The Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane is one of the different fascinating coat colors of the Great Dane.
The Great Dane is loved by many for its size, affectionate nature, and interesting coat colors.
So, what makes a Chocolate Great Dane? How different are they compared to the other Great Dane coat colors?
Read on to learn more about what makes a Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane, its appearance, temperament, health concerns, price, and where to get them.
What Is A Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane?
A Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane is a Great Dane with a white base coat color with torn chocolate spots or patches all over its body, in a harlequin pattern. They resemble the standard Harlequin coat color pattern but with chocolate patches. The nose and foot pads are also chocolate brown instead of black.
What Does The Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane Look Like?
The Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane looks like any other Great Dane dog breed in terms of physical features and characteristics, except for their coat color.
They have a muscular, well-defined build, with a large rectangular head, big muzzle, slightly droopy almond eyes, natural floppy ears, and a medium-sized tail. Their coat is short and smooth.
Adult male dogs stand at 32 to 34 inches high with a weight of up to 120 – 200 pounds. Female dogs stand at 28 to 32 inches with a weight of 100 to 130 pounds.
The coat of a Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane is a white base coat with chocolate-colored patches on it. The chocolate patches are a dark brown color.
They resemble a Harlequin Great Dane, which is a Great Dane with a white base coat with torn black spots or patches all over its body.
The main difference between this standard Harlequin coat color and the Chocolate Harlequin is that for a Chocolate Harlequin, the black patches seen in a Harlequin pattern are chocolate in color instead of black.
Does the American Kennel Club recognize the Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane?
The Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane is not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as a standard Great Dane color. However, Chocolate is a registered color.
This simply means the Chocolate Harlequin coat color cannot compete in the American Kennel Club’s conformation shows.
This is because they do not meet the AKC standard description of the accepted Harlequin Great Dane.
The American Kennel Club currently recognizes only seven coat colors, which are Black, Fawn, Harlequin, Brindle, Blue, Mantle, and Merle.
The Harlequin coat color pattern is one of the Great Dane colors that is recognized by the American Kennel Club.
The American Kennel Club describes the Harlequin coat color pattern as:
“Great Dane with a white base coat covered with torn black patches or spots all over their body.”
Any coat color variation that deviates from this is referred to as a Harlequin mismark, which are colors, patterns, and markings that are outside the standard Harlequin color pattern.
The Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane does not meet the AKC criteria.
Alongside the Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane, there are other Great Danes with the Harlequin coat color pattern in combination with other colors and patterns. These include:
- Blue Harlequin Great Dane
- Fawn Harlequin Great Dane (Fawnequin)
- Brindle Harlequin Great Dane (Brindlequin)
- Merle Harlequin Great Dane (Merlequin)
The coat color of a Great Dane is important when you are considering competing in conformation shows because it is a qualifying factor.
However, if you do not intend to compete in dog shows and only want to have an affectionate Great Dane, the Chocolate Great Dane is a good choice.
They are similar to any other Great Dane and have an additional attraction to their amazing coat color.
The Genetics Of The Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane
The coat color of all dog breeds is based on two primary pigments, that is a black pigment (eumelanin) and the red pigment (phaeomelanin).
Gene interactions and mutations manipulate the expression of these two base pigments to create different coat colors and patterns.
The black coat color is expressed when the dominant B allele (B), at the B locus of the genetic code, is inherited by a puppy from one of its parents.
When a Great Dane puppy inherits two copies of the recessive b alleles (bb), one from each of its parents, this dilutes the black color pigment to brown (chocolate).
This occurs in a Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane, whereby a puppy inherits two copies of the recessive b alleles (bb) and the Harlequin gene (Hh). The black patches of the Harlequin pattern are diluted by the recessive genes to brown.
The color dilution extends to the nose and foot pads which appear brown instead of black.
Are Chocolate Harlequin Great Danes rare?
Chocolate Harlequin Great Danes are rare and are not easy to come by as the other standard Great Dane colors. This is because two copies of the recessive b alleles (bb) and the Harlequin gene are both required to produce this unique color pattern.
