Unlike other dog breeds, Dalmatians are the only ones with real “spot” patterns in their coats. Normally, there are many questions being asked about Dalmatian spots.
Like, when are these spots first formed? Do dalmatian puppies have spots? Will they be large or small? Why do dalmatians have spots? Do you want a dalmatian with lots of spots? When do dalmatian puppies get their spots?
Don’t worry as we’ve got all the answers you’re looking for right here!
Are Dalmatians Born with Spots?
Are Dalmatian puppies born with spots? The answer is, NO. Dalmatians aren’t born with spots; in fact, they’re all completely white as newborn puppies.
Unlike other animals, their spots don’t take long to form. So it is quite natural for baby dalmatians with no spots.
101 Dalmatians is probably a movie you’ve seen. In the scene where Perdita gives birth to her 15 puppies, each one had a white coat and light-colored nose. It is normal to see dalmatian puppies without spots.
The anticipation of catching a glimpse of dalmatian puppy spots is exhilarating for many owners. You have no idea where they’ll appear, how they’ll look, or even what color they’ll be.
What Age Do Dalmatians Get Their Spots?
Why are dalmatians born without spots? How old are dalmatians when they get their spots? At around two weeks old, this is when dalmatians get their spots.
By the time a Dalmatian puppy is 4-6 weeks old, most of its spots will have become more defined and clear.
But there’s more to come! Even though you’ll see their spots at 4-6 weeks, they’re still developing, so expect them to take several months to fully mature. Significant changes in the definition and outline of spots as well as their color strength will be made.
By the time he or she is 12 months old, your Dalmatian will have grown significantly in size. This means that in the early stages, their small bodies will not be able to display all of their future spots. This is how dalmatians get their spots.
Is Spotted Skin Common in Dalmatians?
Yes! Dalmatians are also known for their spotted skin. You can find dalmatian spots on skin or fur. The skin beneath the hair will be the same color as the hair. You can easily see the skin on a dalmatian’s underbelly if you look closely enough.
Dalmatians, it turns out, have spots inside their mouths as well!
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Do Dalmatians Grow Spots Until They Are Fully Developed?
Many owners underestimate how long it takes for their Dalmatian’s spots to settle.
Dalmatians’ spots continue to develop for another 12-18 months or so after birth. As a result, their final appearance may change and darken until this point. Even if it’s just a little bit. So don’t worry if you have a dalmatian with few spots at his early age.
Because it can be so difficult to see the final changes, it will appear that their spots have already been established long before this moment.
Every Dalmatian’s coat pattern is completely unique! This is an incredible fact! You won’t find another Dalmatian like this one anywhere else!
How many different shades of color can be found on a Dalmatian’s coat?
Dalmatians aren’t just white dogs with black spots, as you might expect. There are a few more color options available, but they’re not nearly as common as the more popular ones.
Dalmatian colors for spots and coats:
• Black spots on a white coat
• With a white coat and liver-colored spots
• Spots of blue on a white coat
• Spots of yellow/lemon on a white coat
• A white coat with black and liver spots (tricolored)
• Sable spots on a white coat
These colors are presented in ascending popularity. Of course, black spots are the most common type of skin discoloration.
It’s difficult to find a good example of lemon colored spots online because it’s so rare. This is very close to being a “lemon,” but it could be a light liver in disguise.
In addition, tricolored Dalmatians are extremely rare. ‘ Random black and liver-colored spots are found throughout the coat of this color.
Does the color of a Dalmatian’s spots fade with age?
When a Dalmatian gets older, it’s not uncommon for its spots to change color.
This change has been dubbed “ghosting” by some dog owners. In this case, the once dark-colored hair gradually turns white, but the skin underneath retains its dark color. There is a “ghost” appearance to this.
Dalmatians don’t always go through the “ghosting” phase, and yours may go through a different phase altogether.
Many Dalmatian owners claim that as their dog has aged, it has developed more spots. Though it hasn’t been officially proven or disproved, this may be the case
Spots Don’t All Have the Same Sizes and numbers
How many spots do dalmatians have? The answer is it varies. Let’s look at the breed standard for a Dalmatian to see what it says about the spots on the dog.
American Kennel Club rules state that Dalmatians have a white ground color. Not any location will suffice for a spot. Dense black and liver brown spots are the only acceptable spot colors.
In the show ring, any other coloration of spots is grounds for disqualification. The more distinct the spots, the better. They should be round, evenly distributed, and well-defined. Distinct spots are preferred over intermingles spots by the public.
There should be spots ranging from the size of a dime to the size of a half-dollar on the Dalmatian’s body; the spots should appear smaller on their head, legs, and tails.
Liver spots in Dalmatians are less common than black spots because they are caused by a recessive gene.
READ MORE: Why Are Dalmatians So Rare? (Why You Don’t See Them Around)
Gene Modification on the Spot
The Dalmatian is the only canine breed with a distinct pattern of spots. Since ancient times, humans have been conducting genetic experiments on dogs, resulting in more than 400 distinct breeds of hunting, herding, lap, and guard dogs.
Selective breeding has led to a wide range of dog sizes, colors, and temperaments over the past few centuries. Some sort of mutation must have occurred during the breeding process of this dog’s ancestors.
As far as we know, Dalmatian’s coat may have come from pointers and spotted Great Dane. Some breeders must have found the spotted dog’s appearance appealing and decided to selectively breed for it.
An in-depth look at the genetics of the Dalmatian’s distinctive coat pattern is provided in this study for those with an interest in genetics.
Final Thoughts
Playful and sensitive, Dalmatians are a joy to be around. Although some Dalmatian experts caution that the breed is too energetic for very small children, they are loyal to their families and good with children.
Dogs of this breed are intelligent, trainable, and make excellent watchdogs.
What color of dalmatian spots does your dog have? What challenges did you experience in raising a Dalmatian? Share it with us by commenting down below!
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