The Merle Great Dane
Effective January 1, 2019 the merle was welcomed into the conformation ring as a newly approved great dane color. As Jason Hoke, President of the Great Dane Club of America has stated, “The Merle has always been an integral part of the Mantle/Harlequin Family and is a necessary genetic component to produce Harlequin.”
The Merle Standard Addition
Merle Color: A pale gray to dark gray merle base color with black torn patches within.
Patterns/Markings: May be Solid Merle (white on chest and toes is permissible) or Merle with a Mantle Pattern (solid merle blanket extending over the body; merle skull with a white muzzle; white blaze is optional; whole or partial white neck; a white chest; white on whole or part of the forelegs and hind legs; white tipped merle tail. A small white break in the blanket is acceptable. (Black pigment may be seen on the skin in white areas.) Disqualification: Merlequin, a white dog with ONLY patches of merle.
References:
Hoke, Jason, Judging the Merle Great Dane, Judging Operations, December 19, 2018
