Dane DispatchNov2017

DANE DISPATCH
November 2017
For the Love of the Dane

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
What’s new in 2017 4
The Danes are back 5
Unsung Angels 10
Living with a dwarf dane 14
Why is Puppy School so important? 17
Vet’s Corner 21
Rescue Corner 24
Colours in an ethically bred litter 25
How to choose a breeder 30
Breeder’s Corner 31
Committee 2017 32
Officials 38
SAGDA Contact Details 39
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he end of 2016 and early 2017 has seen an increase in show entries from
T
Great Danes of all colours. At the Transvaal Midlands Kennel Club Championship
show in March the Dane entry was the largest in the Working Group.
All the colours, except black were represented.
Many youngsters are in the ring and will be joining the ring during 2017. There
are fawns from the Vom Danois Kennel and the Fairmoor Kennel, brindles and
fawns form Gaitewai, Harlequins, blacks and mantles from Gavelle, Carlu, Durwardglen
and Saxony, Blues from Brukkaros and Gatonford and Blues and
Blacks from Slagan.
We have a new kid on the block in Harlequin breeding, Reyn, and hopefully we
will see much more from them in 2018.
Our Danes have done us proud in the show ring with some really superb
achievements during 2017. We have a KUSA National Puppy, a Grand Champion,
multiple best puppy in show winners, multiple best junior in show winners,
multiple best in show winners and new champions.
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MBIS MRBIS MBPIS MRBPIS
Gaitewai a Falcon Flies of
Fairmoor was awarded
KUSA National Puppy
2017, KUSA National
Working Puppy 2017,
KUSA Winner 2017, Working
and Herding Puppy
2017 and No1 Great
Dane Animal Talk
Photo by Japie Nel
MBIS MBPISS CH & INT CH
Fairmoor Piping Hot became
the first Great Dane
Grand Champion in SA
and was awarded KUSA
National Dane 2017
Photo by Wayne Streak
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Multiple Best in Show winners for 2017
Photo by Martinique Watson
Photo by Wayne Streak
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Photo by Yolanda Beukes
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New Champions for 2017
Photo by Coen de Klerk
Photo by Michelle Henderson
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We had a chat with Henri Neethling, the “White Dane Angel” of South Africa. Those
people who know the Dane community knows that Henri has given a safe haven to
many white Danes over the years.
SAGDA: Where did your involvement with Great Danes begin?
Henri: My first exposure to Great Danes was as a child - my uncle had a Dane. Then in
2001 I spent a weekend in Mozambique. The lodge owner had a blue Dane that
spent the whole weekend in my cabin and followed me around all the time. I returned
and started looking for a dane. I got Umberto - the most amazing fawn Dane.
I drove to Johannesburg every second week until he was 8 weeks old to fetch him .
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SAGDA: Why white Great Danes? What made you decide to take in so many white
Danes?
Henri: I got a gorgeous Harlequin girl from Saxony Great Danes (Shannon McKay), a
great companion for my fawn boy. I noticed an ad on Gumtree for a white / deaf girl
and spoke to the owner. Stella had been in several homes and had been severely
abused, burned with cigarettes, had a very large growth on her foot and was being
offered to a dog fighting ring. I took her in and within a few days she had learned several
hand signs and had crept very deep into my heart.
SAGDA: How many Danes do you currently have? Are they all white? Are all of them
deaf?
Henri: I currently have 7 Danes. Six are deaf and one Harlequin boy. I have lost 3 of
my Danes in the last year. So at one time I had 10 Danes (8 deaf and 2 Harlequins)
One of the deaf Danes also has very poor vision, but gets around with all the others.
SAGDA: What are the ages of your current batch? How old was your oldest white?
Henri: The kids range between 5 and 3 years. I think Stella was about 7 when she
passed (the oldest white dane)
SAGDA: White Danes are prone to sensory problems, are they difficult to handle?
Henri: I believe the loss of hearing plays a role in socializing. Pups yelp when hurt, so
playing can be a little rough - probably more so than hearing dogs. The deafies are
probably no more difficult to handle than any other dog - the basics remain the same
- be consistent, reward and love all the time. Dogs respond to the tone of one’s voice
- Deafies do not have that luxury of hearing you do the “baby talk” thing - they need
tactile interation. You need to touch them constantly to affirm your love. NEVER use
your hands to punish - your hands are your communication tool.
SAGDA: What advice would you give people who have/ plan on getting a deaf
Dane?
Henri: Just love them - there is very little difference between a deaf and a hearing
dog. Touch, rub, pat and scratch them all the time - they lose out on all the vocal
interaction that hearing dogs have.
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SAGDA: Are deaf Danes quieter (bark less) than the ones that can hear?
