I would like to voice an opinion on the problems that beset the Great Dane breed today. Of course, there are many medical problems that afflict our breed such as bloat, dysplasia, wobbles and osteo. These all have a strong hereditary factor. Unfortunately, there is a tendency on the part of most breeders to sweep these problems under the rug and pretend they do not exist. I think the time has come to analyze them and set about to eliminate them. Bloat and Longevity.
Let's go back 25 plus years and see how many Danes lived past 8-9 or 10 years - all of them. The GDCA and the AKC has established the Health Foundation to research through DNA and pedigrees longevity and bloat. We still have no answer. My believe is bloat is caused by stress. If you read the Dane or any large front breed you know when something is wrong. Correct it. Before the days of "kibble" the dogs lived pass 10 years of age: fed chicken, beef, veggies, bones, and - yes - fruits, day old bread soaked in garlic and herbs and hung up to dry. These feeding methods produce soundness, and a sound dog does not stress.
On the other hand, incompetent judging abounds in our breed today. This incompetence is a direct result of lack of confidence on the part of the judge. In the ring, he sees several dogs who are very close in overall quality. Rather than trust his own judgment and ability to properly rate these dogs, an unsure judge will choose the dog that has the best record, is most heavily advertised and therefore the obvious choice.
The sad fact is that the mere exercise of one's own judgment coupled with the intestinal fortitude necessary to risk an error inevitably enhances a judge's reputation and helps achieve goals in the dog show world. We as judges are human. Although we hate to admit it, we do make mistakes. In my opinion, I will always judge a dog to the standard of that breed, to the best of my ability and the knowledge I have attained through over 25 years of studies.