What Nobody Tells You About Fawnequin Great Danes

Last Updated on February 25, 2021

Fawnequin Great Dane dogs are another mis mark for the Great Dane breed. The Fawnequins are not recognized Great Dane color just like Chocolate or piebald. According to G.D.C.A. standards Fawnequin is not a show Dane’ color. Hence Fawnequin Great Danes are not allowed to be in the show ring.

Despite there unrecognized status the Fawnequin Great Dane dogs still can be registered with the A.K.C. A Fawnequin Great Dane wears white base colored coat with fawn blotches. Fawnequins appear when two Danes are bred where both parents carry the fawn gene. And either of the parents must be a Harlequin. 

How Fawnequin Great Danes come about?

Fundamentally, any breeding that can produce Harlequin Great Dane puppies can create a Fawnequin Great Danes provided both the Danes hold the recessive ‘fawn’ gene. In fact, Harlequin coat conceals many coat colors and patterns. Including fawn and brindle coat colors. Moreover, Harlequin Great Danes hold black pigment and Harlequin markings in dominance.

If both Harlequin parents carry some recessive color, these dogs have the potential to produce other colors and patterns in litters besides Harlequin Great Danes. For instance, Brindle is hidden beneath Harlequin gene. Hence, it is recessive to Harlequin but dominant on fawn pigment. Creating Brindlequin Great Danes. The brindle coat can appear on fawn color pattern. And fawn color is recessive to black coat color.

Is Scooby Doo a Fawnequin Great Dane?

Many breeders who follow the dictum of breeding for profits, from time to time come up with a publicity stunt to sell their mis mark Danes. Calling a Fawnequin Great Dane as Scooby Doo is similar hype. 

Basically, Scooby Doo’s markings and pattern is neither Fawnequin or any other. Scooby Doo is a Great Dane designed by amalgamating various coat colored Danes. And is solely a Great Dane crafted of imagination.

Fawnequins and Great Dane breed standards

Fawnequin Great Danes can be registered with the A.K.C. like any other coat color. Provided, the dam and sire involved in the breeding are registered. Such mis marked colors and patterns can be bought by breeders who usually put them on full registration. 

But for G.D.C.A. Great Dane breed standards only seven Great Dane coat colors are allowed to participate in conformation dog shows. As, the breed standards are decided and delineated by the G.D.C.A. not by the A.K.C. Hence the Great Dane breed conformation shows are only for the allowed and acceptable Great Dane breed colors.

Fawnequin into Fawnequin breeding

If a Fawnequin Great Dane is bred with another Fawnequin Dane the litter produced may have;

• Fawnequins
• Fawn
• Fawn mantle
• Double Merle including white Great Dane puppies

Any of the puppies could be still born. Moreover, the litter could be prone to a plethora of ailments ranging from genetic problems to coat and skin diseases. Therefore, Fawnequin Danes breeding together is not recommended.  

Harlequin into harlequin breeding is also not recommended. Due to the probability of creating double Merle Great Danes. Similarly, harlequin into Merle breeding is also not allowed. The genes of such mis marked Danes are overly flawed rendering the breeder with a huge pool of undesired and ailing litter.

Fawnequin Great Dane breeding

Fawnequin Great Dane dogs are not acceptable hence should never be bred. The moral and legal prerequisite for such mis marked Danes is to sell them solely on limited registration. To be honest only reputable breeders would do so. As fawnequins can happen in responsible breeding practice as well. 

Besides standard Great Dane coat colors reputable breeders usually do not opt for unrecognized colors for breeding. Given that off colored Dane can occur with any breeder and breeding preference, limited registration, and spay or neuter contract can be regarded as efficacious steps to discourage such Great Danes further breeding.

Whilst on the other end of the spectrum, the ‘breeding for profit’ persuades non reputable breeders to choose mis marked Great Danes. Breeding mis marks including Fawnequin Great Danes can bring huge fortune by selling them as ‘’rare’’ canines. Although the Fawnequins are not rare at all but only a mis mark for the Great Dane breed.

Breeders

Numerous Harlequin Great Dane breeders hold fawn genes in their lineage. So it is natural that for a Fawnequin Great Dane to appear sometimes in litter. On the other hand, disreputable breeders intentionally breed mis marked dogs to sell for huge profits, although the dogs are not healthy.

Things a Good breeder would consider

But how to differentiate between a breeder who is reputable or from the one merely looking for profits? 