Henri: Hell No!! They bark more and louder. You can’t yell at them to stop - you need
to get up, touch them and give the sign to be quiet. Like naughty teenagers they often
turn their back on me and continue barking - cos “if I can’t see you sign at me, I
can continue”
SAGDA: How does training a deaf Dane differ from training one that can hear?
Henri: The training methods might differ, but the basics remain the same. You need to
be consistent, praise, be patient and reward all the time. The big difference is that
you need to get eye contact in order to give a hand signal. I never punish with my
hand or a rolled up newspaper etc. I use a spray bottle with water (water ONLY, no
added vinegar or other substances) A quick spray works wonders and they get to
know the bottles - now I only need to reach for the bottle to stop unwanted behaviour.
I teach a number of simple commands like: come here, sit, down, no, good job, out,
stop, quiet and a unique sign for each dog’s name. I walk my dogs “off lead” all the
time, they have learned to “check in” with me every couple of minutes so I can signal
what I want.
SAGDA: Lots of people shy away from taking in a dog once they find out it is deaf.
What is your opinion on this? Should they shy away or is it not that difficult to keep
them?
Henri: Difficult one. Taking a deaf dog is really not for everyone, but it can be so rewarding.
They are like any dog, but you need to consider all the other health problems
that are associated with the genetic deficit. I have 2 defies that have epilepsy -
the most horrible thing to see your dog having a seizure. They have a higher risk for
certain cancers and may not live long, sight problems, skin problems etc. So before
making the decision to take in a deaf make sure that you are prepared to deal with
and manage all these other deficits, and costs. Be prepared for the frustrations that
come with not being able to talk too your dog, you need to spend time touching
them , getting up to get their attention - perhaps one need to spend just a little more
time with them. I will aways take in another deaf Dane. I have had the privilege of
having 8 defies at one time in my house, I have had the heartache of losing 2 at a
very young age due to cancer. Don’t let the fad of “owning” a deafie cloud your
decision to take one in. Be prepared to put the work and time in to really offer them a
great home.
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SAGDA: Have you had a Dane that is both deaf and blind? If so, how do you train and
communicate with them?
Henri: I have never had a blind and deaf dane, but I have a boy with very poor vision.
I use hand and touch signals to communicate with him - a real happy chappie.
SAGDA: Anything else you want to share with people?
Henri: Some Myths
All white danes are deaf - FALSE
All deaf danes are white - FALSE
All deaf danes carry the double merle gene - FALSE
Deaf dogs don’t socialise well - FALSE (I have a pack of 10)
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Just over five years ago we had a very special pup born, Ice. She was not breathing
when she was born and it took quite some time to resuscitate her, but Ice then
went on to be as strong as her littermates.
As the months went on we saw there was something different about this pup. Her
structure and movement was different. Veterinary diagnosis confirmed that Ice had
dwarfism.
Needless to say this was quite a shock! The biggest concern was for her welfare.
Research showed that the outlook for dwarf dogs is variable, depending upon the
cause, nature and extent of their skeletal abnormalities. In many cases, dwarfs live
a perfectly normal life for a perfectly normal life span. In other cases, they develop
respiratory and spinal abnormalities.
Apart from having shortened legs Ice did not appear to have any other major issues
and was able to enjoy a happy and full life. During her spay the vet noted that her
reproductive organs were very unusual, so extra care was taken to be on the alert
for signs of any other organ problems.
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Ice appeared to be a happy and comfortable dog, but what we didn't know
was that her spine started undergoing changes later in her life. In a normal dog
this probably would have been easier to see, but in a dog with an abnormal
skeleton the changes were hard to detect. Her active and playful behaviour
did not show any indications either. During a veterinary examination xrays
showed the extent of these changes, which were extreme and no doubt very
painful. The changes were beyond repair and only likely to get worse so the
kindest option was to euthanase.
Dwarfs can occur in any breed. In some breeds dwarfism is deliberately bred -
Dachhunds, Corgis, Bassets etc. In Great Danes we obviously want to stay
away from this condition. It appears to be a random occurrence, but to be
safe the pairing that produced the dwarf should not be repeated.
Ice was just like her life - short, but full of happiness and love. RIP sweet baby
girl.
By Shannon McKay
We chatted with Yolanda Beukes, owner of the late Saxony Icing onda
Cake.
SAGDA:
Yolanda:
SAGDA:
Yolanda:
SAGDA:
Yolanda:
SAGDA:
Ice was a Dane with dwarfism. How old was she?
Ice was born in July 2012 so that made her 5 years old.
At what stage did you realise that she was different?
At about 4 months I took her to a vet because she didn't reach
the same growth milestones as her brothers and sister. We were
referred to a specialist vet who in the following weeks, with more
check-ups, confirmed that she had dwarfism.
