The Harlequin Pinscher
Intelligent, Fearless, Proud and Fun loving!! Those are just a few words to describe the Harlequin Pinscher. The Harlequin Pinscher is very similar to other small breed Pinschers. They are also know by other names that include the Harlequin Miniature Pinscher, Merle/Piebald Miniature Pinscher, Piebald Pinscher, Brindle Pinscher, Merle Pinscher and Fancy Min-Pin. They are structurally well balanced, sturdy with a compact and naturally well groomed short coat.
Being a part of terrier group and bred primarily for companions, the Harlequin Pinscher is easily trained, loyal, willing to please, happy, eager to make friends but always ready to defend their home and family. The most distinguishing characteristic of the Harlequin Pinscher is their patterned coats. The Harlequin Pinscher coat patterns consist of the Merle, Brindle, Piebald and combinations thereof. They can come in ALL coat colors icluding Black/Tan, Brown (Chocolate)/Tan, Blue/Tan, Fawn/Tan, Red, Blue Fawn and Tan.
The Harlequin Pinscher breed we know today is NOT the same Harlequin Pinscher that was a part of the purebred Miniature Pinscher that was extinguished many years ago. Todays Harlequin Pinscher originated here in the United States and was established as its own breed with its own breed standards in 2007. The Harlequin Pinscher is NOT recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and likely will not be for a very long time (if ever) due to the strict rules and regulations set for the breed by its foundation registry. The foundation registry being known as the Harlequin Pinscher Association (HPA).http://www.harlequinpinscherassociation.com
In 2022, another small registry was created by a group of former HPA breeders (Hilltop Acres included) due to some unforeseen circumstances and disagreements with the foundation breeder of HPA. The newer registry and club being known as the American Harlequin Miniature Pinscher Club (AHMPC). https://ahmpc.org
**All Harlequin Pinschers in the AHMPC database have pedigrees that can be traced back to the HPA. **
There area few other smaller registrar’s (CKC, ACA, etc) that have “Harlequin Pinscher” in their database but unless those dogs have pedigrees that can be traced back to the foundation registrar (HPA), there is no proof that they are legitimately a part of todays re-established Harlequin Pinscher breed.
Though we (Hilltop Acres) are no longer affiliated with HPA, we still raise top quality pups in merle, brindle, merle/brindle, tricolor and piebald patterns with focus to BETTER THE BREED. We helped to establish the AHMPC using the same rules and regulations initially set forth by the foundation registry in 2007. All of our dogs and pups are proudly registered with the AHMPC.
If you are curious and would like to know the TRUTH behind the reason we are no longer affiliated with HPA. Please click HERE to be directed the History behind Hilltop Acres page and scroll down about halfway of the page.
History of the Harlequin Pinscher
Please DO NOT believe everything you find on the INTERNET!!! There are an abundance of misleading and false accusations out there about the Harlequin Pinscher. The BEST factual publication that I known of today about the history of the Harlequin Pinscher can be found on the HPA website and was written by the foundation HPA breeder.
Click on the link below to read the Harlequin Pinschers history:
http://www.harlequinpinscherassociation.com
After researching the breed intensely, I have found that the information in the publication from the HPA foundation breeder can absolutely be backed up with some older literature and findings from other breeders. Sadly, like many of the older breeds, there is very little original historical information available today.
I do have (in hand) a research paper done by a former Harlequin Pinscher breeder that does contain factual evidence with cited resources of the Harlequin Pinscher history and being apart of the Miniature Pinscher breed in Germany. There are a few older Miniature Pinscher books still in circulation that contains some history, including the origination of the Harlequin Pinscher and it’s demise through time. It does in-fact give detailed descriptions and does correspond with the publication from the foundation breeder of HPA.
One of those books is The Complete Miniature Pinscher by Viva Leon Ricketts. Published in 1957.
As with many things, when someone of higher authority doesn’t like something they change it. The original patterned variety of the Miniature Pinscher more commonly known as the “Harlequin Pinscher” unfortunately was disliked mainly due to poor specimen qualities and the lack of knowledge of the pattern genes. The patterned varieties were eventually extinguished from the breed and all documentations of their existance omitted from new and updated publications. This can be clearly concluded within the book, The Complete Miniature Pinscher which was republished in 1972. Most of all of the Harlequin Pinschers history that was in the original publication (1957) was omitted from the publication. I have both copies of the book and have compared their content! Below is a picture of the republished book.
