and responsibility.
Support 501c3 Great Dane rescues, adopt double merles, choose only highly ethical breeders, and have fun with your Danes!