How much was she smaller than other danes?
Ice weighed about 40 kg and was 45 cm at her withers.
Did she act differently than normal sized danes? (My smallest
Munchkin cat acts like she is a lioness).
Yolanda: Ice had the typical small person fighting spirit and didn't back -
off for anything. She ruled the house :)
SAGDA:
Yolanda:
How many siblings did she have, and are they all normal?
She had 6 siblings and all of them are healthy and strong.
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SAGDA:
Yolanda:
SAGDA:
Yolanda:
SAGDA:
Yolanda:
You have normal sized danes too. How did they react to Ice?
My other Danes grew up with her and saw nothing wrong with
her ;) She was just another member of the family.
You often referred to her as your perpetual puppy. Why?
Ice's features were still exactly the same as a 7 month old puppy
and people often confuse her with a puppy even though she was 5
years old.
Dis she appear normal at birth?
We had to resuscitate her but apart from that she wasn't any different.
he wasn't the smallest and she was just a happy puppy like all the
others.
SAGDA:
Yolanda:
SAGDA:
Yolanda:
Did she have health issues? Was she easy to raise?
Besides having joint problems due to her abnormal development she
was a very healthy Dane. We didn't know what the future would bring
so we made sure sure she got the best nutrition and medical attention
when needed.
What advice would you give someone who has or might get a dwarf
dane?
Don't makes the same mistake we made in treating her like a puppy all
the time, they need to know that their behaviour has consequences.
Treat your Dane like any other, make sure they are on a premium food
and set money aside so that you can take them to specialist vets if
need be.
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By Shannon McKay
To fully understand the process of puppy socialising let's apply this concept to wild
canines - which give us the basis for our understanding of natural canine behaviour.
For the purposes of this scenario let's imagine two litters of wolf puppies. The first
litter progresses as any normal litter of wolf puppies would i.e. they remain in the
den for 5-6 weeks. Upon emerging they meet the big world outside. Because they
stay close to the den until the age of 16 weeks, they spend a lot of time investigating
and getting socialised to new objects - such as the wolves in their pack, trees,
insects, rocks, thunder, birds etc. - which will become an integral part of their everyday
life. After the age of 16 weeks they start exploring further afield and encounter
different "new" objects. As they are past their maximum socialising period they
view these items with great suspicion and caution. These objects would be other
wolves, hunters, snakes etc. and this is nature's way of ensuring that the wolves exhibit
necessary caution as adults.
Now let's have a look at litter two. Instead of coming out of their den at 5-6 weeks
they remained inside until 16 weeks of age. After this age they viewed everything
outside of their den such as rocks, birds and insects as highly dangerous and to be
avoided at all costs! As the only place they could guarantee no contact with
these objects is the den, they spend most of their life in their den and undergo high
levels of stress when forced to go outside.
By drawing a parallel between the den and your home one can easily understand
how puppies that do not experience proper socialising before 16 weeks of age
have a MAJOR problem with the world outside of their den! Not only do they not
cope with the "big wide world outside" but they also have problems with new stimuli
on their own turf.
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How does it work?
A puppy’s brain is still undergoing "growth" during the socialisation period and the
more positive experiences that they have before this age, the larger their
"experience bank". This larger database actually promotes a thought process when
the adult dog encounters a totally new experience and not an instant fear reaction
of fight, flee or freeze. All under-socialised dogs will be fearful in new situations and
how they react to this fear depends primarily on the dog's breed. In general, bull
breeds, terriers and working breeds will fight, gundogs will freeze, while hounds and
herding dogs will flee - this is not to say that these dog have no courage as these reactions
were bred into these working dogs for their specific working purpose. A good
puppy socialising class puts puppies on the path of a thought process as an adult
and not a "kill or be killed" mentality.
“But my puppy is not desned to be a show dog, so it doesn't have to get used to
different things”
While this may have some merit, a well-socialised dog will not go into a flat spin for
example when it hears a motorbike whizzing past from behind a wall. As this dog has
been exposed to various stimuli during the maximum socialising period it will apply a
thought process to this strange noise and probably only show natural curiosity and
perhaps a bit of territorial protection. The same dog will not also try to "kill" the new
lawnmower or "murder" that vicious-looking pram that came to visit.
Do puppy classes influence aggression?
Puppy socialising classes play a critical role in minimising adult dog aggression. As
mentioned before, a new situation is met with either a fight, flee or freeze reaction.
But by putting your puppy through a good puppy socialising class, they will not instantly
go for this option. This is not to say that a mature dog that has
gone through puppy socialising will not fight! If there is an unresolved dispute over
resources and ritualized aggression is not working for the dog then fighting remains
the dog's only way of sorting it out, but a well-socialised dog will not instantly go for
this option with a strange dog.
