Great Dane is one of the most beautiful and largest dog breeds. Its representatives have many colors. In addition to the five main ones, other coat colors are recognized as a standard for the breed.
Depending on the color, the Great Dane can develop various diseases. Marble mastiffs deserve special attention in this regard.
Colors of The Great Dane Breed
Breeding of Great Danes with a good gene and phenotype began around 1978–1979. It was impossible to make high demands on the breed standard due to its rarity. Moreover, experts still do not know how to assess the marbled color of Great Danes.
It was only recently recognized internationally and is still favored with blue or fawn coat colors. Correct mating, among other standard external qualities of the breed, provides the desired color of the Great Dane.
The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) distinguishes five main colors of these dogs:
- blue dog – it is also called steel;
- red dog – its coat should not have spots, a mask is clearly outlined on the dog’s face;
- brindle – its feature is black stripes on a red background, going in the direction of the ribs;
- the black;
- marble.
There are different opinions about the last color. Great Dane with a marbled color participate in exhibitions, but this coat color is still undesirable. The marbled color suggests torn black spots on a white background throughout the pet’s body. In this case, the speck is not always allowed.
Important! Concerns about the marbled color (or merle color) are associated with a large number of diseases in dogs of this color. For example, with age, the dog may develop twilight blindness, hearing problems are possible. Sometimes, female marbled dogs cannot conceive and bear puppies.
In addition to the five main colors, there are many other color options for this breed of dogs. The following are valid:
- red dog;
- fawn – darker ears and muzzle stand out against a red background;
- grey;
- spotted;
- smokey;
- brown;
- raincoat color – assumes a harmonious combination of a black and white suit (paws to the middle of the wrist, chest, neck, tip of the tail, and mask on the muzzle remain white, while the background is black).
In black and blue dogs, white spots on the chest and tips of the paws are allowed.
Grooming and hygiene
If a Great Dane has been adopted by a family, learning all the intricacies of caring for a dog is simply necessary. First of all, to maintain hygiene, you need a rubberized mitten (or a brush of medium hardness) and a flannel cloth.
It is enough to wipe the dog with a mitten once or twice a week. This removes dead skin particles and loose hairs and improves blood flow. The dog is wiped with a flannel cloth to make the coat shine.
Special cosmetics also help to maintain the neat appearance of the pet.
Using shampoos
The first and foremost rule: do not use human shampoo when caring for the Great Dane’s coat! This applies to all four-legged pets. The fact is that there are no sweat glands on the body of dogs, sweating occurs through the tongue. Therefore, the acid balance of a person and a dog is not the same.
For Great Danes – only special care products! Experts recommend dry shampoos.
The dog cannot be washed with hot water. A smooth coat without an undercoat provides increased skin sensitivity. Water temperatures up to 104F ° C are sufficient. While bathing, the bottom of the bath should be covered with a rug or towel to prevent the dog’s paws from slipping. During the procedure, it is necessary to cover the eyes of the pet, praise it, and encourage it.
Lanolin shampoo works well to add shine to the coat of the Great Dane. This component does not harm the pet and maintains the natural beauty of a healthy coat. Too concentrated shampoo is harmful – it is better to dilute it with water. Rinse off the product very carefully – the pet can lick off the remains.
The Great Dane does not need to be dried with a hairdryer and a dry with a towel is more than enough. The dog will dry out by itself, the main thing is not to let it go into the draft.
Now about oral hygiene. The dog’s mouth should be wiped every time after eating. You can buy a special sponge. The Great Dane should be trimmed or filed, as well as cleaned, once a month.
Important! Of all the grooming procedures, the dog tolerates the worst cleaning of ears, teeth and removal of nails with a special nail clipper. To avoid problems, it is necessary to accustom the dog to such hygiene from childhood. The animal will be much easier to tolerate bathing and cleaning if praised and encouraged.
One of the most common problems of this breed is the violation of the integrity of the skin on the fingertips. It is necessary to regularly inspect them, check that there are no cracks and wounds. For prevention, you can rub sunflower oil into the dog’s paws.
It is enough to examine your pet’s ears 1-2 times a week. If your dog rubs on the floor, tries to scratch its ear with its paw, or jerks its head, consult your veterinarian.
Molting
Oddly enough during molting season, great Danes give the owner a lot of trouble. Short spiky “hairs” will be scattered throughout the apartment. To avoid such surprises, during molting, the pet is cleaned with a rubberized mitten more often, ideally every day.