• Responsible breeders conduct thorough health tests and keep it on record.
• A good breeder’s breeding stock is always there to be shown on the request. To gauge the health and peer group of the sire and dam.
• The frequency of breeding is also crucial for a good breeder.
• Mis marked Great Dane puppies like Fawnequins are sold by responsible breeders on limited registration.
• The most imperative, a good breeder would never sell a mis marked Great Dane as a rare dog. The fortune you would pay for a Fawnequin would be similar to any other off-colored coat Dane puppy while dealing with a good breeder.

Fawnequin Great Dane health and diseases

One of the prevailing popular opinions forwarded by Fawnequin breeders and gullible buyers is that,

Fawnequin Great Danes are as healthy as Harlequin Great Danes. Given both the dogs have similar base color and are only different in coat’s color markings. This theory does not hold ground.

In reality, Great Danes without black Harlequin marking are observed to have an increased chance of various diseases and health problems viz-a-viz Great Danes wearing Harlequin pattern in black color pigment.

The genetic pigment is not only imperative to furnishing a dog’s coat’ its color but also pre-requisite of sound and strong health. As the pigment tinge is deeper than skin, influencing the development of organs which in turn affects the health of a Great Dane. 

Therefore, a Great Dane’ coat’s pigment is not nonfunctional but rather crucial for the healthy genetic makeup of a Great Dane.

Genetics and Fawnequin diseases

Lack of color or tinge in genetic material is the root cause of diseases in canines. Given their lack of pigment, white Great Danes have health problems. Other coats having dearth of coloration also hold diseases.

For instance, Merle Great Danes who are grey colored are usually normal. Correctly marked Harlequins are too. White Great Danes occur due to a mutation in genetic material causing discoloration of the dog’s coat. This discoloration in phenotype hails from peculiar metamorphosis in genotype. Which influences health of born Great Dane puppies rendering them deaf and blind. 

The Fawnequins are also discolored Harlequins. The regular black color of a Harlequin is replaced by lighter fawn tinge in a Fawnequin.

Other Mis marks for the Great Dane breed including Fawnequins

There is a plethora of distinctive though mis marked Dane puppies. These unique colored Great Danes, including Fawnequins either pop up randomly or bred intentionally by some irresponsible breeders. 

Despite, Fawnequins and other mis marked Danes are not accepted for G.D.C.A. conformation shows, these dogs can be adopted as pet dogs without paying more for them.

Often, the mis marked Great Dane puppies are sold as ‘rare’ dogs which they are definitely not. Learn which Great Danes coat colors and markings are mis mark and not ‘rare’ Danes forsooth.

Mis marked Coat colors

Kicking off with the Fawnequin Great Danes all described below Great Dane coat colors and patterns do not lag behind in beauty. These mis marked Danes are equally good-looking as standard Great Dane dogs. 

Harlequin mis marks

Fawnequin:

As broached above, Fawnequin Great Danes wear a white colored coat displaying fawn dapples. The Danes are called ‘Fawnequins’ in that the fawn colored markings are in Harlequin pattern. 

Merlequin:

Merlequin’ Danes white base coat expresses a fair amount of Merle pattern. The Merle markings could be either greyish blue, or dark brown. Usually overall Merle blotches on a Merlequin Great Dane have a dark tinge. 

Merlequin Danes are predisposed to eyes and ears problems. Retaining the Merle gene makes Merlequin puppies’ sight and hearing impaired.

Brindlequin:

The Brindlequin Great Danes express Brindle pattern and splotches on a white base coat color. The pattern of markings is identical to harlequin pattern on a Harlequin Great Dane.

Remember,

The Brindlequins are produced from Harlequin and Brindle Danes breeding. Since, this breeding is not recommended, the Brindlequins are regarded as the breed’s mis mark.

Merle mis marks

Blue Merle:

Blue Merle Great Danes wear a mousy brownish blue or dark slate background with either blue or dark blue splotches. The nose leather for Blue Merle Danes is also in blue tinge.

Fawn Merle:

Fawn Merle Great Danes hold Merle pattern on fawn base coat color. As Fawn Merle Danes grow the Merle spots fade away either remaining on some parts or disappearing altogether.

Fawn Merle Danes genetics are similar to Merle Danes. When involved in breeding Fawn Merle Great Danes can produce deaf and blind puppies.

