Mantle: Black and white with a solid, black blanket extending over the body. Ideally - black skull with white muzzle, white blaze optional, whole white collar preferred, a white chest, white on part or whole of the forelegs and hindlegs, white tipped black tail. Nose always black, eyes and nails preferably dark

This is the UK Kennel Clubs written Standard for the Mantle Great Dane, in august 2006 the Mantle was finally accepted into the UK standard.

Most of the Breed clubs now incorporate the Mantle into there colour classes...All our Mantles have been entered and shown at general & championship shows...with successes in winning and placings at all..

BREEDING

We have an interest in breeding mantles , as far as we know in the Uk few breeders have attempted to breed mantle x mantle...possibly due to there being no Harles out of this breeding....

The Mantle is valuable to Harlequin breeders and has been for many years....if you breed a Mantle to Mantle, you will never breed a defective white puppy, hearing and eye problems, which can occur in Harlequin to Harlequin mating....one reason in germany you cannot breed Harle x Harle..it can occur in Mantle x Harle breeding also.

The Mantle is also responsible for giving Harlequins the desired clean white neck, front legs and clean background, plus dark eyes, black noses, which most judges expect in a Harlequin...breeding Mantle x Mantle should give you only Mantles..wether they be black or Show-marked is another matter.

The USA allowed the mantle into there standard in the late 90's..so have a head start and a fair amount of mantles in comparison to the number in the UK..which at shows here must only number a handful in most classes..2 dogs of which have been sired by our Mantle Ace..and have hit the show scene quite successfully within the last two months....Mantles were typically known as Bostons back in the 1900's in the USA and here in the UK....and still today referred to by that name by some...with the acceptance of the Mantle in the Uk..the name Mantle was decided upon...

Mantle Mis-conceptions.....

Full-Collars...It is perfectly acceptable to show a Mantle in championship shows

which has not a full-collar..it is only a preference to the written standard that it has one.

Break-In-The-Blanket ...It is NOT within the UK standard to show a Mantle in the UK with a

break in the Coat / Blanket...the USA standard was recently reviewed I believe it now allows

 for a slight break in the coats colour..presumably only of white ? I hope..

Nails Preferably dark ...????? How can this occur ? the harle standard has a Dane with

white Legs..and it does not state dark nails..? it states ..Light nails permissible ??

 Why the Mantle ? something to be reviewed me-thinks.

Why are they so Rare ...well theres nothing really rare about a Mantle..its just as the standard has been

 allowed by the KC..only recently..then breeders didnt breed for mantles..and so theres a lack of show quality ones in time they will start to appear..as previously they were sold as companions only. some very nice mantles are and were sold to companion homes in the past

  I think this will change as there populariuty grows..........

UK Correctly marked Mantle

  Mantles in 1934

View Our blog For More on Mantles and our new litter.