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Great Danes => Great Dane Discussions => : mrsewe February 21, 2006, 07:02:44 PM

: Facial Features
: mrsewe February 21, 2006, 07:02:44 PM
So, I've been looking at my new family member Dinger and he's got some graying going on around his whiskers.  He's supposedly only 2 years old, but I've noticed that the older some dogs get, they gray....what do you think? I haven't checked out his background yet and if he's older than 2, that's ok, I just wish we weren't lied to. 

Oh - my avatar isn't Dinger, that's a look-a-like until I get my pics uploaded...
: Re: Facial Features
: chaos270 February 21, 2006, 07:15:34 PM
If you take him to a vet they could tell you an approximate age.  Umm most times they can tell by the condition of the teeth and nails....some dogs do gray prematurely though so he could be two.  Didn't they give the breeder's info...if they did you could double check with the breeder.
: Re: Facial Features
: mrsewe February 21, 2006, 07:37:44 PM
I should be getting the breed info and vet records in the mail shortly...we're thinking about taking him to his previous vet also.

thanks
: Re: Facial Features
: MommyOfSchnauzers February 21, 2006, 10:26:39 PM
I love the last picture, Jenn!
: Re: Facial Features
: hairprincessnyu February 21, 2006, 11:11:59 PM
that last picture is soooooo cute I love it!!!!
: Re: Facial Features
: ZooCrew February 22, 2006, 03:16:37 AM
Gunther is only 15 months and he is already getting just the slightest bit of gray hair aruond his muzzle.
: Re: Facial Features
: GR8DAME February 22, 2006, 10:32:20 AM
Merlin is 4 and he is already greying substancially, not around the muzzle, but around his eyes. Danes grey early, I think because traditionally they are not a long-lived breed.I don't think greying has anything to do with the longevity of the individual animal tho.
Stella
Forgive his appearance, this was after a very rough night, LOL.
: Re: Facial Features
: Nicole February 22, 2006, 10:55:59 AM
Cabeza is 7, and he has lotsa grey..BUT, he got it at around 2 and a half-3. I don't think that grey is necessarily a good indicator of age. Like someone else said, its more about teeth and nails and stuff.
: Re: Facial Features
: Anky February 22, 2006, 11:12:45 AM
There is actually an early greying gene.  You can see year old Danes with a totally grey face.  Sanity is 18 months old and getting gray spatters on his lips.  Same as with people who gray in their twenties.  :)
: Re: Facial Features
: Kermit February 22, 2006, 11:20:48 AM
Leeloo has a black spot on the side of her face which is pretty much actually completely grey. She's 4 1/2. I have seen a lot of really young danes who are grey already in the face.
I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that you were lied to. Those people sounded very nice and honest from your description of them. :)

Here's a picture of a 2 year old dane I know. :D
: Re: Facial Features
: Svnt4God February 22, 2006, 04:48:05 PM
It takes the Dane 3 years to mature ... then it's all downhill from there.

My Dane is around 5 years old and is very grey around the muzzle and eyes.  It seems each day he is acquiring new grey hairs. 
: Re: Facial Features
: mtaig12 February 22, 2006, 05:41:11 PM
Star is 5 years old and pretty gray. I think she takes after me in that way!

In this picture she's pretending her ears are cropped, but they're not.
: Re: Facial Features
: mrsewe February 22, 2006, 05:42:10 PM
Leeloo has a black spot on the side of her face which is pretty much actually completely grey. She's 4 1/2. I have seen a lot of really young danes who are grey already in the face.
I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that you were lied to. Those people sounded very nice and honest from your description of them. :)

Here's a picture of a 2 year old dane I know. :D

I don't mean to jump to that conclusion, there was also a dane that looked like him at the SPCA and someone said that maybe we were dooped....very unlikely because Dinger's exactly how the couple described him.  Oh - and he looks just like Ivan!!  :)