---- Harlequin Pinscher Breed History ----

By Nancy Anderson
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All Rights Reserved

The Original Harlequin Pinschers native land and place of origin is Germany. 
The Re-developed Harlequin Pinschers native land and place of origin is the United States.

The first German documentation for the Miniature Pinscher was established in 1880.  

The first Breed Standard was established in 1895 by the Germany Pinscher Klub now called the Pinscher-Schnauzer Klub.  

The original colors listed were Red/Yellow, Gray-Yellow, blue/tan, Black; Gray like iron or Silver Gray, either one color or with yellow-brow or light red marking at the eyes, muzzle and legs.  Of one color, blond, or dirty gray-white or white with black spots.   In my personal opinion of the standard I see this as being, Chocolate/Tan being the Red/Yellow with marking.  Gray-yellow would be Fawn/Tan.  Black is self explanatory, Gray like iron or Silver Gray would most likely be the Blue version.  The blond would be Red, Dirty Gray-White would most likely be Merle/Harlequin and my guess is that the white with black spots was the Double Merle version of the Harlequin or it could be possible that at one time there was actually Piebald in the breed as well even back then.

The Harlequin Pinscher was the merle variety of the Miniature Pinscher that first appeared during the late 1800s.  It's true origin is unknown as at that time the merle coloring did not occur in any terrier breeds thus making the Merle Pinscher and later known as the Harlequin Pinscher the first Terrier breed to come in the Merle pattern. It is thought that small sized Pinschers were probably crossed to either some breed of merle hound or merle herding dog resulting in the merle Miniature Pinscher.  The true origin of the extinct Harlequin Pinscher however is unknown, as I previously stated, as little to no documentation was kept on the development of the breed back then and will assuredly remain that way forever.  Just as the merle coloring was a variation from the normal Miniature Pinscher so was the Harlequin Pinscher temperament as they are more laid back and are not as suitable for use as Ratters as are the other variety of Miniature Pinscher.

In the 1920's the Harlequin version of the Miniature Pinscher became part of a controversial subject in the German Miniature Pinscher Breed Club and was unfortunately removed from the German Breed Standard and was forced to start their own breed, which became known as "Harlequin Pinscher".

The Original Harlequin Pinscher breed standard established in 1923 called for it to be 12-14 inches tall being 22-26 pounds in weight.  The color variations were Harlequin on a white, gray or black background having a black or self-colored nose according to coat.

Some early breeders of the Harlequin Pinscher however were unaware of the genetic makeup of the Harlequins and the gorgeous but semi-fatal status of the Merle gene.  Over a period of years the dogs became decreasing in number due to hereditary defects.  Fortunately new research into the merle genetics allows responsible dedicated breeders to safely breed Merle Harlequin Pinschers.

The American Kennel Club allowed the first registration of a Miniature Pinscher on March 31, 1925, which was an imported one from Germany and was listed as being "black, red, brown".

The Miniature Pinscher Club of America, Inc., was formed in 1929 and became the AKC Breed Club for the Miniature Pinscher.  Prior to the formation of the MPCA the Miniature Pinscher was shown in the Miscellaneous class but was changed to the Toy Class.   
A foursome of Harlequin Pinschers was shown at Crufts in 1938.

One breeder in the United States was known to of bred Harlequin Reh Pinschers in the "Black & White" variety as late as 1940. 

It has been said that there were Harlequin or spotted variety and some Brindles still being bred in or around Karlsbad, Austria, Hannover in North Germany and in Wurttemberg in South Germany as late as the 1950's but extensive research has not been able to confirm that information.

Sadly due to the lack of knowledge about the merle gene the Original German Line of Harlequin Pinscher became extinct.
 

Nancy Anderson at Run-N-Ridge started in the early 90s to revive the pattern by re-developing the breed through a Rat Terrier - Miniature Pinscher cross and succeeded in 2006 of registering the first PUREBRED Merle Miniature Pinscher & Harlequin Pinscher since 1950.

The MERLE Miniature Pinschers are registered as "Harlequin Pinschers" but they MUST only be bred back to Miniature Pinschers or Non-Merle Harlequin Pinschers such as Min-Pin type, Piebald or Brindle Harlies.  

