Last weekend I took care of Piper, my friend Becky’s great dane. I wanted to show a picture of her because I had never seen a gray and black (blue merle) great dane before Piper.
Piper reminds me of how some of the American Kennel Club’s regulations are a bit ridiculous. The AKC recognizes the great dane in the following colors: brindle, black-masked fawn, blue (solid gray), black, harlequin (white with random black patches) or mantle (black with white collar, muzzle, chest and tail tip). Blue merle great danes like Piper are not accepted in the AKC. In other words, Piper is 100 percent great dane, like her parents and littermates, but because of her color, she is not recognized.
Some people don’t want to own a dog unless it is AKC registered. Because of this, fewer people want to buy blue merle great danes, which means a breeder will have a harder time selling those puppies for as much as the others. Still, it’s a surprise to me that, according to Piper’s breeder, some breeders kill the blue merle puppies shortly after they’re born. These puppies might sell for $500 instead of $2,000, even though other than color, there is no difference between them and the other pups. A litter of great dane pups could have a variety of colors. Piper’s mother, for example, was harlequin, and so were some of Piper’s siblings.
It seems unfair to judge a dog by its color, but what do I know? I own a mutt.
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March 17th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Nice blog, just found it while sitehoppin. Actually, I heard about this blog through Josh over at joshwhitford.com.
I love dogs, I have a yorkie.
March 17th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Honestly, I wish the GD folks had more of a problem with Harlequin than “merle” or “dapple” as it is called in the dachshund world. But both can be dangerous. Dapple or merle, when doubled up on can be cause for tears…the doubled gene can cause deafness or blindness. And in the quest for the “unique”, humans don’t always play nice with genetics.
Harliquins,Dalmations, and double merles of several breeds often suffer from from our lack of knowledge or greediness. So sad…
March 17th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Addendum: I love my Dapple dachshund. I hope to have more dapples in my life. But I am very happy with my “non-mutants”, too.
March 17th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
My experience with merle dogs of various breeds is that they tend to be “hyperactive” and maybe a bit goofy. Paired with the right owner, though, they are excellent pets. FWIW, I’ve dealt with Smooth Collies and Great Danes mostly.
March 19th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
I love mixed breeds. Mutts rule! I have very fond memories of my dogs while growing up…it was a great period of my life.
Enjoy,
Barbara
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March 20th, 2008 at 8:17 am
If Piper’s parents are both AKC-registered Great Danes, Piper can be registered with the AKC. She may not be a color considered acceptable in the show (conformation) ring, but she would be able to compete in other AKC events like agility, obedience, rally-o. If her owner did not get a registration application or certificate when she got Piper, she could apply for Indefinite Listing Privilege (ILP) or PAL, the new name for ILP (sorry, forgot the phrase behind PAL). Piper would have to be altered to get ILP/PAL privileges.
Or Piper can compete in ASCA (Australian Shepherd Club of America) obedience and agility, or NADAC or USDAA or CPE agility. All of those allow dogs of any breed or mix to compete (although ASCA nationals & conformation are limited to ASCA-registered Australian shepherds).
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March 24th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
My Dane is black but we have a 4yr Merle living 4 doors down & you couldnt ask for a dog with a more beautiful temperament… I think your friends Piper is beautiful ..
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May 7th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
if the breeders are killing these beautiful animals, have them contact me as i have huge property in az and I would more than glad to pay $500
September 11th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
i have a blue merle great dane that is registered with the akc and he is very smart! that is horable about that they kill these puppies…. but i think it is getting better for them now because the lady I bought him from ppl want this color more than any other color now…. she sells them for double the amount of the other puppies!
September 11th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
They are a very beautiful and unique dog!
November 15th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
we have a wonderfull bm dane named charm she is the best dog we could have ever wished for.as a rescue we had our worrys but rule one with the big ones is always give a little extra they have real big hearts.
November 16th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Yes, danes have big hearts. Charm is a great name! Happy to hear you rescued a blue merle.
February 7th, 2010 at 11:23 am
Love my blue merle Jasper. He is a big cuddler, sweet with the cats and just a lovable member of the family. My friends and family also think he is the most beautiful dog they have seen. So boo on animal killers because of colors
February 7th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Every great dane I know is extremely sweet. They are such nice dogs.