Great Danes have fascinating and beautiful coat colors, which include, Harlequin, Black, Fawn, Brindle, Blue, Merle, and Mantle.
The coat color is a result of gene interaction and this gives an insight into how a black Great Dane with a white chest comes about.
Read on to learn what makes a Black Great Dane with a white chest, appearance, temperament, and associated health problems.
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What Is A Black Great Dane With White Chest?
The Black Great Dane with a white chest is also known as a black and white Great Dane. They are a Great Dane coat color with a solid black base coat with white marks on their chest, and tips of their toes. The coat color is a mismarked color of the Black Great Dane.
As a mismarked color it is not recognized as a standard Great Dane breed color by the American Kennel Council (AKC). This simply means they cannot compete in the American Kennel Club’s conformation shows.
What Makes a Black Great Dane with White Chest?
The Black Great Dane with white chest merle Great Dane comes from the breeding of two Harlequin Great Danes or Harlequin and Black Great Dane breeding. From this breeding, some puppies from the litter are black with a white chest and toes.
Production of a Black Great Dane with a white chest depends on the genes a puppy inherits from its parents.
The black coat color is controlled by the (B) allele in a Great Dane’s DNA. Dominant B genes result in a jet Black Great Dane while two recessive (b) genes result in a chocolate coat color.
Three different combinations of B genes that a puppy can inherit include:
- BB: Black Great Dane
- Bb: Black Great Dane
- bb: Chocolate Great Dane
The interaction of the Harlequin (Hh) gene and the B genes in Harlequin-Harlequin or Harlequin-Black Great Dane breeding brings about Black with white chested puppies in a litter, referred to as mismarked puppies.
Mismarked puppies or dogs are dogs that have coat colors or markings outside the breed’s recognized coat colors.
This is why the Black Great Dane with a white chest is a mismarked color of the Black Great Dane.
The breeding of two Harlequin Great Danes is not recommended because of the production of double merle Great Dane puppies in a litter. These puppies are prone to many health problems.
Read more on Merle And Harlequin Great Danes breeding and the associated health risks from Merle-Merle breeding which is similar to Harlequin-Harlequin breeding in the production of double merle Great Danes.
AKC Standards For The Black Great Dane
The American Kennel Council’s (AKC) coat color standards of the Black Great Dane is “solid glossy black color. White markings on the chest and toes not desirable”.
The solid black color represents the recognized coat color which can also participate in dog shows.
Known for its commanding presence and sleek, jet-black coat, the Black Great Dane is a favorite among dog enthusiasts.
The term “jet black Great Dane” is often used to emphasize the deep, glossy, and uniform black color of their fur, contributing to their impressive and regal appearance.
Pure Black Great Danes can only be produced from the breeding of two Black Great Danes.
Although a Great Dane with a white chest cannot qualify for AKC dog shows, because of being a mismarked color of the Black Great Dane, it still is a beautiful Great Dane color.
Is My Great Dane With White Chest Purebred?
According to the AKC, a purebred dog is an offspring of a recognized breed with the same ancestry over many generations.
A Great Dane With White Chest comes from the breeding of purebred Black and Harlequin Great Danes which have the same ancestral lineage and AKC recognized dog Great Dane dog breed.
Purebred Black can have white markings, depending on the breeding. The white markings are often called mismarked Great Danes.
Therefore, although a Great Dane with a white chest cannot participate in dog shows due to its white markings, they are still a purebred Great Dane.
So don’t panic if your Great Dane has a white chest. They are not crossbred or mixed breed dogs as some may confuse them to be.
Other types of markings on a Black Great Dane also exist. These include Brown and Black or Tan and Black Great Danes (black with tan markings), Gray and Black Great Dane (Black with blue markings), Black Merle (black with Merle markings), and Black Brindle or reverse Brindle (black with brindle coat markings).
Also, check out some of our other guides on Great Dane coat color variations below. A Black Great Dane with a white chest is not the only interesting Great Dane coat color!
Black and White Great Danes
Great Danes come in various colors and patterns, and each has its unique charm. Other Great Danes that have black and white coats are:
Harlequin Great Dane:
A Harlequin Great Dane has a predominantly white coat with irregular black patches. The patches are well-distributed, creating a striking and eye-catching contrast between black and white. The coat resembles a white with black spots Great Dane.
The harlequin pattern includes large black markings on a white background.
Mantle Great Dane:
The Mantle Great Dane has a black coat with a white chest, belly, legs, and feet. The distinct feature of the mantle pattern is a solid black blanket that covers the body, resembling a mantle, and contrasting with the white markings.
The mantle has a sharp line of demarcation between the black and white portions.
Black Great Dane with White Chest (Mismark):
Occasionally, a Black Great Dane may have a white chest, which is considered a mismark. This occurs due to genetic factors during development, leading to variations in coat color.
Despite not conforming to the standard solid black coat, these dogs can still be quite beautiful, showcasing a blend of black and white on their chest area.
Is My Great Dane With White Chest Healthy?
Studies have shown that a dog’s color has an impact on its health and longevity. This means some coat colors have more health issues compared to others.
For example, merle, white, roan, and piebald coat colors have been shown to have more health problems.
A Black Great Dane with a white chest does not suffer any unusual health problems because of its coat color. They are therefore healthy dogs.
They are still susceptible to the common Great Dane health conditions as a breed, but with proper care, they live healthy lives.
The only difference between them and a standard color Great Dane is their coat color.
Black Great Dane With White Chest Size
A Black Great puppy Dane with a white chest grows up to the average size of the Great Dane breed.
Females are usually smaller than males. The average height of an adult male is 32 to 34 inches while the adult female dog is 28 to 32 inches tall.
The average weight of the male Great Dane is between 120 – 200 pounds while the female weighs between 100 – 130 pounds.
Black Great Dane With White Chest Temperament
A Black Great Dane with a white chest has the same personality as any other Great Dane. Their coat color does not influence their temperament.
The breed is affectionate, gentle, friendly, and people-oriented. They are also easy to train and respond well to positive reinforcement.
They are known to be great family dogs because of their pleasant personality.
In addition to this, a Great Dane’s personality is also shaped by training, socialization, and good nurturing.
Black Great Dane With White Chest Health
As a Great Dane and a large breed dog, they are prone to common health problems observed in the breed. These common Great Dane health issues include:
- Hip dysplasia
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Wobblers syndrome
- Bloat
- Cancer
A Black Great Dane with a white chest will not necessarily develop all or any of the ailments.
You can still raise a healthy Great Dane and reduce the risk of development of health issues by purchasing puppies from reputable Great Dane breeders and also by caring for them well.
Recommended reading: How to keep a Great Dane healthy
By knowing the possible health problems, you can be able to know what to expect when you are considering buying a Great Dane and also learn about the care they need to live a healthy life.
See also:
The average lifespan of the Black Great Dane with a white chest is 7 to 10 years. Generally, Great Danes have a shorter lifespan compared to small breed dogs.
Summary: Black Great Dane With White Chest
The Black Great Dane with a white chest is one of the many Great Dane coat colors. The coat color is fascinating.
Although not recognized as a standard coat color by the American Kennel Council and referred to as a mismarked color of the Black Great Dane, the coat color is still beautiful and overall they are a lovely Great Dane to own.
Owning a Black Great Dane with a white chest will only restrict you from participating in AKC dog shows, so if you want a show dog, this Great Dane is not the right fit for you.
When considering buying a Black Great Dane with a white chest and toes, make sure to buy a puppy from a reputable breeder.