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How does that work?
Normally just as a puppy is starting to get the hang of "talking dog" with its littermates
and mother, it is removed from the litter. Even if it goes into a household with other
dogs, these resident dogs most probably also had their canine communication
schooling cut short, so we end up with a pack of semi-literate dogs, which encourages
"no-brainer" reactions. So the solution may seem to be to leave puppies together
until they are past the magic 16 weeks?
But no, because this lands us with an even bigger problem - canine bonding. We
must still remember that even though puppies are born into a domestic environment,
they must still be "tamed" or socialised. By leaving puppies together, they end
up imprinting on one another and not on human beings. A canine-bonded dog can
be one of the most frustrating dogs to own - ears become ornaments as soon as another
dog enters the picture.
So what's the answer? Puppy socialising - as this is a controlled environment where
puppies can communicate with one another, without sacrificing any of their human
imprinting potential.
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What do I look for in a puppy socialising class?
Puppy classes have become very popular in the last decade, which is great! However
it is still important to make sure that the puppy class you select is teaching your
pup the right thing - puppies simply running around and playing for an hour unfortunately
doesn’t provide a good platform for appropriate adult behaviour.
A good puppy socialising class will:
Provide a secure and clean area where puppies can interact freely
Match puppy ages and sizes appropriately
Only use well-trained and bombproof "senior" dogs
Emphasis the fact that this is not a hour-long playtime (you don't want your
puppy growing up thinking that every time it sees another dog it's "Lead's off
and playtime!")
Cover classic puppy "problems" such as toilet training, discipline, boisterous
behaviour and hierarchy challenges
Start teaching puppies basic reward-based obedience training
Expose the puppies to a variety of sights and sounds at appropriate levels
Hand out relevant literature pertaining to a puppy's development
Provide appropriate and safe puppy obstacles such as tunnels, mazes etc.
Be willing to provide a 24 hour telephonic back-up service for any emergencies
Be approved by the Animal Behaviour Consultants of SA©
Instructor certified by Super Pup
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GDV actually stand for ”Gastric Dilatation
and Volvulus” and in essence it only
means a stomach that twisted or turned
on its own axis and if going through 180
degrees it obstructs the inlet and outlet
and thus cause the stomach to Bloat. This
is always a medical emergency!!
Sadly, even with emergency treatment,
up to 50% of dogs will die if their stomach
has twisted.
Though this can theoretically happen in
any dog, there are definitely certain
breeds that are more prone to GDV. These
breeds include English bulldogs, Weimaraners,
Rottweilers, German shepherds,
Great Danes, and any other large, deepchested
breed. Though it seems like it's a
genetic breed tendency, it's really more a
factor of the anatomy of these breeds
based on their size and shape. Studies
have looked at how to prevent it, and
there is really only one thing that has been
shown to significantly increase the risk--
exercise after filling the stomach with food
or water. So take a dog of the right size
and breed, fill their stomach with food or
water, then let them run around a
lot. That's a formula for bloat.
GDV or better known as Stomach Torsion or bloat;
Dogs that bloat most commonly act and
look like they swallowed a large beach
ball. Their abdomen becomes large and
The big fear in our Gentle Giants.
tense, their gums can become pale, they
will become suddenly lethargic, and will
usually act like they are gagging or retching
and salivating excessively. If you see
your dog act like this with a bloated belly,
consider this a life-or-death emergency
and see a vet immediately.
Symptoms of bloat in dogs
Bloat develops very suddenly, and occurs
more in middle aged or older dogs. Often
the dog may have just eaten a large
meal, drank a large amount of water or
been exercising vigorously before or after
eating when the first symptoms of bloat
appear.
Five early warning signs of bloat in dogs
may include:
1. Your dog is drooling more than usual
2. Your dog is trying to be sick, but not
able to vomit
3. Your dog has a tight or swollen
stomach
4. Your dog is tired but restless
5. Your dog appears to be uncomfortable
or in pain and may groan,
whine or grunt – particularly if the
stomach is touched or pressed
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As the problem progresses, your dog may
go into shock, with pale gums and
tongue, rapid heart rate, weak pulse,
problems breathing and collapse.
If there is any suspicion of bloat, take your
pet to the nearest vet hospital. If the stomach
has twisted, then emergency surgery
is the only option
Here are some precautions to take to help
prevent this deadly condition:
Wait at least one hour after eating
or drinking before allowing exercise.
This is the main factor shown
to prevent bloat.
Don't encourage your dog to roll
over. Though a low risk, the twisting
action has been shown to lead to
bloat.
In fact, some veterinarians
do not rotate a dog over their back
while anesthetized due to this risk.
