Within the dog world, the Dalmatian might be the most iconic pooch. Even before their silver screen debut, their black-spotted coat made them stand out against other dogs – but do they come in other colours too? Or is black and white the extent of their palette?
In this guide, we’ll show you all the common colours you can expect with this delightful breed.
The most common coat colours are white with black spots, or white with liver (brown) spots, with the black-spotted variety being particularly iconic.
While black and liver spots are the most recognised, some Dalmatians may also exhibit less common colour variations, such as lemon or brindle.
Dalmatians are an ancient breed. Some experts believe a genetic mutation was bred into their lineage and that Dalmatians are the result of mixing spotted Great Danes and Pointers.
Long before Hollywood fame, the Dalmatian breed worked several jobs, including being a firehouse dog, coach dog, and guard dog. The spots made them easy to see against smoke or crowds, fields or just about anything.
A Dalmatian’s coat typically comes in black and white, which is what most people expect of these purebred dogs.
The standard base coat colour is white, and dense black spots are evenly distributed across the entire body. Often, these black-spotted dogs might have a thick black patch surrounding one eye (called a monocle) or a black ear.
White and black Dalmatians have a glossy black nose to match their spotted coat.
This colour coat features the same white base, with liver brown spots covering the body. These spots can lighten to tawny brown depending on their environment.
Most Dalmatians with brown spots also have matching brown noses.
On occasion, lemon Dalmatian puppies are born with a coat so white you might think they will never form spots at all!
Although lemon Dalmatians take longer to earn their spots, they will appear. Pale yellow or ‘lemon’ coloured spots decorate the white coat like other purebred Dalmatians. Except unlike black-spotted or brown-spotted Dals, their lemon brethren are not accepted as a breed standard.
Lemon-spotted Dalmatians typically have a black nose.
White and orange Dalmatians boast the typical white base coat with dark lemon or ‘orange’ spots. These spots range from dark golden yellow to light brown.
Most often, a Dalmatian dog with an orange spotted coat will have a brown nose.
These rare pups are born with the pigment for two different coloured spots to decorate their white coat.
White, black and tan: a black spotted Dalmatian with extra tan spots, usually on their neck, chest, head, or tail.
White, liver and tan: a liver-brown spotted Dal with tan markings. They often have darker ears and lighter spots.
An albino Dalmatian is one with the condition albinism. These dogs don’t have the necessary pigment for coat colouration, leaving them completely white with a pinkish tinge.
The Dalmatian dog breed typically has a short, smooth-haired coat and is infinitely more common. However, all coat colours are available in the rarer, long-coated Dalmatians.
The Australian National Kennel Council recognises Dalmatians with black or brown spots.
The club considers any medium-saturated yellow spots, lemon, or orange variations as faults. Equally tricolour, Dalmatians are considered aesthetically flawed.
If you intend to show your Dalmatian, you will need to select one with black or brown spots, with the nose to match.
If showing is not on your agenda and you are looking for a fun, furry companion, then go right ahead and pick the pup with the best personality.
Dalmatian puppies are born pure white. After a few weeks, the spots start to appear as darker hairs replace the white hairs. Due to the lighter pigment, lemon or orange-coloured spots take longer to appear.
Alternatively, the dark pigment of a monocle or patched ear will most likely be clearly visible from birth, even before the rest of the spots begin to show.
Dalmatians are active dogs with a lot of energy and a lot of love to give. Their film-inspired fame during the last century led to a sudden surge in popularity. This breed’s coat, in its iconic black and white, makes Dalmatians one of the most recognisable dog breeds.
If you want to adopt, keep an eye out for the rarer liver brown or lemon, orange or tricolour pups. They’re few and far between and often find themselves in need of a forever home!
And no, there is no such thing as rainbow Dalmatians!
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