Additonal Breeds Starting
With Letter:
Pet Sites
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COUNTRY:
Germany
WEIGHT:
22-26 pounds
HEIGHT:
12-14 inches
COAT:
Short and smooth
COLOR:
Variations of harlequin (merle
blotching on either white
or black)
OTHER
NAMES: Harlekinpinscher
REGISTRY:
FCI
GROUP:
Terrier
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The Harlequin Pinscher was selected
from smaller specimens of the German Pinscher, specifically for the merle
color. Since the merle gene is dominant and it is a color unknown in other
terriers, a cross to another group is likely to have introduced this hue.
Merle dogs show a preponderance
of white, and many German breeders felt lack of pigment tended to introduce
a multitude of problems. Thus the Pinscher-Schnauzer Club denigrated this
variety and refused to recognize them.
Fanciers claimed
the breed had outstanding temperament and made an ideal companion that
thrived on indoor life. These factors suggest that small herding dogs,
like the Sheltie or Berger de Pyrenees, may have contributed to the breed,
introducing both the merle color and a more gentle personality. Hounds
offer other possibilities, such as dappled Dachshunds. The Harlequin Pinscher
is most likely now extinct. No formal registrations have been made since
the 1930s, but there is some talk of a revival in the offing.
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