Feed 2-3 meals during the day rather
than one large meal. However,
be sure that you're taking the
measured amount of daily food
and dividing it into the meals rather
than giving the once daily amount
two or three times.
(gastropexy). While this doesn't completely
prevent the stomach from rotating, it
does lower the risk. Some advocate having
this surgery performed routinely on
high-risk breeds, but personally I disagree.
Even in breeds that are prone to
bloat most will never have this happen in
their life span, and I don't think the benefits
of the procedure (since it's not a guarantee
that it will never happen) outweigh
the risks. Remember, this is only in cases of
preventative surgery. I certainly do think
that it should be done in a dog who has
bloated once since they show a personal
tendency and it will very likely happen
again.
A Gastropexy simply stops the stomach
from twisting, which is the cause of the life
endangering symptoms. However, your
dog can still get bloat after the surgery,
although they will be able to burp and
pass excess gas which means you have
more time to get to your vet for treatment.
It turns a life-threatening emergency into
something with significantly less risk.
See the attached quick reference bloatchart
drawn up by Great Dane Rescue
North Texas to help you recognise the
signs and determine severity of bloat in
your Dane and what stand you to do.
Don't allow excessive water drinking
immediately before or after a
meal. Abnormal amounts of water
have the potential to delay breakdown
of food and lead to gas production.
Dr. Carel Breytenbach (BVSc)
Muldersdrif Dierekliniek
muld_vet@mweb.co.za
Dogs who have had episodes of GDV are
at risk for further occurrences. A surgery
can be performed to attach the outside
lining of the stomach to the body wall
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Great Dane Rescuer Western Cape
“So much to gain when you adopt a Dane”
Anyone who has met a Great Dane will be able to relate to our motto. It’s simple, yet
affective and without prejudice to adopting or shopping. Whilst we are against backyard
breeders, we wholeheartedly support all the amazing, responsible breeders who
constantly thrives to breed quality Great Danes to improve their health, temperament
and also to extend their average life span
Our rescue group was founded late in 2016 after Monique Burrows (Founder/Northern
Suburbs Co-ordinator/Helderberg Co-ordinator/Free State Co-ordinator/Foster/Home
checker/Dane mom) experienced an increase of people asking for help with rehoming
their Great Danes, when other rescues started approaching her it was clear
that there was a serious need for a Great Dane Rescue in the Western Cape. The rescue
group was then later joined by Marlene Engelbrecht (Boland Co-ordinator/Home
checker/Foster mom/Dane mom), Lynda Montignies (COAPE approved behaviourist/
Pets@home Training Centre/Dane mom). We also have a very small, elite group of
fabulous individuals, who generously provide their spare time to assist us with home
checks and the various administrations tasks that go along with any rescue group i.e.
getting adoption forms in from potential families, ensure all adopting fees are collected
timeously, reconcile all our veterinary accounts, follow ups on already adopted
dogs and responding to daily emails received. Do not forget about our greatest asset,
which is our foster homes. Foster homes are vital to any rescue organisation, because
the majority of dogs are surrendered at the very last minute or late at night. If it was
not for our foster parents, then often we would have had no choice but to decline
assistance to a Dane in need. We are ever so grateful for the people that open their
hearts and their homes for our rescue dogs and we know that we can always rely on
them 100%. All the team members involved with Great Dane Rescuer have full time
jobs Monday-Friday and we are simply doing this out of our pure love for the Great
Dane breed.
Together this small, dedicated team has been able to place an astounding amount of
Great Danes into forever homes in their short existence. For the month of July over 20
Great Danes and Dane cross breed dogs have been rehomed successfully into loving
family homes. All our Danes are sterilised, microchipped and vaccinated before they
are placed with their new families. Careful records are kept of all our puppies and as
soon as they turn 6 months old, we ensure that they undertake a trip to one of our vet
practises, to be sterilised.
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Our mission is clear: Rescue, Rehabilitate & Rehome
Although the Danes are all surrendered/rescued from different backgrounds, they all
receive the same amount of care, love, medical attention and guidance. In foster
care they are rehabilitated to become the perfect companion so that they can be rehomed
successfully.
“Every Dane that comes our way will get the best chance at having a better life no
matter how much time or money they may need.”
Monique Burrows
The rescue group works with numerous organisations in both the Free State and Western
Cape. Most recently a Great Dane, aptly named Vida (meaning life) was brought
into the Animal Anti Cruelty League in Bellville, who alerted Great Dane Rescuer and
requested our assistance. Vida was brought in so underweight that both AACL and
Great Dane Rescuer were convinced that she would succumb. Without hesitation it
was agreed that she would join the Great Dane Rescuer family and that all our efforts
and resources will be dedicated to Vida, to nurse her back to life. After various vet
visits and amazing foster care, Vida was hardy recognizable as the same sad Dane
that collapsed at AACL on the day that a massive storm was about to hit Cape Town.
