23 Sensational Spotted Dog Breeds | Speckled Pups You’ll Love

Are you thinking about getting a new puppy, specifically one covered in speckles and spots? Different types of dogs all have unique personalities to accompany their incredible coat, but which pooch will seamlessly fit into your lifestyle?

This list of the 23 best spotted dog breeds will take you through different spotty dog breeds as well as a bit about their personality.

While all the breeds mentioned are registered and purebred, any mix of these breeds can result in a pup decorated in spots.

So let’s dive into the world of dog breeds that have spots and are adorably cute for that reason.

23 Best Dogs with Spotted Fur

A genetic variation in dogs is what causes their coats to look the way they do. There are tons of variations, from tri-colored to brindle to harlequin. But what makes spotted coats so unique is that no two spotted coats are ever the exact same. Let’s go over 23 of the cutest dogs with spots.

1. Dalmatian

Dalmatians are probably the first dog you think of when you hear ‘spots.’ Not only are they the star of the famous Disney movie, 101 Dalmatians, but they are also the mascot for firefighters and an all-around stunning pet.

While you may be drawn to Dalmatians, it’s important to know they aren’t the best for first-time dog owners. They can be stubborn and challenging to train with hyperactivity and a destructive streak if not exercised daily. They’re also one of the fastest dog breeds, able to reach top speeds of 37 mph.

2. Cocker Spaniel

This beautiful dog breed is usually known for having a solid golden coat color. But in fact, they come in spotted variations that are sure to turn heads at the dog park. Spotted Cocker Spaniels are typically white with either gold or black spots.

Cocker Spaniels are great for first-time dog owners, experienced dog owners, and even families with children and other dogs. While this breed is energetic as a puppy, as they grow older, they tend to calm down. 

Cockers can develop a territorial streak if they aren’t properly socialized as puppies. But overall, this family-friendly pup will make the perfect spotty addition.

3. American Bulldog

White American bulldogs can either have black or brown spots covering their bodies. This breed can also have a merle-spotted coat, but this is quite an uncommon occurrence.

The American bulldog isn’t suitable for first-time pet owners. They are strong-willed as well as generally physically strong dogs. 

They require a lot of training and socialization as puppies, otherwise, they can develop behavioral problems later on. They also need daily exercise. Their short coat allows for minimal grooming requirements though, which adds to their ease.

4. Chinese Crested

The Chinese Crested breed is a couch potato toy breed with a bunch of attitudes. They come in two coat variations, either hairless with patches of fur on their head, feet, and tail or a silky smooth long-haired version. The bald version is known for the white spots that decorate their chest area.

This breed doesn’t require a lot of exercise but is still known for its agility and ability to jump high fences. They are a loving and social breed.

5. English Springer Spaniel

The English Springer Spaniel is a beautiful, medium-sized, long-haired dog with a hunting-filled history. This spotted dog breed is seen to have a white and chocolate brown coat with brown spots or a black coat with black and white spots.

These brown-spotted dogs can be demanding of their owners. Since they are hunting dogs by nature, they require a lot of daily exercise, a big yard, and mental stimulation. The English Springer also has above-average grooming requirements to keep its long and luscious locks in check. 

Tip: For your furry friend’s coat to be in the best shape to show off their spots, supplements like fish oil tablets or CBD oil for dogs can help with a shiny, healthy, and soft coat.

6. Catahoula Leopard Dog

This unique breed is sure to turn heads in your neighborhood. The leopard dog’s spotted coat can vary greatly. They can be anything from tan and white with black spots to grey with black and white dots, and everything that comes in between. Another unique quality this breed has is striking blue or heterochromia eyes.

Catahoulas can be rather dominant and need a strong-willed and patient owner. They are very active and have a natural guarding nature, making them excellent choices for a guard or watchdog. 

Since this breed has a short coat, they don’t require much more than weekly brushes.

7. Tenterfield Terrier

The Tenterfield Terrier looks similar to the Jack Russell or Fox Terrier but with a more slender body and longer legs. This Australian small-dog breed has a smooth, short coat that is usually white with black, tan, or liver spots on its head and body.

