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PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH HARLEQUIN BREEDING:
(10 problems that do not generally afflict the other colors in the Great Dane breed.)
TO See Diagrams & Descriptions of Various Harlequin Family Dogs, CLICK HERE.
1. Harlequins, being heterozygotes, cannot breed true; i.e. cannot reproduce themselves consistency in either phenotype or genotype.
2. There is a loss of possible progeny due to MM and/or HH reduced viability.
3. There is considerable difficulty in controlling the color patterning & the amount of pigment even when correctly
marked individuals are consistently bred to each other; so multiple incorrectly marked puppies therefore are born
in most all litters, resulting in a reduced number of show/breed stock to select otherwise correct/superior individuals;
high number of pets-by-markings produced.
4. Remaining well-marked animals may lack for breed type, conformation & soundness, so breeding choices and
even quality can be starkly reduced when trying to assemble suitable breeding stock.
5. The genotype of the various near-white individuals cannot be determined necessarily on phenotype; test breedings
may have to be performed to determine genotype, (if these animals are kept for potential breeding stock, rather
than culled): which requires raising & rearing mismarks which may prove useless for breed improvement.
6. All near-white & white individuals should be checked for hearing & eye anomalies if not euthanized at
birth as defects are to be expected in the majority of animals. Also animals with such defects may contribute to
a rise in defective offspring.
7. Modifiers/other undefined genes inherited independently of recessive spotting (S locus) and dominant spotting
(M/H loci) may affect the resulting phenotype and may prove hard to control. Currently it's considered that all
these white spotting loci are incompletely dominant and may well interact, leading to unpredictable pattern variations
in offspring & mismarks born routinely to even correctly marked stock.
8. All stud contract/co-ownerships must be carefully read & agreement of which color-type individuals will
be euthanized at birth/how all mis-marks must be handled (e.g. how culled, euthanized, limited registration, spay/neuter
contracts) must be settled between attendant parties given the ethical dilemmas inherent in this situation.
9. It is not uncommon for litters to include only 1 or 2 correctly marked Harlequin offspring. Further, many of
the (now acceptable) Mantle offspring may be poorly marked or poorly made for consideration as breeding stock.
Successive litters therefor may contain no correctly marked offspring,or the correctly marked offspring present
may be the least adequate in all other breed features. The sex desired in also often unavailable in the desired
color pattern.The result is few animals of breeding quality being available. So breeding appropriately becomes
a certain challenge indeed. Since the serious fancier can easily find the opportunity (such as with fawns producing
~8 pups to choose from in every litter) to more reliably select and breed suitable Great Dane breeding stock, there
is little long-term, educated and sustained interest in breeding Harlequins, given the constraints.
10. After careful consideration, most breeders interested in consistently producing quality stock turn to one of
the other acceptable colors in Great Danes, where this is more likely to be a reality. This, combined with the
low number of animals acceptable as breeding stock means there is a reduced gene-pool as to both size and quality
exists in the harlequin family. The color unfortunately attracts many novices who are unable/unwilling(?) to learn
enough about the breed & the harl variant to produce correct specimens, or simply abandon the color after some
poor breeding results. Many more who even routinely participate in breeding Harlequins are simply too fixated on
coat color to actually produce good dogs. Given the internal constraints of breeding Harlequins also there is
a supply and demand problem, particularly where pets are concerned, that is naturally met by the addition of many
rather unsavory or simply opportunity-motivated individuals who exploit the novelty of the color and it's "rarity"
to produce entire lines specifically for sale to a ready market. This results in an added burden for the ethical
Harlequin breeder who must judiciously (even zealously) screen to avoid homes who are more interested in owning
"the spots" than the breed. Limited registrations/spay and neuter options must be rigorously enforced
to avoid "spawning" situations where more poor-quality "spotted" Danes are ultimately bred
due to their popularity and profitability. Ultimately this portion of the Great Dane breed is maintained and improved
by a few knowledgeable & dedicated individuals with a flair for genetics, a good eye for a dog & a gambler's
heart.
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Click here for a technical article on Great Dane genetics.
Click here for a more general (and non-technical) discussion on Harlequin genetics.
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This message prepared by JP YOUSHA for educational purposes & permission is given to disseminate this message for that purpose & that purpose only. All copyrights & authors' rights are to be respected. For further information contact: jpy@chromadane.com
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