Great Dane (Best in Show by Safari Ltd.)

Before I start my review I would again like to thank our friends at Happy Hen Toys who donated this review sample for the Blog! It’s a figure I have been contemplating getting for a while, ever since I started added some dog breeds to my collection, so it was a joy to have the opportunity to get it from HHT!

The Great Dane dates back to the middle of the 16th century in Germany. They are descended from mastiff-like dogs such as English Mastiffs and Irish Wolfhounds. They were originally bred for German nobility as guard dogs and to hunt large animals such as boar, bears, and deer. They were originally called Englische Docke, which translates to ‘English Dog’. In the late 1880s, Germans changed the name of the breed to Deutsche Dogge (German Mastiff). The Germans didn’t like the English name ‘Great Dane’ and tried to introduce the names German Dogge and German Mastiff into the English lexicon, but it didn’t take. The name Great Dane won out in English-speaking areas outside of Germany. Today the Great Dane remains a popular breed and is represented in popular culture by Scooby-Doo, Marmaduke, Astro (The Jetsons), Chin-up (Blondie in Society), and Landru (The Burbs). I grew up with next-door neighbors that had a Great Dane. A very friendly dog, it didn’t know how to manage itself around a young child, and it would frequently lean on me, knocking me over, or whip me with its very strongly-muscled tail. Despite my personal experience growing up next to a Great Dane, I don’t have a lot of personal knowledge about the breed. As such, I will be following the standards as described by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

This majestic figure by Safari Ltd. stands approximately 7.0 cm at the shoulder, putting in the scale of 1:10.2-1:11.6 depending on the sex (Safari’s sculptor didn’t provide physical evidence as to animal’s sex).

The figure is sculpted in alert pose, with it’s body straight and its head held high, as if it’s ready to be judged in show! How would it perform? Let’s take a look! The head should be rectangular, long, finely chiseled, and the muzzle parallel to the skull. Check! Ears should be high set, folded forward close to the cheek, and the top of the folded ear should be level with the top of the skull. Check! The neck should be high set, well-arched, long, and muscular. Check! The croup (rump) should be slightly sloping. Oh, this might cost our dog some points, as the rump on this figure looks nearly parallel with the shoulder. The legs are a good length and proportion. The tail is the correct shape, length, and proportion, but it curves up a little more than it should (but this may be allowed when excited or running; a ring or hooked tail would be a serious fault).

There are several acceptable colors for Great Danes; the AKC recognizes seven: Brindle, Fawn, Blue, Black, Harlequin, Mantle, and Merle. Our dog today is clearly painted after the Blue variety. The coat is smooth and with a glossy appearance. Check! Our dog would score very well in the color department!

Overall, I think Safari’s dog would be pretty well in show, although the croup might not make it a winner. As a figure, it comes highly recommended to collectors of dog breeds. Papo released one in 2013 that is often considered the best figure of this breed, at least by the familiar ‘top 6’ manufacturers (although it looks like Mojö Fun hasn’t produced one yet). Schleich released one earlier this year, but I don’t think it’s close to as good as the one by Papo or today’s by Safari. When I initially looked into getting a Great Dane, several people recommended the one by Papo (which is now retired), but having the Safari figure in-hand makes me think I made the right choice! Curious what others who may be more familiar with the breed have to say. In the meantime, if you’d like to purchase the Safari Great Dane, it is available for a ‘dog-gone’ good deal by our friends at Happy Hen Toys.