Great Danes are a magnificent breed of dog that originated from Germany many years ago.
They were first used as hunting dogs for large games and now they are sought after as either show dogs in which Great Danes excel for the best in breed or for loving and loyal family companions. Read on to learn all about the Fawn Great Dane.
AKC Standards for a Fawn Great Dane
Great Danes are the 14th most popular dog to be bred in the United States. Of all the colors of Great Danes, the fawn color is the most popular and easily represents a dog as being a Great Dane.
If you are seeking a fawn Great Dane puppy for a future show dog, it will have to follow the exact AKC specifications in order to place well in shows.
According to the AKC, a fawn Great Dane must have a base-colored coat of yellow gold with a black mask.
The black mask appears on the rims of the eyes and eyebrows and then extends down to the snout. Black may also appear on the ears and tip of the tail.
Deep yellow gold is the most preferred color, although lighter yellow gold colors still fit the breed standard.
White markings of any type on the chest or toes or a black chest or a dirty colored fawn color are not accepted.
Very slight mismarks won’t render your Great Dane unfit for the show ring, and many unmasked fawn Great Danes have become champions due to all of the other desirable traits they have.
How are the Fawn Color and the Black Mask Created?
Fawn Great Danes are the most sought-after color of these gentle giants. The fawn color is actually a recessive gene and both parents must carry the fawn gene in order to produce a litter of fawn puppies.
The black mask on a fawn Great Dane is produced easily when both parents of the litter also have the black mask and carry the mask gene.
Fawn Dane puppies with a black mask are given preference by breeders and judges, so they will be more expensive than a solid fawn Great Dane.
Masked puppies can also appear at a rate of about 50% of the litter if only one of the two parents carries the mask gene.
Can a Fawn Great Dane Puppy have Other Colored Parents?
Yes, a litter of fawn puppies can have two brindle-coated parents because the fawn color is a dilute color of the brindle color. So, it is important to keep in mind when you are in search of your new four-legged family member.
Some of the puppies in the litter can be fawn in varying shades and some may have a black or dark mask or no mask, while other puppies in the same litter may resemble both parents with brindle coloring.
Brindle Great Danes have a fawn body with black brindling marks that cover the body in stripes from the top of the back and down the sides of the dog. Other brindle colors include black and red, light and dark gray and blue.
So when you are searching for the perfect pup for your family in a fawn color, don’t count out that two brindle Great Danes may have fawn puppies too.
Most people will think that a breeder is pulling the wool over their eyes, so to speak, but this can occur and does every so often.
Great Dane Genetics of the Fawn Coat
The fawn coloration of a Great Dane comes from the result of the AY recessive gene. This is actually the most dominant of the four alleles to signal the color in a dog’s genes.
The fawn color is called agouti, in which the base color is a yellow-gold tone. The four alleles include AY, AW, AT, and a. Any combination of AY and one of the other alleles can produce fawn coloration.
What Are the Variations of the Fawn Great Dane Coloration?
If you happen to love the Great Dane for his lovely stature and loving personality and also like the fawn color, but don’t necessarily want a show dog, you can choose from other variations in the Great Dane lineup than have fawn in the coat color.
The Fawn Merle Great Dane
The Fawn merle Great Dane is a mismatch of a true fawn Great Dane. The merle color is the newest color that is recognized by the AKC in 2018.
Merle Great Danes have a grayish color as the base coat and they have black and white markings on the body in some areas.
The markings are not in any specific pattern and they don’t align well with each other, as in the brindle color.
The fawn merle Great Dane will have a white base coat that is covered in fawn-colored splotches all over the body. This is a striking appearance on a stately dog.
The Fawn Mantle Great Dane
The fawn mantle Great Dane is another variation of the fawn coloration. The mantle coat is described by the AKC as being primarily black with white markings on the muzzles, legs, around the collar, and on their chests.
They may also have some white marks on the black blanket that covers the back and sides–much like a saddle blanket on a horse, and some white markings are also allowed on a black collar.
The fawn mantle Great Dane is also called a fawntle. They have a solid fawn blanket over the back with the same white markings as a true mantle Great Dane on the legs, muzzle, collar, and chest.
The Fawn Harlequin Great Dane
The AKC standard for a harlequin coat pattern is a white coat with irregular black patches on the body.
The black patches should be spread out evenly over the body with pure white necks and the black color can’t dominate the white body color.
The black patches and markings shouldn’t be very small and all black markings should have irregular edges instead of being round. A few gray patches are undesirable but still acceptable.
The fawn harlequin Great Dane is called a fawnequin and is a mismatch of a fawn Dane. It will have a pure white coat with irregular fawn patches on it unevenly on the body.
What is the White Great Dane and Why Are They Rare?
The solid white Great Dane carries the white gene which is also called the lethal white gene in many different types of animals.
Solid white Great Danes are often deaf or blind at birth and require specialized care and training.
This isn’t to say that all white Great Danes will inherit these qualities, but since it is discouraged to breed white to white Danes, you might want to avoid this coat color.
Since the harlequin Great Dane is mostly white, breeding two of these together can create a white Great Dane.
It’s a preferred breeding practice to produce litters of puppies from breeding a mantle to a harlequin instead.
How Much do Fawn Great Dane Puppies Cost?
Fawn Great Dane puppies vary widely in price. It all depends on if the parents are from champion show dog lines, in which they would be about $2,500 each.
If you are just searching for a family companion, you are likely to find a fawn Dane puppy for around $800.
Most often, if the markings are considered perfect for the AKC definition, the price will be higher and if the puppy has a black mask, the price will likely be higher than a non-masked pup.
Fawn Great Dane Health Issues
Great Danes are pretty healthy as an overall breed, but they do have some propensity to have health issues associated with their specific breed. They may inherit bloat, hip dysplasia, allergies, and heart conditions from their lineage.
The good news is that if you choose a perfect pooch from a breeder, they will likely have screened both parents for all of the possible medical issues that could arise.
They should also give you a copy of this paperwork as well as a puppy guarantee and the puppy’s vet records showing his visits and vaccines.
These items can put your mind at ease because you know you are getting a healthy puppy to take home with you.
Your vet will also realize what medical screenings your Great Dane needs to rule out the same medical issues that affect this breed.
That allows you to know in advance of procedures that will need to be performed so you can have a healthy and happy furball for your family’s companion.
If your heart is set on the fawn Great Dane, you are in luck because this is the most popular color of Danes and there are usually many different breeders that have puppies available when you are ready to commit to a new family member.
You may also decide to choose a non-recognized coat color for a unique dog coat pattern that is very beautiful as well.
