Danes come in several coat colors: Fawn (tan) with or without a black mask, black, blue, black/gold "striped" known as brindle, white with black irregular patches (not spots) known as Harlequin or Mantle whish is also called Boston as the dogs are marked like Boston Terriers.  These are the color coats accepted by the AKC, however, in the last few years more color coats have been seen such as Fawnikin (white with tan patches), Merle much like the blue merle Australian Shepherds and, of course, as in any breed you will have the White Danes.  There is a high percentage of deafness in White Danes.

Great Danes make wonderful house dogs.  They do need regular exercise every day but they work well even in apartments.  Puppies or younger dogs, of course, are active as all young dogs and do tend to be clumsy; but as they get older Dane's are sure-footed and seldom knock things over when going through the house.  Watch out for that tail though, a happy Dane has a long tail to wag!!  The Great Dane is a people dog and should not be kept outside.  They crave attention and want to be around their people.  They are gentle giants.  If you have small children, they should be supervised around your Dane, especially if the Dane is young.  Young Danes love to play and run.  A small child can easily be run over by a young Dane that weighs 120-130 pounds and is taller than the child.  Danes need to be taught manners and basic obedience.  They can easily set their head on the table or eat off your plate at the dinner table if not taught to do otherwise.  You also do not want a Dane that jumps up on people because most people would not be able to stand up under their weight.  Like all dogs when they meet new people, in their excitement, they would like to jump up and meet this new person.

Danes do need a lot of coat care, as their coat is very short.  However, because of their short hair, they should not be left out in cold weather for long periods of time.  They do not have enough hair to keep them warm.  Some owners purchase sweaters for their Danes for when they are outside or when they go for walks. Danes do need to be bathed once in a while and there are several options.  In the summer when it is hot, some Danes enjoy the hose outside.  Of course there is always the bathtub.  You can also purchase dry shampoos, which work well too.  Brushing regularly is important for a healthy coat too!

When choosing a food for your Dane, READ the labels.  Remember that the first few ingredients in a dog food are the major ingredients.  Therefore, you want one that list meat as its first ingredient, whether that is chicken, lamb, or beef.  You do not want a dog food that lists grains as the first few ingredients.  When feeding a Dane it is also important to use a RAISED food dish.  This helps prevent bloat, which is torsion of the stomach.  DO NOT allow your Dane to do any vigorous activities for a half hour before you feed him/her and for about an hour after you feed him/her.

For those who choose to bring a Dane into their home, it is a very rewarding experience.  They are very people oriented, playful, loving companions.  It is said that once you have a Dane no other dog matches up.