Why are Dalmatians born without spots? Their DNA holds the answer

If you think of the film 101 Dalmatians, you probably visualise a litter of puppies full of black spots. However, Disney took a small artistic licence. The biological reality is surprising: Dalmatian dogs are born with spots… invisible, or, rather, they are born completely white.

Today we resolve one of the most searched queries: why does a Dalmatian puppy that is born without spots end up becoming the icon we all know?

Why is the Dalmatian puppy born without spots?

When a Dalmatian is born, it is as white as snow. If you check the skin of a newborn Dalmatian without spots, it looks pink and the coat immaculate.

This happens due to a fascinating genetic interaction. All Dalmatians have, genetically, a base coat (generally black or brown). However, they possess a gene called extreme Piebald (sw). This gene acts like a “white sheet” that covers all the base colour of the dog.

So, why do Dalmatians have spots? It has been suspected that the Ticking gene is responsible for the spots, however, a new hypothesis has been proposed in recent years:

• The roaning gene (Roano): Surprisingly, all Dalmatians carry the dominant gene for the roan pattern (R). Normally, this gene would create a diffuse mixture of dark and white hairs, not defined spots.

• The flecking gene (Mottling): Here is the key. The Dalmatian possesses a unique interaction where the roan gene (R) combines with the recessive flecking allele (f). This specific combination “modifies” the roan pattern: instead of letting the colour hairs mix diffusely with the white ones, it causes the pigment to clump together in round and defined spots.

When do the spots appear in Dalmatians?

If you have a litter, impatience is natural. You will not see anything in the first few days:

• At birth: Pure white.

• 10 – 14 days: Pigmented shadows begin to appear on the skin, underneath the hair.

• 3 – 4 weeks: The spots begin to be visible on the coat.

• 3 – 18 months: New spots continue to appear and grow in size.

It is a dynamic process. A Dalmatian puppy without apparent spots may end up being a heavily mottled adult depending on the power of its genes.

How many spots does a Dalmatian have?

There is no exact number, since every dog is a unique fingerprint.

But not all are black. The Dalmatian with brown spots exists (known as “liver” colour). This colour is recessive. For a puppy to have brown spots, both parents must carry the gene for that colour in their family lineage, even if they themselves are black spotted. Knowing your dog’s ancestry is key to predicting these “surprise” colours.

Beyond aesthetics, genetic diseases in Dalmatians

The Dalmatian’s beauty comes with a genetic price. The same gene that causes its extreme colour pattern (Piebald) is linked to certain health conditions. This is where science stops being a curiosity and becomes vital prevention.

In the Anglo-Saxon veterinary world, Dalmatian genetic diseases are studied a lot, and there are two main ones that every owner should know:

• Deafness: Approximately 8% of Dalmatians are born deaf in both ears and up to 20% in just one. This is due to the lack of melanocytes (pigment cells) in the inner ear, caused by the extreme white coat gene.

• Urinary problems: Dalmatians have a unique mutation that affects uric acid metabolism, making them prone to forming calculi (stones).

The importance of the health test in Dalmatians

Knowing whether your dog is a carrier of recessive genes or if it has a predisposition to hyperuricosuria is not just informative, it can save its life by adjusting its diet from puppyhood.

At Koko Genetics, our Advanced DNA test for dogs will not only tell you the breed composition, but it will also analyse more than 150 topics related to its health.

Dalmatians are living proof that genetics is a complex art. They are born as blank canvases and, little by little, their DNA paints their history. Whether you have a show Dalmatian or an adorable crossbreed, knowing what its genetics hides is the best gift you can give it to ensure its wellbeing.

Do you have a spotted dog and are unsure if it has a Dalmatian mix? Discover its origins.