Puppies with only one copy of the dilution gene (b) cannot develop the chocolate coat because the B dominant gene causes the black color would override it and cause the Harlequin patches to be black.
Therefore two copies of the dilution gene are needed from both parents and the Harlequin gene to form a Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane.
Based on this genetic combination, it is quite rare to obtain it.
The coat color can come up in puppy litters from the breeding of the standard Great Dane colors because mismarks are possible and also it is possible to produce them with selective breeding done by professional breeders.
Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane Temperament
The Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane is affectionate, friendly, loyal, gentle, and people-oriented. They are also easy to train and good family dogs.
This personality is exactly identical to the general Great Dane’s dog breed personality. Despite the difference in coat color among the Great Danes, their personality is the same.
In addition to this, an individual dog’s personality is also shaped by good breeding, socialization training, and care.
Therefore for a Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane to be a well-rounded dog with the desired behaviors and traits, they require these factors to contribute to their overall personality.
Recommended Reading: European Harlequin Great Dane
Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane Health Concerns
Dogs with lighter-colored coats, that is, white, merle, roan, and piebald pigment are more prone to deafness or hearing problems.
This has been proven by research studies that have linked some health problems to a dog’s coat color.
The Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane’s coat has two colors, that is white and chocolate patches. A large area of their body has white pigment and because of this, they are more prone to congenital deafness.
The Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane is also susceptible to the common Great Dane dog breed health problems. These include:
- Hip dysplasia
- Arthritis
- Heart disease
- Hypothyroidism
- Wobblers syndrome
- Cancer
- Bloat
These are health concerns that the Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane is susceptible to however it does not necessarily mean they all develop these conditions.
Most Chocolate Harlequin Great Danes are healthy dogs and live healthy lives.
It is however important to be aware of these possible health conditions which inform on what to expect when you own a Great Dane and how to care for a Great Dane so that they can live healthy lives.
Breeders strive to produce healthy puppies that are less likely to develop the conditions.
They also share health certificates with the health histories of their puppies or dogs so that new owners can know their health status and also how to care for them in consultation with a veterinarian.
Overall, raising a healthy Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane, like any other Great Dane or a dog breed, requires good care, exercise, and a healthy diet.
Related: Merle Great Dane Vs Harlequin
Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane Price
The Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane price is in the range of $1500 to $3000 but prices can be much higher than this. The price tends to be high because they are uncommon and have a unique Harlequin color pattern.
If not naturally found in litters from the breeding of the standard Great Dane colors, which sometimes occurs, this Harlequin coat color can be produced through selective breeding.
Coat colors that are hard to come by are generally more expensive and also the Harlequin coat color pattern is very much sought after which makes demand high which results in high prices.
Puppies are also typically more expensive than adult dogs or dogs for adoption.
The Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane price also varies depending on the individual breeder and their location.
Backyard breeders or puppy mills produce puppies for money and sell them at high prices to unaware buyers puppies that are healthy.
Therefore be cautious and only buy your Great Dane from a professional breeder.
Where to Buy or Adopt a Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane
The Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane can be obtained from a Great Dane breeder or adoption center.
It is not common for purebred Great Dane breeders to produce Great Danes outside of the breed’s standards but some might have the Chocolate Harlequin puppies in a litter.
If you are interested in buying a Chocolate Harlequin puppy, buy one from a reputable Great Dane breeder. Puppies from breeders go through the required health checks, which means you will receive a healthy puppy.
Great Dane breeders are on the American Kennel Club’s marketplace which is a reliable resource for certified breeders.
Rescue centers also have Great Danes that require rehoming. They are also another resource to adopt a Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane.
Some of the Great Dane rescue groups include:
Summary: Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane
The Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane is an interesting Great Dane color that is not commonly seen, however they exist.
The Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane looks like any other Great Dane except for its coat color which is a Harlequin pattern with chocolate spots.
They have the same Great Dane personality. They are affectionate dogs and fit in quite well as family dogs.
Regardless of whether you buy or adopt a Chocolate Harlequin Great Dane or a Harlequin Great Dane, both dogs have the same characteristics and are loving companion dogs.