I am 'owned' by a Harlequin Great Dane.
I have been frustrated by the lack of accessories for larger breed dogs....
All I can find are collars and gear either 'supersized' from small dog designs, or accessories that don't ring of 'sophistication' or 'nobility' as the breed is known for.....

Spiked collars and 'thug'-wear are not befitting the nobility, gentleness or personality of the Great Dane.

I have woven chain maille for jewelry for myself, and friends, for several years. I also do jewelry work with semi-precious stones, Swarovski crystals, and leather accents.  I have decided to work these talents into luxurious accessories for a beautiful breed of dog.

Please visit my Etsy store, I am listing collar designs and puppy coats for sale and by special order.

My puppy coats can be ordered thru the "Alchemy" portion of my Etsy.com store.

His first coat was a fleece/fleece coat: Fleece double sided coat with a hood and long sleeves.

I made the sleeves on this coat shorter as his feet are getting larger and it's difficult with the claws/feet growing to get them through the longer sleeves of his size "0" coat.  I also created more of a 'scoop' waistline for my male pup so that when he 'squats' to relieve himself, he doesn't wet the waistline of his coat.  Elastic banding across the back of the coat, over his spine, keeps the body of the coat snug to him, and gives him more room to grow.  Also, the hoodie of this coat is smaller, as it becomes a more 'style' factor than actual need to cover his head/ears.

Size 0: 6-9 weeks on most giant/large breeds.  12-14" from neck to tail.

Size 1: 9-12 weeks on most giant/large breeds. 14-18" from neck to tail

Size 2: 12-16 weeks on most giant/large breeds. 18-24" from neck to tail

Size 3: 16-24 weeks on most giant/large breeds. 24-28" from neck to tail.

Measuring your puppy for a coat or collar:

1. Collar (neck where the collar sits) to base of tail
2. Neck at widest point (just above the shoulders in most breeds)
3. Chest just behind the front legs (all the way around- diameter of your dog at his widest point)
4. Waist just before the hind leg or thigh area (all the way around, loosely- don't pull the measuring tape tight)
5. Widest point of chest with your dog facing you (his chest, just above his legs, but beneath his neck)

Collars:  Measuring where current collar sits or rests, should be slightly below the ear/skull juncture, but above the shoulder/neck juncture. About half way up the neck on longer-necked breeds. For large/stocky dogs such as Rotties or Mastiffs, the widest point is your best bet...as collars adjust anywhere from 2-4".

Harlequin, or Arlecchino (Italian), is the most popular of the 'zanni' or comic servant characters from the Italian "Commedia dell'arte" and it's descendant, the "Harliquinade".

The name of Harlequin derives from Old French Hellequin, leader of la maisnie Hellequin, thought to be related to the Old English Herla, a character often identified with Woden.

Italian Arlecchino by folk etymology was associated with Latin Herculinus, "Little Hercules".
Although illustrations of Archellino have only been dated as far back as 1572, the character had existed before this date. The origins of the name are uncertain: some say it comes from Dante's Inferno, XXI, XXII and XXIII; one of the devils in Hell having the name Alichino.

Popular theories suggest that he may have come from France, Africa, or Italy.

The notion that the Harlequin motif grew out of France is evidenced by Hellquin, a stock character in French passion plays. Hellequin, a black-faced emissary of the devil, is said to have roamed the countryside with a group of demons chasing the damned souls of evil people to Hell. The physical appearance of Hellequin offers an explanation for the traditional colours of Harlequin's mask (red and black).

[ from Wikipedia.org, "Arlecchino"]

Arlecchino, oder Die Fenster (Harlequin, or The Windows) is a one-act opera with spoken dialogue by Ferruccio Busoni, with a libretto in German written by the composer in 1913. He completed the music for the opera while living in Zurich in 1916. It is a number opera written in neo-classical style and includes ironic allusions to operatic conventions and situations typical of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It even includes a parody of a duel.

The opera is unusual in that the title role of Arlecchino is primarily a speaking role. Arlecchino and the other roles in the opera are derived from the Italian Commedia dell'arte.

[from Wikipedia.org, "Arlecchino" the opera]