Why We Work
with Tan Points
"Tan points are not a novelty in our program. They are a deliberate choice — one we made with the long-term health of the breed in mind."
The tan point pattern — black and tan, blue and tan, and related expressions — is not a new development in the Great Dane. It is a naturally occurring color that has existed in the breed for generations, though it has historically been overlooked or actively discouraged in favor of the more recognized show colors.
We work with tan points because we believe they represent an underutilized resource for breeders who are serious about structural correctness and genetic health. The reasons are specific, and we are happy to explain them in detail.
We also love them. That is worth saying plainly. These are beautiful, striking dogs — and beauty in a Great Dane, when it is the result of correct structure rather than exaggeration, is something worth preserving.
Our Reasoning
Why Tan Points Belong in a Serious Program
A Corrective Influence on Structure
Decades of selective breeding within the traditional Great Dane color families — particularly harlequin and mantle lines — have, in some cases, prioritized coat pattern at the expense of structural correctness. Tan point genetics, introduced thoughtfully, offer a corrective influence: a way to bring in sound structure, correct angulation, and proper bone substance without the baggage of certain deeply entrenched structural compromises.
Less Exaggeration, More Breed Type
Tan point Great Danes have historically been less subject to the exaggeration trends that have affected other color families. They tend to carry cleaner head type, more moderate angulation, and a body outline that reads closer to the breed standard as written — rather than as it has drifted in practice. For a program focused on long-term soundness, that matters.
Genetic Diversity
Introducing tan point genetics expands the gene pool in a meaningful way. Genetic diversity is not a secondary concern in a breed with the health challenges Great Danes face — it is a primary one. Broader genetic diversity is associated with improved immune function, reduced incidence of heritable disease, and greater overall vitality. We take that seriously.
Temperament
We have found tan point lines to consistently produce dogs of exceptional temperament — steady, confident, and deeply social. Temperament has a heritable component, and we select for it as deliberately as we select for structure and health. The tan point dogs in our program have set a high bar in this regard.
A Note on the Breed Standard
Tan point Great Danes are not currently recognized for conformation competition under the AKC breed standard, which lists them as a disqualifying color. We are aware of this, and we want to be transparent about it.
Our program is not built around the show ring. It is built around producing Great Danes that are structurally sound, genetically healthy, and long-lived. The breed standard is a valuable reference point for type and structure — and we use it as such — but it is not the ceiling of what we are trying to achieve.
Families who come to us for a tan point puppy are not getting a lesser dog. They are getting a dog that was bred with the same rigor, the same health testing, and the same standards we apply to every animal in our program — in a color that we believe has a meaningful role to play in the breed's future.
"The future of the Great Dane will be built by breeders willing to look beyond what has always been done — and toward what the breed actually needs."
Also in Our Program
We Also Produce AKC Show-Quality Great Danes
Tan points are one part of our program. We also breed to the AKC breed standard — producing fawn, brindle, blue, black, harlequin, and merle Great Danes with full health testing and conformation in mind. If that is what you are looking for, the Show Dogs page covers our approach in full.
Interested in a Tan Point Great Dane?
Tan point puppies are available on a limited basis through our wait list. We are happy to discuss upcoming pairings, expected colors, and what makes each litter unique. Reach out and we will take it from there.