This breed has a bold personality and will need sufficient socialization as a puppy to ensure no behavioral problems when they mature. They are okay to have around children but may nip when they get excited. The Tenterfield also has a high tendency to bark and, as an active breed, needs a daily walk or jog.

8. Pachón Navarro

This Spanish hunting breed is more famously known for its split or double nose, but this shouldn’t take away from its stunning spotted coat. The Pachon Navarro has a short white coat with tan or chestnut spots all over, on top of its more prominent spots over its back, ears and face.

This dog was originally bred for hunting, thus needing plenty of daily exercise and something to keep them busy. They love being close to their owners and are very sociable. They are also suitable for new dog owners as their natural intelligence makes them easy to train.

9. German Shorthaired Pointer

Besides a Dalmatian, the German Shorthair Pointer is a popular breed that comes to mind when people think of ‘spotted dog breeds.’ This breed is trendy in the US, making the top ten list of most popular dog breeds. They have short coats that are white with speckles covering their body and larger patches over their ears and faces.

This breed is very energetic and a loyal hunting partner. They are best suited to experienced dog owners and do great around children and other dogs.  

They are easy to groom and only require weekly grooming with a short-haired dog brush. This medium-sized dog bed is perfect for the German Shorthair.

10. Australian Cattle Dog

The Australian Cattle Dog is bred for herding, just like the Border Collie and Australian Shepherd. They have a short coat with a unique salt and pepper spotted coat with patches of tan and white sometimes appearing. This breed can also have white and tan coats with different colored spots.

This spotted shepherd dog is known to fill your home with hair due to excessive shedding. They require grooming at least twice a week.  

Since they were bred to be shepherds, they are highly active and prefer space to roam. That being said, they need at least 60 minutes of exercise every day.

11. Australian Shepherd

Lots of people confuse the Australian Cattle Dog with an Australian Shepherd. The difference between the two is the long and fluffy coat of the Aussie Shepherd. This Australian spotted dog can vary in coat colors and patterns. This can range from tan and white and merle spotted coats.

Just like the Australian Cattle Dog, this fluffy spotted dog sheds plentifully and requires bi-weekly grooming with a long-haired dog brush.  

This breed is very energetic and likes to be outdoors with 60+ minutes of daily exercise.

12. English Pointer

The English Pointer has a short and smooth coat that is decorated with a mixture of small and larger spots and patches. They usually have a white coat with reddish-brown or liver patches on the back, face, and ears with small speckled spots over the rest of the body and legs.

This breed is incredibly friendly and a great family dog. They don’t require a lot of grooming and are very easy to train. These characteristics make the English Pointer a great first-time dog for active owners.

13. Bracco Italiano

The Bracco Italiano breed will melt the hearts of all who see it. They were originally bred for hunting and today have a lean body and balanced proportions. This spotted breed has a white coat with orange or chestnut spots and patches. Some Bracos even have roan coats.

While this breed is widely known as one of the spotted hunting dog breeds, they are gaining popularity for being one of the best family dog breeds. This breed is very intelligent and does best in homes with big yards. If you want an energetic dog with unconditional love to offer, the Bracco Italiano is your breed.

14. Bull Arab

The Bull Arab is a hybrid breed of a blend of English Bull Terriers, Greyhounds, Pointers, and Mastiffs. Now, it has become its own breed. The Arab is a spotted dog from Australia that was bred for hunting.

They are now known for their superb intelligence and physical endurance. Their short-haired coat can vary in colors, but the most common is white with reddish spots and dots all over the body. 

The Bull Arab is better suited for experienced dog owners and usually prefers being a solo dog. This breed doesn’t shed a lot and requires very little grooming.

15. Brittany Spaniel

The Brittany Spaniel is a bundle of spotted fur and energy. This breed is medium-sized and most commonly has a white coat with a mixture of larger and smaller brown spots. They have a medium-length coat that is known to shed generously.

Because of their coats, this spotted spaniel has high-maintenance grooming needs. Like many dogs on this list, the Brittany was initially bred for hunting, giving them a lot of energy and daily exercise requirements to avoid destructive behaviors.

They are good with children, easy to train, and make for great sporting dogs. They’re also one of the least aggressive breeds and are just super friendly creatures.