Cases of Danes being fed wood shavings, being raped, starved, left with broken
bones, dumped, or simply neglected are occurrences that the team is familiar with.
However, the most absurd rescue since Great Dane Rescuer was founded, was when
3 dirty, skinny, mangy pups, with Entropion, were handed through the window at
McDonalds.
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Sterilisation is another important factor that is taken seriously, besides ensuring that all
Great Danes adopted are sterilised, the rescue also provides private sterilisations
(either free of charge or subsidised) to Great Dane owners who cannot afford sterilisation
costs.
We do what we can to prevent the contribution of unwanted litters and more dogs
ending up in already over-populated areas. Unfortunately, the poor economic climate
of South Africa, is adding a massive strain on our rescue group and we have
found a steep increase of Danes coming into rescue this year versus 2016.
It is rare to find a rescue group that so willingly and openly supports ethical registered
breeders. Whilst others state adopt don’t shop, Great Dane Rescuer has always supported
and referred people to ethical breeders.
Education plays a big role, our members actively educate correct Great Dane care,
offer advice, information, guidance and share experiences, to ensure that not only
Danes adopted from our rescue group, but that all Great Danes, receive better quality
care and that Dane parents are equipped with important information and facts.
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“We educate to overcome ignorance, which promotes accountability and responsibility.
We aim to provide all with information to ensure the best care for your Dane.
Our FB page is there to answer any Dane related questions that anybody may have.
The team hopes to continue building and expanding relationships amongst Dane
owners, welfares and breeders alike to ensure that these Gentle Giants get the lives
they deserve.
Below is a table to indicate Great Dane Rescuer statistics for July 2017 only:
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If you read the Great Dane Standard, there are 6 official colours (we use the
UK Standard). These colours are the ones people can show and what they
breed for. They are:
1. Black (solid black dog with very little white allowed on toes and chest)
2. Blue (solid grey dog with very little white allowed on toes and chest)
3. Fawn (golden dog with black mask on face)
4. Brindle (golden dog with black mask and tiger-like stipes on body)
5. Harlequin (white dog with torn black patches or torn blue patches)
6. Mantle (black dog with white muzzle, neck, chest, legs and tail tip)
These are the show colours. They are, however, not the only colours that can
arise from ethical breeding. In harlequin breeding another colour will be produced,
Merle. This is a lovely mottled grey base with torn black or blue patches
on it. Many people believe there are health issues related to a merle. This is
not true. Not any more than with any of the other colours.
Merle is an ethical colour, a true colour of the Great Dane. Without it there
can be no harlequin, since a harlequin is merely a merle with an added (H)
gene that “bleaches” the mottled grey white to make the white background
of the harlequin. In other words, if merle carries health defects, then so does
harlequin.
The problem is not the colour merle. The trouble is the double merle. These
dogs have sensory defects (blindness and deafness). Therefore ethical breeders
refrain from breeding two harlequins or two merles or a harlequin and
merle. All of the above will result in a portion of the litter being double merles.
They are usually very white or white with merle patches on them.
In a blue harlequin litter there could also be blue mantles as mantle is part
and parcel of the harlequin breeding colour package. The merles from that
litter could be lighter grey with torn blue patches.
* Please take note of the SAGDA Code of Ethics on colour interbreeding on p 31.
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Colours expected in ethically bred litters
Fawn
Brindle
Fawn/Brindle litter
Blue
Black
Blue/Black litter
Harlequin Litter
Harlequin
Blue Harlequin
Merle
Mantle
Blue Mantle
Mantle Merle
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Thank you Shannon McKay from Saxony Great Danes for this handy
table.
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Adverse your Kennel here!
Contact info@sagda.co.za for informaon
on pricing etc.
Colour Interbreeding (Extracted from SAGDA Code of Ethics)
Members of SAGDA agree to be guided by the following which are the acceptable colour
cross matings and agree to provide their buyers with all known details of the colour ancestry of
their puppies if requested : -
1. Fawn to Fawn or Brindle
2. Brindle to Brindle or Fawn
3. Black to Black, Harlequin or Blue
4. Blue to Blue, Black or Harlequin
5. Harlequin to Harlequin, Black, or Black variants or Blue or Blue variants
Notes:
i. Although the mating of Harlequin to Blue is permissible under our standard and Blue
Harlequins are a show colour SAGDA does not recommend that an inexperienced
breeder embark on this path.
ii.
iii.
iv.
More detailed information on black or blue variants is available on request from SAGDA
The use of Merles in any breeding program should only be undertaken by those who
have made a thorough study of the genetics involved and the mating of Merle to Merle
is definitely not permitted.
