There is no larger dog than a Harlequin Great Dane. This beautiful, large dog is a living legend due to his pleasant demeanor and large stature, earning him the nickname “the gentle giant” among canine breeds.
There is a wide variety of Harlequin Great Dane coat shades and patterns, leaving numerous dog owners to question if there is any correlation between coat color and personality, wellness, and other traits.
In light of this, let us now study the Harlequin Great Dane, an uncommon and highly sought-after coat hue.
How Do I Describe a Harlequin Great Dane?
A common kind of Great Dane, the Harlequin is only one of the numerous available coat colors. Usually takes decades of breeding to achieve this color, but it’s worth the effort because it’s one of the most desirable and attractive.
Additional common and accepted Great Dane coat colors besides Harlequin are:
- Merle
- Mantle
- Brindle
- Black
- Fawn
- Blue
Another of the most striking features of the Harlequin Great Dane is its rarity and the fact that this really is one of the more challenging colors to polish in the breed.
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What Does a Harlequin Great Dane look like?
The Great Dane, which typically ranges in size from 28 to 32 inches in height and 110 to 175 pounds in weight, is hard to overlook, and the Harlequin Great Dane is even more noticeable due to its magnificent and unusual coat.
Breed standards set by the American Kennel Club describe Harlequin Great Danes as having a white body with black spots or “patches,” a white neck, and either black or patterned ears.
Occasionally, the body will have splotches or areas of grey all over.
Anything coloration outside of the parameters established by the American Kennel Club’s specific breed for display caliber Harlequin Great Danes will result in a penalty or disqualification from the event.
Then what about differences in coat color between breeds, and how can that influence their behavior and wellness?
Now let us examine the genetics of breeding to determine how your dog’s coat color might affect his or her disposition and vigor.
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What Is the Genotype Analysis of the Harlequin Great Dane?
It may require several generations and a lot of experimentation to breed the ideal Harlequin Great Dane.
Despite reality, numerous breeders have discovered that having a litter of Great Danes with a Harlequin coat is not a given when breeding two Great Danes with a Harlequin coat together.
In the end, though, genetics is the deciding factor. Thus according to veterinarian Lynn Buzhardt, black and red are the fundamental determinants of your dog’s color.
Just like she demonstrates, these “basic colors” are present in every dog and function as the blueprint for the full spectrum of canine color options.
The genes a puppy acquires from its parents determine what color fur it will have, there is also a large chance component at play.
It is seldom absolutely sure two Harlequin Great Danes would produce a Harlequin puppy because even Harlequin Great Danes possess those two fundamental colors in their own heredity.
What Is the Harlequin Great Dane’s Nature?
Charming as they may be, these large canines devote their days to lying around with their human family. Great Danes are good with kids and generally friendly, but that really doesn’t mean you ought to purchase one.
The Great Dane’s sheer magnitude is probably the breed’s most significant drawback. You might choose to take a smaller dog if you’re a first-time companion who isn’t equipped for the burden of having a large dog.
The Great Dane isn’t the type of dog who does well in the great outdoors; he’d much rather be curled up alongside his household or watching A movie comfortably in his comfy bed inside.
Although they have a pleasant disposition, Great Danes are excellent watchdogs that will bark at anyone who comes too close to their house.
Despite this, dogs are a delight to educate because they love their families, are friendly, and are always looking for ways to improve.
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What Is the Harlequin Great Dane’s Temperament?
The Great Dane is, without a doubt, a huge canine. To be more specific, the American Kennel Club ranks the Great Dane as the biggest breed of dog.
However, the name “gentle giant” fits this strong dog for a purpose.
The breed is appealing in part because it appears to possess no notion of its own size and thinks that it is a lap dog, despite the fact that it may squash you as it tries to clamber onto your lap for a cuddle.
How Do I Describe the Harlequin Great Dane’s Health Condition?
One unfortunate reality of owning a huge dog like a Great Dane is that they might not live as long as smaller canines. Despite reality, research shows that bigger breeds tend to have shorter life expectancies.
Despite being the biggest dog breed, the Great Dane typically lives for about 7 to 10 years. In addition, this huge dog’s size makes him vulnerable to a variety of health complications.
Future buyers must keep their eyes out just for health complications, such as, even with responsible breeding procedures;
- Inherited hearing loss
- Cardiovascular disorders
- Hypothyroidism
- Thyroiditis Caused by an Autoimmune Response
- A disease of the hip joint
- Bloat
Now let us discuss bloat in further detail. For Great Danes, bloat, or gastric dilation-volvulus (GDV), is the leading cause of death.
Specialists recommend learning the signals of bloat beforehand consenting to adopt a Great Dane or indeed any breed that is prone to it.
But the excellent news would be that your dog has a greater likelihood of surviving when you early catch it. So it is possible to lessen your Great Dane’s potential risk of acquiring bloat by taking a few precautionary measures.
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What Consists of the Harlequin Great Dane’s Nutrition?
Helping ensure your Great Dane eats well might be another crucial step you can take toward ensuring a long and happy life.
If you have a Great Dane, you should know that they are prone to bloat, so it would be best to offer dogs an elevated, nutritious food in several portioned meals each day instead of either one or two massive ones.
Great Danes are more prone to bloat if they are exercised during or after eating, therefore it’s best to avoid such times.
In addition, Harlequin Great Danes require regular training to prevent the joint and hip problems that might come with their massive stature.
It is a breed that requires a lot of activity, but its playtime needs to still be closely supervised. Never allow your Great Dane, particularly a young puppy or adolescent, to run down and up the staircase.
Take into consideration that much like under-exercising, over-exercising your Great Dane can have negative health effects.
Another few brisk walks every day will provide your Great Dane with the exercise he needs.
And then so, what else might you do to ensure that your Great Dane enjoys a long and happy life with you?
Anyone can get their Great Dane screened for health, however, most responsible breeders are going to have done so before selling you a puppy.
According to the national breed club, a Great Dane should pass several examinations, including the following:
- Examining the Hip
- Examination by an Ophthalmologist
- Evaluation of the Thyroid
- Physical Examination of the Heart
To maintain your Harlequin Keeping your Great Dane clean and well-groomed is an additional way to ensure a long, fulfilling life.
Tip-Off: How Do I Groom the Harlequin Great Dane?
Great Danes possess shorter coats and shed very little, however, they shed annually and its massive size increases the likelihood of them shedding shed more than usual.
Grooming your Great Dane once per week will typically be sufficient for keeping his lovely hair in good condition and preventing stray hairs from appearing.
Your Harlequin Great Dane, just like any other breed, will require having his hearing checked and cleansed frequently to avoid the buildup of wax, dirt, and humidity, which can lead to illness.
As a corollary, it is important to have the dog’s nails clipped or ground on a regular basis to prevent them from fracturing or shattering, which may be very unpleasant for the dog and could also cause infection.
If they are not extremely dirty, Great Danes only require an infrequent bath. Do well to click that share button!
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