Spotted coats turn heads at every dog park. The dog breeds with spotted coats on this list look nothing alike, though, from the athletic Dalmatian to the feathery English Setter.
Each one has its own energy level, grooming needs, and personality, so keep all three in mind as you read.
Why spotted coats stand out
The colors run all over the map. Some dogs are speckled, some are spotted, and some carry ticking. The coats often come in various colors, shapes, and designs.
Put an athletic Dalmatian next to a feathery English Setter and you’ll see how different two spotted dogs can be.
Spotted coat terms in this article
A few words come up again and again, so here’s what they mean.
- Ticking: small spots or freckles, like the ones that show up on a Jack Russell Terrier as it ages.
- Roan: a mix of white and pigmented hairs, caused by a genetic trait. You’ll see it on the German Shorthaired Pointer.
- Belton markings: the name for the speckled pattern on an English Setter.
- Heterochromia: blue eyes, or two different colored eyes. Australian Shepherds can have it.
- Skin spots: the Chinese Crested is the odd one out, because its spots sit on the skin, not the coat.
The 17 spotted breeds
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as they say. Some of these breeds are called the most popular spotted dogs, and every one of them is a looker.
Dalmatian
Number one, and no surprise. The Dalmatian has perhaps the most recognizable spotted coat there is, best known from the movie 101 Dalmatians, where the villain Cruella de Vil believed the spots would make for a “fabulous coat!”
Dalmatians also became tied to firehouses because of their role in the early days of the fire service. They’re one of the most sought-after family pets, and I’d say that short white coat with its crisp black spots is the reason.
A Dalmatian on an athletic stride, spots and all.
German Shorthaired Pointer
The spots here are freckle-like, which gives the breed its brown and white spotty look. Coats can be solid dark brown or black, and most dogs have some white or roan mixed in.
Puppies are born with solid coats. The spots come in as they grow.
A solid dark brown head on a white body dusted with dark ticking.
English Setter
Typically white with speckles, the English Setter is called one of the most desired spotted dog breeds. The coat is silky and runs medium to long, and those speckles are Belton markings.
Puppies are born solid white. Spots and flecks of color show up within days of birth. Days!
A long, feathered white coat with black ticking and patches.
Chinese Crested
This toy breed has often landed on the list of “ugly dogs,” for many years running. I don’t buy it. Spots that sit on the skin rather than the coat make for a striking dog.
The scattered white spots show up more on the chest. There’s a perk, too: no shedding. Owners do need to take extra care of that delicate skin, though.
A hairless dog with spotted skin and a white, flowing crest.
Fox Terrier
Fox Terriers have dense coats, either smooth or wiry, and they’re usually white with black or brown spots. The breed is relatively small, but don’t let that fool you. They’re rather feisty.
They’re low-maintenance, and unless you plan to show your dog, they don’t need much grooming. Personality-wise, expect alert, lively, and smart.
A tricolor wire coat caught mid-leap across a lawn.
Dachshund
The Dachshund has its own take on spots. The breed is typically solid tan or black and tan, but coat color can be diverse. The American Kennel Club lists 15 colors and only recognizes 12 as “standard.”
Spunky and feisty, but also very sweet. No wonder it’s a consistently popular family pet.
English Springer Spaniel
The outer coat is medium length, with a feathering fringe on the ears, chest, legs, and belly. And yes, it’s a spotted (or speckled) coat. Colors include dark brown and white, black and white, and tri-color.
Puppies are mostly white. Spots come in as they get older.
Wavy liver-and-white fur and long feathered ears.
Australian Cattle Dog
Another speckled breed, often called “blue heelers” or “red heelers,” with a rich mottled pattern running through medium-length fur.
Blue Coats can have a black patch over one eye or both. Red Coats can have a similar effect. And a dog with no mask at all? That one’s called “plain-faced.”
