24 Sept 2010

Mantle Great Dane

Our homebred Mantle
Culseandanes Viper's Tale 
aka Stripe.

A few Mantle facts

Mantles are strictly Black & White.

They cannot have any Merle (grey) on them Otherwise they would be considered a heavy marked or blanketed Harlequin or classed as a missmark

Some parts of the world still refer to this colour as Boston.

Mantles often come from Harlequin breedings.

Mantles can be bred to Harlequins and it can reduce the risk of whites in the litters. 
(do check your dogs ancestors for this though as Great great great grandparents may surprise you.)

Mantle bred to Mantle cannot produce Harlequins. 

Mantles where only allowed into the show ring in 2007. Some show side folks and breeders where not happy about this but most have come round. 



courtesy of sixstardanes.

This is ones in the ring and 1 being the most favourable for conformation and markings. 
As you can see Stripe fits the bill just a tad on the small side for my liking.  

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This from the American side they got to have a mantle in the show ring long before us as usual.


To All Dane Fanciers: We have official notification from AKC of final approval and effective dates for the addition of the mantle class at AKC shows. The memo, dated March 11, 1999 was sent from AKC's Robert Pio, and states the mantle dog standard, as amended, was approved by AKC and is effective 4/28/99.

1. Premium lists already printed with classes by color: Secretaries and Superintendents are to ACCEPT entries with a designated color, "Mantle".
2. For upcoming shows, premium lists presently or not yet prepared: ADD mantle to the list of acceptable colors where the classes are divided by color.
3. All Judges Books and Catalogs should reflect this additional class division, where appropriate.


Here is the final wording of the revision to the Great Dane Standard:
******Mantle******
The color shall be black and white with a solid black blanket extending over the body; black skull with white muzzle; white blaze is optional; whole white collar preferred; a white chest; white on part or whole of forelegs and hind legs; white tipped black tail. A small white marking in the black blanket is acceptable, as is a break in the white collar.
*******
Any variance in color or markings as described above shall be faulted to the extent of the deviation. Any Great Dane which does not fall within the above color classifications must be disqualified.

I am greatly appreciative of everyone who worked so hard to get this change approved. I think it will be very exciting to see these beautiful dogs assume their place in the show ring.