American Canine Registry accepted into its sister registry, American Pedigree Registry, the first documentation to the re-development of the Merle Miniature Pinscher for pedigree documentation only in 2004.  The requirement was that a one time cross could be achieved with a Merle Rat Terrier of superior quality and health and the Merle offspring from that cross was to continue the development by being bred only to Miniature Pinschers and upon 7th generation they would be accepted as purebred Merle Miniature Pinschers with documented lineage.  Many years before 2004 a trio of elderly ladies had already done the Merle Rat Terrier and Miniature Pinscher cross and had already established several generations of Merle Miniature Pinschers that became later classified as F-series (*i.e. F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6) Miniature Pinschers in the Merle pattern.  Nancy Anderson was able to trace these dogs lineage back with enough documentation to get them accepted into the foundation lineage and go from that point forward to where we are today with not only MERLE Miniature Pinschers but Harlequin Pinschers in a variety of patterns as well.   Along with those lines and her own Run-N-Ridge lines Nancy developed the purebred Harlequin Pinschers.  Over time the Run-N-Ridge lines proved to be better quality and healthier and the non RNR lines were removed from the Run-N-Ridge breeding proglram.

Nancy Anderson not being one to stop once one goal is achieved decided to take the next step and petition ACR for a Harlequin Pinscher breed classification.  Due to the limited number of Harlequin Pinschers and the sure re-extinction of the breed associated with the Merle pattern however she was denied the request.  In 2007, Nancy Anderson had worked out what she felt were the objections for the refusal to re-establish the Harlequin Pinscher breed classification and once again petitioned ACR for breed designation approval with the organization of a Harlequin Pinscher Breed Club which would document more of the one time Merle Rat Terrier - Miniature Pinscher crosses and begin a program of documentation for the F-series hybrids.  After much debate and reorganization on both parties a YEA Vote was achieved and the Harlequin Pinscher Association, now known as the HPA was officially formed on October 19, 2007 with the FIRST Harlequin Pinscher officially being registered as "Run-N-Ridges Ole Time Revival N Mayhem" which had already achieved his Grand Championship status earlier in the year as a Merle Miniature Pinscher establishing his Superior Quality for being an excellent representative of the breed in which to continue the production of the Harlequin Pinscher.  The first F1 dam being credited for the beginning of the revival of the Merle Miniature Pinscher or Harlequin Pinscher was appropriately called and registered as "Allie Oops" being a Chocolate/Tan Merle with the registration number of 488-591-0104-F1.

While several other breeders started the F1 process no others ever continued breeding to F7 Status therefore leaving only the Run-N-Ridge lines bred by Nancy Anderson to continue the Harlequin Pinscher Lineage

Along the way the Brindle and Piebald along with the Combination Patterns were included as acceptable patterns of Harlequin Pinschers.

The HPA, untill 2016,  accepted for lineage documentation and registration "FOUNDATION" stock for the advancement of purebred Patterned Miniature Pinschers known as Harlequin Pinschers.  The HPA allowed a documented one time cross with a Patterned Rat Terrier of superior quality and health to be used with a purebred/documented Miniature Pinscher to produce Patterned or Pattern carrier offspring which was known/documented as F1 Harlequin Pinschers.   Each succeeding PATTERNED generation became F2, F3, F4, F5, F6 and an F7 became what is known today as a purebred Harlequin Pinscher.  

The HPA rules are VERY STRICT and are to be abided by and WERE UPHELD WITHOUT EXCEPTION whereas ONLY 1 PARENT was allowed to be a Merle and ONLY 1 PARENT was allowed to be of the F-hybrid Merle variety with the subsequent parent being that of a Purebred Miniature Pinscher or Harlequin Pinscher of the NON-Merle pattern.  It is important to keep in mind that with this program ALL offspring of Non-Merle status was lost to the program and was considered a cross-bred animal.  Only those who were genuinely interested in the revival of the Merle or  Miniature Pinscher or Harlequin Pinscher took on the endeavor, as it was without doubt a very costly and time consuming one.  

  HPA was an open F-Status registry until 2016 until which time it was determined there were enough documented dogs to carry the breed forward. 

As of 2023 Harlequin Pinschers can be found in Red, Stag Red, Black/Tan, Brown/Tan, Blue/Tan, Fawn/Tan, Tan and Blue-Fawn in Patterns including *Solid (*Red & Tan),  *Bi (*Red/White & Tan/White), *Tri (*Black/Tan, Brown/Tan, Blue/Tan, Fawn/Tan and Blue-Fawn with white markings), *Tuxedo (*any color with minimal white tipped feet, white chest and white collar - they appear to be wearing a Tuxedo when stood on their hind feet), *Piebald (*a White coat based dog with any color of spots overlaying the white), *Merle (*any color of base coat with modified  splotches oveer the base coat), *Brindle (*any color of base coat with stripes - stripes often can only be seen in the dogs Tan points.)  *Combination Patterns - i.e. Merle/Brindle, Merle/Piebald, Brindle/Piebald, Merle/Brindle/Piebald ... etc.

Others have inaccurately protrayed both the Development and History of the Harlequin Pinscher for their own unscrupulous reasons.  This is the TRUE & ACCURATE History and develpment of the breed written by the founding breeder.