Great Danes: A Quiz of Giant Proportions

Answer: Merle

Merles were not included in the original six colors accepted for showing in the conformation ring, even though they are a standard by-product of harlequin breedings. The regulations were changed by the AKC in 2018.

Merles make wonderful pets, but they should never be used for breeding, sold only on spay/neuter contracts, and should always be spayed or neutered. Beware of breeders who advertise merles as "rare." They are NOT rare, and breeding merles can lead to lethal white puppies who can be deaf and/or blind.

Answer: Boar

The Great Dane's original purpose was as a boar hunter, but the modern dog is no longer aggressive enough to hunt anything.

Answer: True

Puppy foods, in general, contain too much protein and fat for a giant breed that already grows incredibly fast...over 100 pounds in one year alone. Feeding puppy food to a Dane puppy can cause bone and joint problems (which can be fatal), and cause the front legs to "knuckle over." It's best to feed a quality adult food with 23% or less protein and about 12% fat to a growing Dane puppy.

Answer: Yes

To put it simply, blue Great Danes are a result of a double dose of the black dilution gene. This is a recessive gene. It is very possible for blue puppies to come out of a black to black breeding if both the sire and the dam carry the black dilution gene. On the flip side, two blue Great Danes cannot produce black puppies because blues only carry the recessive black dilution gene and do not possess any dominant black genes.

Answer: Piebald Danes have a mantle head with a mainly white body

Piebald Great Danes are Danes with a mantle-like colored head and very little pigment on the rest of their body. They are a product of breedings within the harlequin color family.

Answer: False

Great Danes are born with floppy ears. If you want your Dane's ears to stand, you have to get them cropped and vigilantly go through months of taping them up. While most show Danes' ears are cropped, there are a few natural eared Danes who are doing very well in the show ring. If you opt to get your Dane's ears cropped, be sure to find a vet who has experience with Great Dane crops!

Answer: Bloat and torsion

Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (GDV) is bloat and torsion. Deep-chested dogs are susceptible to this life-threatening condition and it's important to know the warning signs of bloat if you own a breed that is prone to it. Bloat is when the stomach fills up with air, which causes the stomach to essentially flip, often involving other organs as well. Blood flow is cut off and tissue becomes necrotic. Emergency medical attention is vital when a dog has bloated. Time is of the essence.

As a side note, my Great Dane bloated in 2005, but luckily I knew the warning signs and got him to the emergency vet in time.

Answer: On its head

The "stop" refers to an area on a Great Dane's head. Great Danes are supposed to have well-defined stops, and not a sloping muzzle.

Answer: No

Scooby Doo has a chocolate base coat with black spots. His coat color cannot exist in living Great Danes because any chocolate Great Dane, due to recessive genetics, CANNOT have any black on it. Scooby's creator intentionally made Scooby the color he is because he knew that no one could breed Danes that color.

Answer: True

Great Danes thrive when they are part of their family. They are a very sensitive breed and need lots of human interaction. They also do not have the coat to withstand hot or cold temperatures. They lack the base coat that insulates them against extreme temperatures.