General Appearance: The Great Dane combines in its distinguished appearance, dignity, strength and elegance with great size and a powerful, well formed, smoothly muscled body. He is one of the giant breeds but is unique in that his general conformation must be so well balanced that he never appears clumsy and is always a unit - The Apollo of dogs. He must be spirited and courageous, never timid. He is friendly and dependable. This physical and mental combination is the characteristic which gives the Great Dane the majesty possessed by no other breed.

(i)Colour - Brindle Danes: Base colour ranging from light golden yellow to deep golden yellow always brindled with strong black cross stripes. the more intensive the base colour and the more intensive the brindling, the more attractive will be the colour. Small white marks at the chest and toes are not desirable.

(ii)Colour - Fawn Danes:Golden yellow up to deep golden yellow colour with a deep black mask. The goldlen deep yellow colour must always be given the preference. Small white spots at the chest and toes are not desirable.

(iii)Blue Danes: The colour must be a pure steel blue, as far as possible without any tinge of yellow, black or mouse gray.

(iv)Black Danes: Glossy black.

(v)Harlequin Danes:Base colour, pure white with black torn patches irregularly and well distributed over the entire body; pure white neck preferred. The black patches should never be large enough to give a stippled or dappled effect. (Eligible but less desirable, are a few small gray spots, )

Size: The male should 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 should 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.

Rear End (Croup, Legs, Paws) The croup must be full, slightly drooping and must continue imperceptibly to the tail root. Hind legs: The first thighs from hip joint to knee are broad and muscular. The second thighs from knee to hock joint are strong and long.

Paws Round and turned neither toward the inside nor toward the outside. Toes short, highly arched and well closed. Nails short, strong and as dark as possible.

Front End (Shoulders, Legs, Paws): Shoulders:The shoulder blades must be strong and sloping and seen from the side, must form as nearly as possible a right angle in its articulation with the humerus (upper arm) to give a long stride.Forelegs: The upper arm should be strong and muscular. Seen from the side or front, the strong lower arms run absolutely straight to the pastern joints. Paws Round and turned neither toward the inside nor toward the outside. Toes, short highly arched and well closed. Nails short, strong and as dark as possible.

Head: Long, narrow, distinguished, expressive, finely chiselled, especially the part below the eyes with strongly pronounced stop. The masculinity of the male is very pronounced in the expression and structure of head (this subtle difference should be evident in the dog's head through massive skull and depth of muzzle.)

Teeth: Strong, well developed and clean. Incisors of the lower jaw must touch very lightly the bottoms of the inner surface of the upper incisors (scissors bite).

Eyes: Medium size, as dark as possible, with lively intelligent expression; almond shaped eyelids, well developed eyebrows.

Ears Ears should be high, set not too far apart, medium in size, of moderate thickness, drooping forward close to the cheek. Top line of folded ear should be about level with the skull.

Neck: The neck should be firm and clean, high set, well arched, long, muscular and sinewy. From the chest to the head, it should be slightly tapering, beautifully formed with well developed nape.

chest: The chest should be quite broad, deep and well muscled.

Tail: Should start high and fairly broad, terminatring slender and thin at the hock joint. At rest, the tail should fall straight. When excited or running, slightly curved (sabrelike)