16. Great Dane

A horse or a dog? The Great Dane is one of the tallest dog breeds with spots on this list. Their coats come in almost every color and pattern you can imagine. They range from solid-colored coats to creative coats with large patches and spots all over their body and head.

Although this dog is large, they have small grooming needs and aren’t excessive shedders. They also love to laze around and only need about 30 minutes of exercise per day.

17. English Greyhound

The English greyhound was originally a hunting breed. Today that can be recognized by their streamlined, slim bodies and long model-like legs. This breed has short hair that can vary in color and has the addition of small and large spots.

This dog with spots is a very friendly breed that is ideal for families with children and other pets. Because of their short hair, they have low grooming needs, but they do require daily exercise. All in all, English Greyhounds are a low-maintenance breed and ideal for first-time dog owners.

18. English Setter

The English Setter is an easy-going breed that makes a great companion for waterfowl hunting. Their coats are medium to long and usually have a white base with black or brown spots all over the body and face. 

Because of their long hair, setters will need daily brushing to keep hair off the furniture and a deep deshedding a couple of times a month. They’re one of those speckled dog breeds where you’ll be wondering if you might just brush their spots off.

This breed lives to serve its owner and is incredibly loyal. However, they do have a high prey drive and will bolt if they see small animals. The English Setter is excellent with children, making them a perfect addition to a family home with a yard to explore.

19. Bluetick Coonhound

The Coonhound is ideal for owners who don’t have a lot of time to maintain a long coat. This breed has short hair and sheds minimally. But they are still beautifully decorated with spots. The most common color coat for this breed is white, black, and tan, with most of the spots showing on their white patches.

This spotted hound dog is better for experienced pup owners with a backyard. They can be hostile towards other dogs, but if they are introduced early on, they can get along nicely.

20. Border Collie

Border Collies are said to be one of the smartest dog breeds because of how quickly they pick up new commands. Their most known color coat combination is black and white patches, but this breed can come in spotted variations of tan, white, black, and blue merle.

The Collie sheds its long coat aggressively and therefore requires daily brushing and grooming. This breed is also very active and energetic, needing at least 60 minutes of exercise every day. There’s a reason they’re called bouncy dogs.  

They’re also very intelligent and need mental exercise as well. Puzzle feeders are a great way to give them some mental stimulation during feeding times.

21. Corgi

Queen Elizabeth loves them and so will you. The Corgi is a small breed of dog with the best mini butt strut of all dog breeds. 

They have a medium-length coat that comes in an array of different colors and patterns, from spotty blue merle to orange and white patches. As others mentioned, this breed sheds with hair to spare and requires a lot of regular grooming.

This breed is a good choice for first-time dog owners. They are energetic as puppies but calm with age and are suitable for apartment living as long as they get a quick 30 minutes of exercise a day.

22. Jack Russell Terrier

Jack Russells define the phrase “dynamite comes in small packages”. This small spotted dog breed has the energy to spare and loves going on runs with its owners. Their coats have a white base with different types of reddish spots.

This breed is highly intelligent but can have a stubborn streak.

They are great for new pet owners as they are easy to train and have little grooming needs. On top of this, they are great family dogs and are always down to cuddle.

23. Carea Leonés

The Carea Leonés, commonly known as the Leonése Shepherd or Shepherd Dog of Léon, is another one of the black and white spotted dog breeds you will love. 

They were bred to herd sheep and therefore require a backyard and daily exercise. They have a semi-long smooth coat and can have white or grey fur speckled with either reddish-brown or black spots.

This breed is very obedient but can be challenging to train. They thrive on extensive properties and in their natural habitat, on a farm, working and herding livestock.

Dog Breeds With Spots | FAQs

Ready for some more info on spotted pups? Here are a few frequently asked questions as well as answers to them.

Final Thoughts on Spotted Dogs Breeds

Whether you’re a novice or an experienced dog owner, there is a spotted dog out there waiting for you, from the giant spotted softie, the Great Dane, to the luscious and speckled locks of the Australian Shepherd.  

Now that you know a bit more about the best spotted dog breeds, you can choose the right one that fits your family, home, and lifestyle. Now that you’ve learned all about spotted pups, perhaps check out these adorable fluffy big dog breeds.

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