Any crossing of colours other than the above is considered to be detrimental to the
ultimate good of the Breed.
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Chairlady – Wendy Smuts
I first became involved with Great Danes in 2009 when Bonnie,
a mad blue Great Dane, came into my life. I loved the breed
from the get go and presently am the proud mom of 3 fawn
Great Danes namely Peter Pan, Piper & Paddington Bear
(Paddy).
I love showing my dogs. I started showing when I was very young, for fun, with my
Boxers. When I lived in Wales I showed my Doberman and then, after my return to
Cape Town, I showed my Bullmastiff. First and foremost, my Danes are my
“children”, and shows are a great way to spend fun time with likeminded friends
and my dogs.
I hope that we can make SAGDA a club that gives all Dane owners (new and experienced)
a platform to find out more about the breed, share advice about health
and nutrition, as well as provide access to approved and ethical breeders. We also
Secretary and Media – Yolanda
Beukes
I got my first ever Great Dane, Axel, in 2006. Axel was what you
would call my heart dog. Currently I share my life with two
Great Danes, Echo (8) and Obélix (1 year 2 months).
I'm an obedience instructor at McKaynine training centre and
have been training and working dogs for the last 10 years. I
enjoy doing obedience classes with my dogs and have obtained Silver and Gold
Canine Good Citizen awards with most of them. I have done some showing before
and enjoy spending time with friends next to the show ring.
My husband Marius and I are co-owners of Axel's, the dog bed company that focuses
on quality beds for large and giant breeds. We are just your average family
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Vice Chairlady –
Margie Lamprecht and
Committee Member—
Barry Lambrecht
Barry and I joined the wonderful world of Great Danes in 2003 when we got our first
Rescue Dane Rufus, a Merle Boy. He set a spark in our hearts that we didn’t know
could exist. Then followed a pack of unique Great Danes that came into our lives for
some time: Saxony Goody Gumdrops – a Black Beauty who was Margie’s Soul Dog;
Mervyndane Caesr who was with us for only two months during which time he had
two huge torsions. We then got Cherriton Obi Wan Kenobi, a Goofy Mantle Boy given
to us by the late Terry Batchelor. Then elegance entered our home in the form of
Vallevine Leah (Ria) our first Blue Dane, gifted to us by Gillian Webb of Valleyvine
Great Danes – Barry’s heart and soul. Mervyndane Rondriaan (aka Windsor) was
followed by Mervyndane British Hiya, both of which were Rescues after their loving
owner Eric Labuschane was murdered. They are still with us today, and exude as
much love and humour that any Dane can. Last year our little Blue Bundle of Dane
joined us – Brukkaros Crazy Lil’ Love! Chrissie was bred by Coen and Lana de Klerk.
This little Cheeky Chop is the apple of Dad’s eye. Both Barry and I grew up in families
that had and loved dogs, but neither of us could ever have imagined how a Great
Dane can change your perception of what “man’s best friend” actually is. As we
plan to downscale and head into retirement in the not too distant future, the one
thing that is non-negotiable, and that is that a Great Dane will always be part of our
lives.
We are honoured to be part of the SAGDA Committee, and hope to encourage
and educate as many people as we possibly can, about these Gentle Giants. Our
favourite and most valued times are spent at ringside, celebrating Great Danes with
a very special group of like-minded friends and family.
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Dane Dispatch – Marinda Havenga
I fell in love with Great Danes as a child. I always wanted one
and knew exactly where in the small towns I lived in the Danes
were, and would alter my bicycle route to school accordingly.
My first "almost Dane" was a black Dane x Bull Mastiff x Dane.
He looked a lot like a Dane.
I finally got my first registered Dane, a mantle merle girl from
Anna van Heerden, when my son was a baby and that was that. Shortly after that
my blues from Hazel Allsop and Gillian Webb followed, with the dream of breeding
blues. I had a kennel registered and all was set, the blues just had to mature and
be screened. But then life happened, circumstances changed and I no longer had
the means to breed properly. So I settled for keeping Danes and learning about
them.
Over the 18 years that passed since my first mantle merle girl, I studied Danes, their
colour genetics and breeding practices; a breeder at heart, but not in practice. I
kept in close contact with my mentor, Shannon McKay, and kept the love of the
Dane alive. Currently I live in Centurion with my husband, two kids, 5 dogs and four
cats. Three of the dogs are Danes, two Saxony girls and a Von Haewijon boy.
Committee Member -
Michelle Geldenhuys
My involvement in Great Danes started 9 years ago when I
acquired a Harlequin boy called Max. Since then our family
has grown and Max and I now share our home with three
fawn Great Danes; Merlot, Madison and Mae West as well
as a French Bulldog called Margot.