Bluetick Coonhound
The name tells you most of it. Black and blue ticking on white makes the coat read as navy blue from a distance. Tan markings can show up around the eyes, cheeks, chest, and below the tail, and the spots come in various shapes.
The breed is considered low-maintenance and a minimal shedder. It’s vocal, but lovable if trained properly.
A heavily ticked white and black coat, with one solid black patch on the side.
Catahoula Leopard Dog
A fun name for a spotted breed. The coat counts as “spotted” because of its pattern of multi-colored spots, much like a leopard’s.
Colors run wide: black, white, gray, silver, blue, buff, tan, and red. Not every Catahoula is spotted, though. Some have solid colors with patches of white.
Australian Shepherd
You probably know it as the “Aussie.” The classic merle-patterned coat has spots that range from small specks to large patches, in colors including black, tan, and gray.
Then there are the eyes. Blue, or two different colors, which is heterochromia. I think those eyes are half the reason people stop and stare.
A blue merle coat with a white chest and collar.
Border Collie
Some describe the Border Collie as one of the most popular spotted dog breeds, fitting into the dotted, merle, or ticking categories. The coat is long and luxurious.
Small flecks of color can appear on the face, chest, or legs.
Braque Francais Pyrenean
Yet another fancy name. This is a hunting dog with a dense, short coat and a solid base color, usually chestnut, with white spotted patterns and a chestnut-colored face.
The coat can also be white with brown spots, or carry tan, roaning, or ticking markings. Energetic, affectionate, and loyal, it makes a great family companion.
A dark brown head on a white body dense with ticking.
Chihuahua
Surprised to see this breed on the list? Chihuahuas can have spotted coats, irregular spots, splashes, or speckles of color. Some are born with their spots and others develop them over time.
Dark spots on white fur usually sit on the legs or muzzle. Ticking can be there at birth or arrive later. Spotted Chihuahuas are considered attractive and sought after.
Corgi
Corgis can have spots from white markings. There are two types, the Pembroke and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, and both can have spots.
Colors include red, sable, fawn, black, and tan, with or without markings, and some dogs are multi-color.
The fur is thick and sheds a lot, so grooming is a must.
A blue merle coat with tan markings on the face and legs.
Jack Russell Terrier
This breed may not be covered in spots, but patches and large spots make it a “spotty breed” in my book. The base is a white coat, wiry and short. Ticking patterns (small spots or freckles) develop as the dog ages.
Many are tri-colored, with black and tan the most common spot colors. The spots change in size and shape over the years. They can grow, fade, or become more prominent during the winter season.
(Harlequin) Great Dane
A gentle giant, and a large dog with its own spotty variety: the harlequin. The white coat carries black spots in small and larger sizes across the body.
Regular Great Danes can have some spots too, especially those with a blue merle-patterned coat.
Black patches on white fur, standing in clear water.
How spots develop over time
Spots don’t always show up on day one. Here’s how it plays out in some of these breeds:
- German Shorthaired Pointer: born with solid coats, spots develop as the puppies grow.
- English Setter: born solid white, with spots and flecks within days of birth.
- English Springer Spaniel: puppies are mostly white, and spots develop as they grow older.
- Chihuahua: spots may be there at birth or develop over time.
- Jack Russell Terrier: ticking develops with age, and spots can grow, fade, or become more prominent in winter.
Grooming and shedding notes
Chinese Crested: no shedding, but delicate skin needs extra care.
Fox Terrier: low-maintenance, with little grooming unless you plan to show.
Bluetick Coonhound: low-maintenance and a minimal shedder.
Corgi: thick fur, high shedding, grooming necessary.
Choosing a spotted breed for your lifestyle
Energy level, grooming needs, and personality all differ from breed to breed. A Fox Terrier is alert, lively, and smart. A Dachshund is spunky, feisty, and sweet. The Braque Francais Pyrenean is energetic, affectionate, and loyal. And the Bluetick Coonhound is vocal, but lovable if trained properly.
