What color is your Great Dane?
I admit that is one of my first questions to Dane owners who don’t have their dog with them. I’m also on the receiving end of that question as well if Martok isn’t with me.
I imagine it is a common question between Labrador owners and other breeds with distinct color variations. But with a Great Dane colors can become complicated.
The official color palette
The AKC (American Kennel Club) currently recognizes seven Great Dane colors:
- Fawn: yellow gold with black mask
- Brindle: Yellow gold base color with black cross stripes in chevron pattern
- Blue: solid steel blue (grey)
- Black: solid black
- Harlequin: white with black patches
- Mantle: black with white chest and muzzle, white or partial white legs (similar to Boston)
- Merle: recently added (May 2018) to breed standards, gray base coat with black patches (like Harlequin but gray base coat instead of white)
In the really world you will see lots of colors which are combinations of the first six listed above. Here is a graphic that shows over 100 variations.
We have had four Danes, all have been different colors.
The two most famous Great Danes
Marmaduke is Fawn which is probably the most common color. Scooby Doo is a Chocolate Merle.
I was going to talk about the genetics behind all these colors but it is really confusing to me. Even though I have a master’s degree in biology, I barely scraped by with a passing grade in my undergrad genetics class. So lets skip all that talk about genes, alleles and punnet squares, shall we?
If you are interested in delving into Great Dane genotypes, I found this website to be the most helpful.
The Important thing to know about Merles and Harlequins
Don’t breed spot to spot. If your dog is spotted don’t breed it with a spotted dog. Period, full stop! There is a good chance (25% and up) that you will get lethal and/or non-fatal lethal (really, that’s what it said) double Merle combinations. Double Merles are typically all white with a 90% chance of being deaf and potentially blind or pre-disposed to future eye problems. Seriously, 25% of the puppies will either die or have disabilities. It is unethical to take that risk.
It is best to leave the breeding to reputable breeders. Definitely stay away from people who are breeding Merles or Harlequins together and certainly don’t fall for anyone telling you “this is a rare color” so they cost more.
Ultimately it doesn’t matter what color your Great Dane is. Just love them and give them the best life you can.
“He might only be part of your life, but for your dog, you are his whole life.” Roger Caras
Don’t forget, happy dog, happy life!
