Page 20 - Great Dane Magazine no3, 2021

Informative
UK GREAT DANE BREED CLUBS
For such a small country, it is surprising, that
in the UK there are 9 breed clubs and 1 breed
council. The club’s all have their own websites
and committees and host Great Dane shows, as
well as educational events for their members
throughout the year.
The Great Dane Club – The oldest Great
Dane club in the UK, in fact the world,
being established in 1883, it was propo- ber, with a member’s limited show in the
sed to call it ‘The Great Dane Club’ and
under that name would be included all
the various coloured specimens known as
Boar Hounds, Tiger Mastiffs and German Mas-
tiffs. Shows are usually held in August and No- lovers of the breed’. Hosting two shows
vember. www.thegreatdaneclub.com
The Northern Great Dane Club – Esta-
blished in 1903, the NGDC is the second
oldest club in the UK. They usually host
their yearly championship show in March.
www.thenortherngreatdaneclub.com
The Great Dane Breeders’ and Owners’
Association – The GDBOA club was star-
ted in 1926 by J.V. Rank and supporters.
It was originally called The Great Dane
Breeders’ Association and in later ye-
ars the name was changed to include
Owners’ to represent the full breadth of its
membership. They usually hold their champion-
ship shows in March or August and an open
show in November. www.gdboa.co.uk
The Midland & West of England Great
Dane Club – The M&WEGDC was formal-
ly registered by the Kennel Club on 7th
November 1948. They regularly hold an
open Show (their ‘Colour Format’, the
only show in the campaign where co-
lours are judged separately) in February and
a championship show in December. The M&W
produce a yearly annual for their members.
www.midlandandwestgdc.org
Scottish Great Dane Club – there was
a Scottish GDC as far back as 1909, but
due to inactivity, it was removed from the
KC register. The ‘new’ Scottish GDC was
20 Great Dane Magazine | Issue 3-2021
formed in 1965. They hold their year champion-
ship Show in April and host a ‘summer’ open
show. www.scottishgreatdaneclub.co.uk
East of England Great Dane Club – the
EEGDC’s prime objective is to promote the
breed through dog shows and educatio-
nal events in the East of England. Their
championship shows are usually in Octo-
spring and an open show in the summer.
Great Dane Club of Wales - Established
in 1979 ‘The Welsh Club for owners and
per year, an open show at the begin-
ning of the year and a championship
show in November.
www.thegreatdaneclubofwales.co.uk
South Western Great Dane Club – Founded
in 1976, the SWGDC’s activities were to be
organised within the Counties of Avon,
Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset.
The club provides it members with a ye-
arly championship show in April, followed
by the very successful SWGDC Leagues and
Open show in November. www.swgdc.co.uk
Pennine Great Dane Club – This is youn-
gest of the Clubs, Kennel Club approved
in 1983, the area it was formed to serve
was from the Scottish borders down as
far as, but not including South Yorkshire
and all of Cumbria to the West. They host
a regular championship show and open
show each year.
Great Dane Breed Council – For all things
“Great Dane”. The breed council is represen-
ted by eight of the nine clubs, they meet twice
yearly with two delegates from each club, plus
the breed health co-ordinator, breed liaison of-
ficer and the breed education co-ordinator. It
should be noted that the breed council does
not have any executive powers, that is held by
the clubs. The breed council acts as one voice
for all the clubs.
www.danecouncil.org.uk