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)
blotching on either white or black)
OTHER NAMES: Harlekinpinscher
GROUP: TerrierThe 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.