Fawnequin Great Dane: Pictures, Facts & History
By Jessica Kim
Updated on
While most people are familiar with Great Danes, they may not be familiar with the Fawnequin Great Dane. Fawnequin Great Danes aren’t a distinct dog breed. Rather, they’re Great Danes that have a coat pattern that mixes fawn and harlequin markings.
Fawnequin Great Danes are rare because of the difficulty of producing this coat type. Breeders have yet to find a way to consistently produce Fawnequin Great Dane litters, and there may also be health risks linked to fawnequin coats. Here’s what we know so far about this type of Great Dane.
The Earliest Records of Fawnequin Great Danes in History
Great Danes have been around for centuries. They were originally bred as working and hunting dogs. While they’re known today for their calm nature, these dogs used to be popular guard dogs due to their ginormous size.
It’s unclear when the Fawnequin Great Dane appeared, but it’s most likely an unintentional appearance. Fawnequin Great Danes are quite rare because of their connection to recessive genes.
It’s very difficult to produce Fawnequin Great Dane puppies because there are no guarantees that a puppy will inherit a fawnequin coat from its parents. Puppies with two Fawnequin Great Dane parents can end up with fawnequin coats, along with fawn, fawn mantle, double merle, or white coats.
How Fawnequin Great Danes Gained Popularity
Great Danes are generally a popular dog breed. In 2021, they were the 17th most popular dog breed in the US. You can also find several famous Great Danes in pop culture, including Scooby-Doo, Marmaduke, and Astro.
Fawnequin Great Danes aren’t widely known to the general public and may have bigger recognition within just the community of Great Dane fans. It’s important to note that there are several warnings against bringing home dogs with unusual coat colors and markings because they can be mismarked dogs, which can indicate higher risks of health issues.
Formal Recognition of Fawnequin Great Danes
While the Great Dane is officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), the fawnequin coat isn’t. Great Danes with fawn-colored or harlequin coats are officially recognized, but the breed standards exclude fawn markings.
Fawnequin Great Danes can still be registered with the AKC. However, they wouldn’t be able to compete as show dogs since their coat color and markings don’t fit in the strict breed standards upheld by the organization.
The Great Dane Club of America also adheres to AKC standards. It recognizes Harlequin Great Danes with merle markings, but it doesn’t recognize Fawnequin Great Danes.
Top 3 Unique Facts About Fawnequin Great Danes
1. The First Great Danes Weren’t Bred in Denmark
Despite their name, Great Danes don’t originate from Denmark. They were actually bred in Germany, and it’s unclear how Great Danes got their name. In Germany, they’re referred to as “Deustche Dogge,” which translates to “German Mastiff.”
2. The Fawnequin Great Dane’s Coat Comes from Recessive Genes
The fawn color gene is a recessive gene, and it requires two Great Danes carrying this gene to produce litters with fawn puppies.
Harlequin Great Danes most often have darker, black markings because black is the dominant trait. Due to the recessive nature of the fawn gene, it’s difficult to consistently produce a litter of Fawnequin Great Danes.
3. Coat Color May Indicate Health Issues for Fawnequin Great Danes
Coat color doesn’t just affect a dog’s appearance. There are several studies on dog coat colors and their links to dogs’ health. For example, a study conducted by Louisiana State University found that dogs with white coats are at a higher risk of hearing loss or deafness.
While the exact link between coat colors and health issues is yet to be found, it’s an important factor to consider when bringing home a new dog. Fawnequin Great Dane puppies may be marketed as rare dogs. However, it’s important to work with breeders who follow ethical practices and raise healthy puppies, regardless of their coat color.
Does the Fawnequin Great Dane Make a Good Pet?
Since Fawnequin Great Danes are quite rare, there isn’t sufficient information on whether their coat color has links to certain behavioral traits. In general, Great Danes are popular pets because of their mild-mannered temperament. They aren’t known to be high-energy dogs and often do well living in apartments, despite their large size. They don’t typically bark excessively, and they’re fairly easy to train because they tend to be people pleasers.
Great Danes also make wonderful family dogs and are usually gentle with children. However, it’s important to supervise initial interactions as Great Danes can easily knock over small children by accident.
Conclusion
Great Danes are remarkable dogs, and you can consider yourself extremely lucky if you come across a Fawnequin Great Dane. However, if you’re interested in bringing home a Fawnequin Great Dane, it’s best to focus more on the Great Dane’s health rather than its coat type.
While there’s insufficient research on links to Fawnequin Great Danes and health risks, there is evidence of connections to coat colors and health issues. So, it’s more beneficial for prospective dog owners to focus more on finding reputable Great Dane breeders and examining a puppy’s health records rather than searching for dogs with rare coat colors.
Featured Image Credit: Bluewater Photographer, Shutterstock
