The Harlequin Great Dane, also known as “Gentle Giant” or “The Apollo of Dogs”, is famously known as one of the world’s largest dog breeds. As their aliases implies, they have a very calm nature despite being oversized. They’re one of the best-natured breeds and you cannot ask more for a nice big dog when you have them alongside you. One of the most sought-after patterns of the Great Dane is called “Harlequin,” hence the name Harlequin Great Dane. Breeders have trouble replicating the pattern of a Harlequin Great Dane, so they are a somewhat rare and highly sought after type of Great Dane.
If you are interested in learning more about Great Dane, particularly the Harlequin Great Dane, then this post is for you. We will cover the top 11 things to know about Harlequin Great Dane —including the history of the breed, its fur, shedding level, grooming, drooling tendency, size, life expectancy, temperament, adaptability, trainability and food & diet.
Top Things to Know About The Harlequin Great Dane
The History of Harlequin Great Danes
Great Dane, also known as “Boar Hounds”, originated in Germany and was primarily bred for hunting ferocious, wild boars. Later on in the 16th century, their name was changed into “English Dogges”. It was only until the 1700s were they known as “Great Dane” when a French traveler went to Denmark and saw a Boar Hound-like breed but more thinner and called them as “Grand Danois”—which is then translated into English as “Great Danish”, or “Great Dane” for short. There are no official records when the Great Dane was first brought to the US. But it was the fourth breed that was acknowledged by the American Kennel Club (AKC), along with the Great Dane Club of America that was formed in 1889.
The Harlequin Great Dane Coat
Harlequin Great Dane has a smooth, short-length coat. Commonly, the Harlequin Great Dane’s coat is white with black spots or patches. Their ears are usually coated in black, while the black spots or patches are spread around their entire body. The other Great Dane colors may include fawn, blue, black, mantle and merle—all of which may have a brindle pattern.
Shedding Level of The Harlequin Great Dane
Harlequin Great Dane might have a moderate to high shedding level. The primary reason why they appear to shed a lot is because of their enormous size from which a lot of hair follicles can fall out. They shed intensely twice a year – during the spring and fall seasons. But looking at the entire year, they only shed minimally. So, you’ll only need to prepare for their shedding seasons.
Grooming Harlequin Great Danes
Due to their enormous size, grooming can be quite a bit of work. We recommend using a medium-bristle brush on their coat. Weekly brushing of coats can help reduce the amount of hair follicles they can shed. Moreover, they don’t require regular bathing, unless otherwise they get dirtied due to their daily activities and/or routines. Lastly, their nails should be checked and trimmed as necessary, so that they won’t have a difficult time walking or running.
How Much Do Harlequin Great Danes Drool?
Harlequin Great Danes tend to drool quite a bit. It is due to their long jowls and loose flaps of skin around their mouth that make them drool so much.
Owning a Harlequin Great Dane, expect to deal with some drooling. And when your dog shows you some affection, get ready for some serious slobber!
So, if you or someone in your family really can’t stand doggy drool, a Harlequin Great Dane might not be the best choice of breed for you.
Harlequin Great Dane Size
The average size of a male Harlequin Great Dane weighs at about 140 to 175 pounds, whereas female Harlequin Great Danes are usually more around 110 to 140 pounds. However, some Harlequin Great Dane might slightly exceed their average size, depending on their diet, nutrition, and especially activity level.
Harlequin Great Dane Life Expectancy
Generally, Harlequin Great Dane can live for 7 to 10 years. However, some can actually live longer than their average life expectancy, especially when they’re only diagnosed with a relatively few cases of genetic health issues.
Temperament of Harlequin Great Danes
The Harlequin Great Dane might look intimidating and scary for the reason that they’re oversized but, honestly, they’re usually calm and docile—and they mean no harm to people.
They enjoy living alongside their family as if they cherish every little moment. They can be funny due to their clumsiness, and for this reason, you should keep them away with toddlers. Being friendly is in their nature and when they get exposed to people and other breeds when they’re still puppies, they will easily grow comfortable with any new faces they meet. The key is exposure at a young age.
The Harlequin Great Dane isn’t a super active dog. On average, they’re more of a medium-energy dog. They are perfectly calm lounging around for most of the day. They’re usually calm and they just really enjoy life. We could learn a thing or two from them!
Harlequin Great Dane Adaptability
Harlequin Great Danes do not adapt well to apartment living. Due to their size, they need a wide space where they can freely move around—otherwise you might encounter instances in which they’ll bump into a table by accident and break off glasses or plates. Furthermore, this breed wants attention and usually wants to be around their family. They can’t stand an entire day without their family, so loneliness will never be their best suit. In any case, they can tolerate both warm and cool climates. If you’re leaving town for another city with them, then they won’t be of any problem with the varying weather conditions.
Harlequin Great Dane Trainability
For an oversized breed of a dog, socialization and obedience training at an early age is recommended. So that they’ll be well-disciplined by the time they grow up and will be able to respond well with people and other breeds. In addition, they will require daily exercise that’s appropriate to their age. They don’t need vigorous activities where they can use up all their energy until nothing’s left in the tank. Just a simple walk, jog or even run is enough for their exercise. These will already get them happy and entertained, meeting their physical and mental stimulation.
Food and Diet For Your Harlequin Great Dane
You should feed your Harlequin Great Dane premium-quality kibble diet that’s appropriate to their age, avoiding dog foods that are high in fat content. They can also eat some human foods, but you should learn more about which kinds that suit them- you can find some dog-friendly foods on our blog.
Lastly, take note that this breed is very prone to bloat. You shouldn’t make them get some training and exercise right before and/or after their meal time. Doing so will only lead to bloating which causes their stomach to flip and get twisted.
The Last Word on The Harlequin Great Dane
The Harlequin Great Dane is intimidating at first impression, but they are big teddy bears once you get to know them. They’re calm, friendly and affectionate towards their family and any family would be lucky to have them. They don’t require too much work from their owner, including their grooming, training and exercise. Although you just have to watch out for their drool and shedding seasons.
They are some great dogs, they’re not recommended for first-time dog who aren’t experienced in training dogs, or owners that have a small space at home.
Lastly, the potential temperament of Great Dane doesn’t have anything to do with their coat patterns. This is to close down any notions or presumptions that spiral around their coat patterns.