Though very few facts have been found, we can clearly conclude that the historical Harlequin Pinscher was once a part of the Miniature Pinscher breed many years ago but sadly was extinguished.
During my research of the breeds history, I could not find any concrete evidence of the reintroduction of the merle gene to the Miniature Pinscher to re-establish the the Harlequin Pinscher. The only publication that I know of is from the HPA foundation breeder that states there were contributions from the Rat Terrier. I cannot confirm the detailed written information within the publication as I was not apart of this endeavor and I have never seen any supporting documentations. I have found on varies websites the mentioning of merle and brindle Rat Terriers around the time that the re-introduction of the patterns was stated to have happened (though these patterns have been since eliminated from the Rat Terrier breed standard and today are considered faults).
I can confirm that all of my current Harlequin Pinscher lineages do genetically breed ID test (Embark) to consist of Miniature Pinscher and Rat Terrier.
I did not start my endeavor with the Harlequin Pinscher until 2013. At which time, only Miniature Pinschers of high quality (AKC, FCI registered) and HPA registered Harlequin Pinschers were being used in most of the breeding programs. There were a select few breeders that still has the F-Hybrids.
The F-Hybrids were registered using a foundation stock service acronym (FSS )in their registration number. The foundation stock service (FSS) was discontinued in January 2017. I can confirm this as I was a Harlequin Pinscher breeder and the co-director of HPA at that time.
With the ultimate goal of the NEW Harlequin Pinscher to be more Min Pin like. Todays Harlequin Pinscher breeding programs only consist of Harlequin Pinscher with lineages that are well over 10 generations from the initial Rat Terrier and Miniature Pinscher cross (F-Hybrds). They also only consist of high quality Miniature Pinscher of AKC or FCI registration. The reason for this is that the Miniature Pinschers from these registries do have a 3 generation pedigree and most can be proven lineages as they are DNA verified through the AKC or FCI registry.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Hilltop Acres is no longer affiliated with HPA. We do continue to uphold the rules and regulations that were set by the foundation registry (HPA) in 2007. Which includes producing high quality pups as closely to the established breed standard as possible, parental verifications on all Harlequin Pinschers within our breeding program, genetic testing and clearance of MPS VI, PLL, CYST and HUC of all breeding dogs. DM is also a concern in the Min Pin and Harlequin breeds. We are working diligently to clear all lineages of that issue as well.
If you are curious and would like to know the TRUTH behind the reason we are no longer affiliated with HPA. Please click HERE to be directed the History behind Hilltop Acres page and scroll down about halfway of the page.
We have joined forces with a few other former HPA breeders and created a new registry for the Harlequin Pinscher. The American Harlequin Miniature Pinscher Club (AHMPC) was established in 2022 so that myself, the other former breeders and future breeders that wants to join would have a place to record their adult dogs lineages and the lineages of future pups.
Together, the members of the AHMPC vow to uphold the rules and regulations of the breeding of the Harlequin Pinscher inspired by its foundation registry and set forth by the AHMPC. The goal of the AHMPC is to provide the proper resources and information about the Harlequin Pinscher breed for all that are interested. All members of the AHMPC to help fulfill this goal by ensuring the integrity of the breed for the future of all fanciers.
May the Harlequin Pinscher live on for generations to come!!
TALK TO THE PAW!!!
Red Merle/Brindle
In OUR opinion:
Any breeder claiming to have Harlequin Pinschers that are not registered (HPA or AHMPC) or does not have pedigrees that can be traced back to the HPA (if registered with another registery) more than likely DOES NOT have the true Harlequin Pinscher.
Any breeder that does not register their pups is not a responsible or ethical breeder.
Any legitimate, responsible and ethical breeder should breed to BETTER THEIR BREED. Producing unregistered pups is NOT bettering the breed.
All legitimate Harlequin Pinscher lineages will trace back to the foundation stock of HPA. No exceptions. The proof is in the pedigrees!