I am actively involved in Breed Shows and was fortunate
enough to be able to breed my first litter during July 2016.
I am very excited about the future of our noble breed.
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Committee Member ~
Chantel Porelli
Having been in love with Great Danes from an early
age, I was finally blessed with my first Dane, Pablo Picasso,
in 2010, from Eric Labuschane of Mervyndane. Lola
Picasso, also bred by Eric, then joined our family a few months later. My home was
complete with my beautiful pair of Merle’s…or so I thought!
In March of 2013, Eric was murdered and as he solely cared for his Danes, all fifteen
of his Danes, unbeknown to anyone, survived 10 days without food, water or care
until the police was notified of his death. A few days later, S.A.G.D.A was contacted
by a reporter and action was quickly taken to help his Danes. It was no easy
task but we all persevered and with the help of friends, hundreds of phone calls,
hundreds of kilometres driven, we were given the ‘all clear’ and all fifteen Great
Danes were brought to my home where they could finally be cared for and be safe.
Our family fell in love with two girls, HM Elizabeth and Pandora, who fitted into our
homes and hearts as if they had been there since puppies, so we took the decision
to adopt them both. By then, a week and a bit later, the other thirteen Danes had
also gone to their new homes and that’s when we discovered that Pandora was
expecting puppies and two weeks later she gave birth to nine beautiful puppies in
our kitchen! I have never whelped a litter before and this mammoth task taught me
a new found respect for reputable and ethical breeders. It was not easy raising and
weaning a litter of puppies on my own from two weeks of age, there was a lot of
learning, a lot of tears, a lot of cleaning, a lot of rushing to and from vets, a lot of
heartache, especially after their mom had to be in hospital for a week to treat her
mastitis. The pups all went to their new amazing homes between nine and twelve
weeks, we obviously decided to keep a precious little girl, Chantelina. Our house
could never be a home without a Great Dane, or even five…and I wouldn’t have it
any other way!
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Committee Member -
Michelle Henderson
In 2008 my husband and I acquired our first Great Dane,
George Frederick, after our first baby Meyrick, a most loved
Dalmatian, passed away. The love for the breed evolved beyond the experience
of having them as family, but wanting to share this experience with other families as
well. Our breeding journey started in 2012 and remains one of many joyful and
heart breaking moments as many of our puppy buyers become part of our extended
Dane family. Preserving the breed is a responsibility we all own and to be surrounded
by a community of liked minded Dane lovers will be key to the continuation
hereof.
Committee Member -
Samantha Jones van Niekerk
My family is my passion and my Great Danes are a very important
part of my family. My first Great Dane entered my life in
1998. Recognising how special this breed is made me realise the
importance of correct and ethical breeding. Showing my dogs is a very important
part of breeding and I strongly believe that the two go hand in hand for education
and improvement.
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Committee Member -
Thirusha Padiachy
My love for Great Danes started 8 years ago when I had decided
that I wanted to start showing a dog at competition level.
What started off as a new hobby eventually turned into something far more exciting
and rewarding. I met a very passionate Great Dane breeder, Eric Labuschane
(Mervyndane Great Danes), who gave me the opportunity to have one of his beautiful
harlequin Danes (Mervyndane Winston Percius) but not before making me handle
one, so that I knew what I was getting into. Had Eric not afforded me this opportunity,
I doubt I would ever have given the breed a second look. I still remember
being enthralled after handling his champion.
I was blessed with a second Great Dane 4 years ago, when Eric tragically passed
away. Mervyndane Miracle Tiaana is one of Pandora’s babies. And what an exciting
journey I’ve had with Tiaana these last few years, the most recent being a
breeding, done with (German ) imported semen), that gave me my third addition
to the family, Reyn Solitaire Schmetterling.
Whilst I may only have 3 beautiful Danes, my passion for the breed only multiplies as
the years go by. As a committee member of SAGDA, I hope to assist my colleagues
in educating and supporting the public about a breed that I fell in love with many
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Mr Richard Dempsey
Mrs Brenda Wakfer
Mr Richard Hammond,
Mesdames Jackie Jackson, Jenny
Dempsey, Diane Copson, Audrey
Hauptfleish, Frankie Jones, Susan
Pankhurst, Jean Peden
Messrs Howard Bichard, Edward
Sutcliff, Richard Dempsey
Mesdames Brenda Wakfer, Jackie
Ratner, Mary Scott, Debbie Sutcliff,
Shannon McKay
Dr Carel Breytenbach
Ms Wendy Smuts
Mrs Margie Lambrecht
Mrs Yolanda Beukes
Mrs Margie Lambrecht
(temporary)
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Website
Facebook Group
SAGDA - South African Great
Dane Association
Email address
secretary@sagda.co.za
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