In this article you will know the answer to the query “7 Large Spotted Dog Breeds“.
The following post contains information about six large dog breeds with spotted coats.
We are all familiar with the story of how leopards get their spots but how do dogs get their spotted coats?
Most of my selections spots are caused by a condition called ticking.
The dog will have colored spots on its white coat. An example would be an English Setter.
There seems to be ticking in Harlequin Great Danes (white appears in my list).
According to research the harlequin or merle coat is the result of a specific gene.
There are no Dalmatians in my list so I have yet to mention them!
Their coat pattern is a very unique form of ticking.
Our next breed will be the English Pointer another large spotted breed.
1. English Pointer
Pointers have a fun personalities and are energetic dogs. They were bred to “point” small game and are capable of great speed earning them the title “the Cadillac of bird dogs.”. Pointers have short smooth dense coats that have a sheen and they come in many colors including solids and patterns.
Their main color is white but they may have black lemon or orange markings. Black or brown noses are characteristic of pointers with white-and-black or white-and-orange coats while flesh-colored noses are characteristic of pointers with white-and-lemon coats. This breed stands up to 28 inches at the shoulders and weighs 75 pounds as an adult.
Even-tempered Pointers make great companions for families with young children although their high energy may not be suitable for apartment dwellers. Dogs of this breed are intelligent and affectionate loyal to family but reserved with strangers. The dogs are not aggressive but they need daily exercise to avoid destructive behavior.
2. Catahoula Leopard Dog
Known as the Leopard Dog the Catahoula Leopard Dog is a medium-sized short-coated dog that comes in a wide range of colors and patterns. The unique coat of the Catahoula Leopard Dog can be slick shaggy or coarse. It can be white with light grey patterns black-and-blue red or blue leopard patterns and some animals have solid brown tan or red coats.
Louisiana has historically been the home of only one breed of the American dog. They were bred primarily to herd and drive cattle in swamps and forests. Their muscular and powerful bodies make them a very tough breed. In marshy and swampy areas their webbed feet make them great swimmers. At the withers their body measures about 24 inches long and weighs about 95 pounds.
The eyes are usually deep-set and the ears are triangular. Catahoulas can have blue green brown or amber eyes and some can have two different colors in one eye. Known for their independence and fierce loyalty to their families Catahoula Leopard dogs make good guard dogs and are wary of strangers. With lots of exercise and socialization these dogs need firm and consistent training.
3. Harlequin Great Dane
Mostly white with irregular black patches on the body the Harlequin Great Dane has a distinctive coat pattern. Often the Dalmatians are mistaken for this variety of Great Dane because they have very similar coloring.
Typically harlequin Great Danes have pure white necks with a black patch on their backs and sides. These large dogs have long legs and muscular bodies and are the epitome of elegance balance and beauty.
The mature adult measures about 32 inches at the withers and weighs up to 170 pounds. They are one of the tallest dogs in the world.
Zeus the tallest dog in the world measured 44 inches from his paws to his withers and the tallest dog alive today is Freddy a Great Dane who stands 40.75 inches at the shoulders. Known as gentle giants Great Danes are very affectionate and make excellent family pets. Great Danes are friendly making them excellent family pets.
4. Bluetick Coonhound
There is nothing like the Bluetick Coonhounds coat. Their short slightly coarse and glossy coat has a white background covered with many black ticks giving it a dark blue hue. They also have big black spots on the sides and back.
The heads and ears of this breed are black while the cheeks and eyes have tan markings and the feet have dark red ticking. At the shoulders an adult Bluetick stands up to 30 inches tall and weighs 55 to 90 pounds. A Bluetick dog is a strong and energetic dog that was bred as a hunting dog they make a good house dog with proper training but can be difficult to train.
They need a lot of exercises and plenty of space to run around and play so they are not good pets for apartment dwellers. Large houses with a backyard make them feel more at home; however the backyard should be fenced to contain the dog because it will not hesitate to chase animals or follow scents.
5. English Setter
Dogs of this breed have angled shoulders muscular necks and an elegant build. This breed is the epitome of beauty and elegance and is known for its speckled coat pattern called ‘Belton.’ It has a soft silky coat that comes in a variety of colors including liver lemon and orange.
In addition to white-and-black and white-and-orange there are white-and-liver and lemon color combinations and each pattern of color is called a Belton. They usually have short or medium back fur but long fur around their necks ears chests and on their front legs these long coats are known as “feathering” and they are flat and straight. Additionally the long tail is covered in long silky hair. These dogs have an unusual coat but an elegant and energetic bodies. They love to play and make great family pets.
At the shoulder they can grow to about 23 to 25 inches tall and weigh up to 80 pounds. English Setters are used for bird hunting and get their name from the way they crouched low or set when they found a bird. A large fenced yard where they can run and play is ideal for these dogs. They need a lot of daily exercises.
6. Treeing Walker Coonhound
Hunting dogs such as the Treeing Walker Coonhound are known for their smooth and glossy tricolored or bicolored coats. They have shiny coats that are predominantly white with black spots and tan markings while bicolored dogs are either black with white markings or white and tan.
Treeing Walker Coonhounds are known for their speed and agility thanks to their muscular legs and powerful strides. They measure about 27 inches at the shoulder and weigh about 70 pounds. They were first bred in the United States. Treeing Walker Coonhounds can trail fast game and tree it until the hunter reaches the prey.
Dogs with broadheads dark eyes long muzzles and long hanging ears have broad heads with dark and soft eyes. It is important to train them carefully and to give them a lot of exercises. Although generally confident they can be a bit shy at first. With proper training these dogs make excellent family pets because they are all passionate about hunting and running after small animals.
7. Irish Red and White Setter
They are named for their characteristic white and red color. There are solid patches of deep red in its coat that are distributed throughout the body.
Its legs and face can have flecking or mottling but its body is not affected. A short and flat coat covers this animals muscular body with feathers and fringes on its ears chest and neck.
The fringes are also visible under the belly on the hind legs down the backs of the front legs and on the tail. Gundogs were trained to hunt birds and these dogs were bred as hunting dogs and known as gentlemens hunting dogs. An intelligent dog with an athletic physique the IR&W needs to stay active constantly and has a lot of energy.
As a result of their need for a lot of exercises they are good pets for families with children but they are not suitable for apartments due to their need to burn off energy every day. Irish Red and White Setters may appear slow to train but they eventually respond well to short positive training sessions. They are very loyal and eager to please dogs.
Amanda (Author)
With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.
Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)
Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.
