Why is color important? Choosing a color for Great Danes is more than just an aesthetic decision! The breed standard includes 7 acceptable colors/patterns that ethical breeders strive to meet with their breedings. The colors are broken up into 3 color families: harl/mantle, fawn/brindle, and blue/black. Breeding correct coat color preserves breed type by producing dogs that undeniably look like a Great Dane, as well as avoiding health problems such as CDA. While out of standard colors can and do happen in ethical breeding, it is not nearly as common as the pet market makes it seem. Off standard Great Danes have become a money grab, their flashy colors and markings directly correlating to their cost instead of breeding for health, temperament, type, and correct color. Our newest accepted color is Merle, which actually needs to be present genetically to produce harlequin. And yes, I’m aware, Zander is not to standard. He’s my lesson learn Dane.
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