News on Merlins breed...

[LorraineO]

Well,, been in contact with a few professionals,, and on a list I belong to,, the owner sent me this.. I am thrilled!!!!!!

Hi Lorraine,

I hope you don't mind, but I asked 4 friends if they thought Merlin was a Dane mix & these are their replies:

Dane Rescue Coordinator (25 years experience with Danes) says, "This guy looks Dane/Dalmatian to me. We had an entire litter of this mix this past year."

Harlequin Breeder (15 years experience) says, "Yes, absolutely, I definitely see some Dane traits there."

Harlequin Breeder (27 years experience) says, "It could have some Dane in it, as it's typically marked as pied, plus that ticking is a give away for the Irish pattern (mantle gene). The structure of the head doesn't appear to look to Dane-like, but the color is one that Harles will throw. It's hard to say without getting my hands right on him and looking at him close."

Dane owner/fancier (12 years experience) says, "As strictly an amateur amongst the pros here, my guess would be yes. To me, he has that look about him. Whatever he is, though, he is a baby doll!"

I respect these opinions & I would feel confident saying that Merlin is a Dane mix... though what he's mixed with will probably remain a mystery.

[wolfsoul]

My best friend has a great dane, and I don't really see a resemblance, but then again she is not harlequin, but blue.

Personally he looks like a pointer mix to me -- maybe pointer/dal? The pointer would definatly explain the ticking.

Here are some pointer/dalmatian mixes I found:

http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/class/001745158669/94134af019a05b5b0701ad167de64118_0.jpg?cf_L5gyChXe 1A6M6
http://www.savejustone.com/Adoption/Dolly/Dolly6.jpg
http://www.metropets.org/Images/Features/polka_lg.jpg
http://www.rchumanesociety.org/adopt/pet_pics/1199.jpg
http://www.adoptachowla.com/img/diamond-girl.JPG
http://focas-sandiego.org/adopt_data/2769_p.jpg
http://members.petfinder.org/~NV46/00_adopt_files/Pandora3.jpg
http://www.petfinder.com/fotos/TX291/TX291.1625620-3-pn.jpg
http://www.petfinder.com/fotos/PA187/PA187.3359339-1-pn.jpg
http://www.petfinder.com/fotos/NY505/NY505.3341383-1-pn.jpg
http://www.petfinder.com/fotos/TX189/TX189.2897003-1-pn.jpg
http://www.petfinder.com/fotos/IL146/IL146.3329069-1-pn.jpg

[wolfsoul]

Here are some dalmatian/great dane mixes I found:

http://www.dalrescueofhouston.homestead.com/files/Jewel_HS.jpg
Here is Delidog's dog :)
http://petoftheday.com/talk/attachment.php?s=&postid=845902
http://www.petfinder.com/fotos/PA179/PA179.2968450-1-pn.jpg
http://www.petfinder.com/fotos/CA221/CA221.3393813-1-pn.jpg

[molucass]

He doesn't look like he has any great dane in him to me either. He does look a lot like the pointer/dal mixes.

I've seen many harlequins and mantles, and none of them look like him, IMO.

Felony was a pit bull/great dane mix, and you could definitely see the great dane in his face, and etc., but I just don't see any of the traits in Merlin..

Whatever he is, he's a cutie though. :)

[tikeyas_mom]

i own a great dane "pure bred", and personally i think wolfsoul is right. i dought that your dog has great dane in her. although she is very cute ;). i believe she looks alot like that pointer dalmation mix that jordan posted....
http://www.petfinder.com/fotos/IL146/IL146.3329069-1-pn.jpg

exna the blue eye ;).

[Karen]

I do see Great Dane in Merlin - mostly in his face - the size and shape of his ears, the more square muzzle - neither Dalmatians nor Pointers have that blocky a muzzle. One of my beloved family dogs was 3/4 Great Dane, and though Merlin doesn't look like Gracie did, he does bear a decent resemblance to my big brother's 3/4 Dane girl, Princess (RB). But what I see most in him is just sweet doggie love, and that matters more than breed to me, and I bet to you, too!

[LorraineO]

I just dont know anymore,, I have a pic I am enclosing of a pointer/dal mix and he looksvery similar in the face at least like my Merlin,,,, yet on the other hand,, I have people who are breeders and such with over 25 yrs exp who say he has Dane in there for sure,,, PERHAPS,, he is a combo of all three???? Thats my best guess.... Like Karen says... he is all nose,,, AND he is right on themark for a Danes puppy size,, and weight,, so far that is...

Tell me what you guys think of the pic?!

[Corinna]

I saw dane the first picture I ever saw of him. Then the discription you gave about growth and weight gain ,was a good hint. I think I would wait till hes grown more to see his size before worring about it. Hes a good compainon and thats the most important thing, isn't it? Hes what I call a good American lover dog.

[senorita02]

I dont know too much about great danes, im sure the experts would know best, Merlin sure is a beauty no matter what the breed is!

[lv4dogs]

He is a great dog, for that alone I would be grateful for.
I would just wait & see what he loks like when he gets older.
Who knows he could have all 3, maybe more or less mixed w/ him. In that pic. that was attatched I surely see dalmation.

Some of the marks could be from that or dane, or pointer or setter or spaniel.

Just love him for him.

My Nanook, who I have had for 14 years now, I am still not sure what he is. I almost 100% know he has Shep, but he has something else in him. Sometimes I see some breeds, sometimes I see others, like husky, wolf, samoyed, lab etc....
and other people tell me they see otehr things.

Ya know what breed he is now? He's my mutt, my dearly loved mutt! I love him just the same

[wolfsoul]

Looking at him again, I think he has some Australian cattle dog in him. What do you think?

Here are some pics of Jynnelle's dane, Baby, at about 3/12 months..It's hard to see her face, but you can see the shape of her body. :) Is it like Merlin's?
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid85/pf688ae7ab835c2f85a255ac9efa173dd/fabbd9bb.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid85/pd56a8656de96a977a2756bca7debf01b/fabbd9bc.jpg
Almost a couple weeks later:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid87/p48a8c3210950c9f1d6d2125d32eb7bb2/faa03c82.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid87/p51b83bf0e3e03e4ee11034847d487204/faa03c8a.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid87/pab920f7eddaaa1e86b075f622a2ef19a/faa03c88.jpg

[bsherman]

I guess everyone has an opinion so here's mine, that pic you have of him standing infront of the fish tank really says Dane to me. Look at the size of those legs. What ever he is, he is a beautiful pup. :)

[LorraineO]

Personally,, i see Dane in him,, but I also see plenty of possible pointer and dal,,,, but I am rather preoccupied with Lucy,,, I posted on health,, shes not doing good today....

[Kfamr]

I see Dane in his face, especially the shape of it.

[Desert Arabian]

I can see Great Dane in him- the head itself shows GD. I'd trust what the professionals say over anyone else- I'm sure they know what they are talking about.

I have a hard time seeing Dalmation in him. "great dane/pointer" popps into my head more than dalmation/great dane