THE GREAT DANE 47 



it has been found that they get darker, and that the peculiar 

 " striping " disappears, and in that case the introduction of a 

 good fawn into the strain is advisable. The constant mating 

 of harlequins has the tendency to make the black patches 

 disappear, and the union with a good black Great Dane will 

 prevent the loss of colour. 



The following is the official description issued by the 

 Great Dane Club : 



General Appearance The Great Dane is not so heavy or massive 

 as the Mastiff, nor should he too nearly approach the Greyhound type. 

 Remarkable in size and very muscular, strongly though elegantly built ; 

 the head and neck should be carried high, and the tail in line with the 

 back, or slightly upwards, but not curled over the hind-quarters. 

 Elegance of outline and grace of form are most essential to a Dane ; 

 size is absolutely necessary ; but there must be that alertness of ex- 

 pression and briskness of movement without which the Dane character 

 is lost. He should have a look of dash and daring, of being ready to 

 go anywhere and do anything. Temperament The Great Dane is 

 good-tempered, affectionate, and faithful to his master, not demon- 

 strative with strangers ; intelligent, courageous, and always alert. 

 His value as a guard is unrivalled. He is easily controlled when well 

 trained, but he may grow savage if confined too much, kept on chain, 

 or ill treated. Height The minimum height of an adult dog should 

 be 30 ins. ; that of a bitch, 28 ins. Weight The minimum weight of 

 an adult dog should be 120 Ibs. ; that of a bitch, 100 Ibs. The greater 

 height and weight to be preferred, provided that quality and proportion 

 are also combined. Head Taken altogether, the head should give 

 the idea of great length and strength of jaw. The muzzle, or foreface, 

 is broad, and the skull proportionately narrow, so that the whole head, 

 when viewed from above and in front, has the appearance of equal 

 breadth throughout. Length of Head The entire length of head varies 

 with the height of the dog, 13 ins. from the tip of the nose to the back 

 of the occiput is a good measurement for a dog of 32 ins. at the shoulder. 

 The length from the end of the nose to the point between the eyes should 

 be about equal, or preferably of greater length than from this point 

 to the back of the occiput. Skull The skull should be flat rather than 

 domed, and have a slight indentation running up the centre, the 

 occipital peak not prominent. There should be a decided rise or brow 

 over the eyes, but no abrupt stop between them. Face The face 

 should be chiselled well and foreface long, of equal depth throughout, 

 and well filled in below the eyes with no appearance of being pinched. 

 Muscles of the Cheek The muscles of the cheeks should be quite flat, 

 with no lumpiness or cheek bumps, the angle of the jaw-bone well 

 defined. Lips The lips should hang quite square in front, forming a 

 right angle with the upper line of foreface. Underline The underline 

 of the head, viewed in profile, runs almost in a straight line from the 

 corner of the lip to the corner of the jawbone, allowing for the fold of the 