Chocolate mis marks

Chocolate color:

The Chocolate Great Danes have chocolate coat color. Muzzle for Chocolate Danes also appears brown as well as its ears.

Chocolate Merle:

Chocolate base coat color with beautiful Merle markings all over its body is the appearance of a Chocolate Merle. The Danes retain their Merle pattern as they grow up. The pattern of dark colored splotches on a Chocolate Merle differs for each Great Dane puppy and these dapples could be anywhere on its body.

Blue gene mis marks

Blue Fawn:

The Blue Fawn Great Danes own fawn coat which is tinted in blue. The Blue Fawn Danes also have a blue nose. All over skin coloration appears blue or bluish black on a Blue Fawn Great Danes.

Blue Harlequins:

Also called as Porcelain, the Blue Harlequins wear white base coat color depicting blue splotches in a harlequin pattern.

Blue Brindle:

Blue Brindle Great Danes have brindle pattern and markings in blue color.

Brindle mis marks

Onyx Brindle:

Onyx Brindle Great Danes are regarded as a converse of usual Brindle Dane. The Onyx Brindle Danes display streaks of fawn color on black background.

Brindle Mantles:

Brindle Mantles possess brindle pattern and markings on a white base coat color.

Mantle mis marks

Merle Mantles:

Merle Mantle Great Danes hold white base coat color with Merle markings in mantle manner.

Fawn Mantles:

Fawn Mantle Great Dane dogs exhibit fawn colored pattern in mantle manner. The base coat color for Fawn Mantles is white.

Some more mis marks

Lilac Great Dane possesses dilute chocolate color. Lilac color is lighter to chocolate just like blue color is to black.

Piebald:

Piebald Great Danes display mantle pattern on head whilst all the body is affected by discoloration. The white bodies of Piebald Danes indicates the health problems arising from lack of pigment.

White:

White Great Danes are double Merle Danes. The dogs are prone to a lot of health problems as the dogs inherit flawed genetic material. The White Danes could be hearing impaired and blind, besides having other ailments.

Although, the Danes are called white yet they might have colored patch on their bodies. The eyes, eyelids and lips of White Great Danes also wear color pigment.

Lilac:

A Lilac Great Dane possesses dilute chocolate color. Lilac color is lighter to chocolate just like blue color is to black

Note;

The aforementioned Great Danes coat colors are considered mis marks for the Dane breed. Such Danes are not favored for dog shows including Onyx Brindle. Hence, it is not impregnable to introduce a mis marked Dane in the show ring and indulge in breeding such Great Dane litter.

Fawnequin…the debate on becoming standard Danes?

Should The standard be reviewed? 

Many Great Dane admirers reason that the Great Dane breed standards should be reviewed to allow other coat colors as well. Preservation of healthy genetic material is indispensable for any breed. Other than that on what grounds more colors could be included into the Great Dane breed standards. 

For Great Dane breed maintenance of the health and capability of the breed, could be achieved through the acceptable Great Dane coat colors as the breed standards have already instituted. Hence, there is no need to include more coat colors and combinations.

For instance, Merle genes are lingering in every Harlequin lineage. Harlequin is an acceptable Great Dane breed coat color. When bred, a Harlequin Dane produces Merle color in litter. 

Responsible breeding

Irresponsible breeders not only put the breed’s conservation at risk but also increasing the number of unhealthy mis marked puppies. While breeding for such a pet dog, breeders ought to consider the existing number of mis marked pet dogs who await homes.

Getting such a retarded mis marked Dane holding flawed genes are difficult to pet as well. Even though you might have bought the puppy as ‘rare’ it does not guarantee anything. The puppy could be deaf or blind. Which means extra care and attention from family. More veterinary visits which would increment on bills. Moreover, such puppies necessitates careful and in-depth training from their owners. 

As of now, in the USA there are no concrete laws to make people abide by the breeding norms, irrespective of the color or breed. Generally. A.K.C. registers any canine as long as it is purebred, i.e., bred from the same breed’s dogs already registered with the A.K.C.

Conclusion

Given the pressure from Great Dane admirers, G.D.C.A. has allowed Merle to be a part of championships. The Club has reviewed the breed standards and accepted the erstwhile forbidden coat color due to its significance in Harlequin breeding. As of yet no more coat colors are favored except the official 7 Great Dane colors. Anyhow you can have any coat color dog as a companion Dane. But we recommend sticking to standards to ensure the breed’s preservation.