Top 31 Friendly & Stubborn Spotted Dog Breeds
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Unique and eye-catching, most spotted dog breeds leave hoomans in awe with their unusual coat patterns.
And while basic genetics come into play when it comes to spotty dog breeds, a study claims that the evolution of breeding practices has its drawbacks, too.
…high levels of inbreeding have consequences on health.
Accordingly, dogs with spots are more prone to genetic health concerns, such as hearing loss, abnormal dentition, and kidney failure.
So if you’re considering owning one, this is a heads-up for you.
At Top Dog Tips, we believe every dog deserves a happy home regardless of differences.
So, without further ado, let’s get to know these spotty ones!
Get to Know These 31 Friendly & Stubborn Spotted Dog Breeds
1. Dalmatian
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Moderate |
| Openness to Strangers | Friendly |
| Spot Color Combination | Black, liver brown, white & lemon, white & orange, white, black & tan and white, liver & tan |
This pup is one of the spotted dog breeds for, well, undeniable reasons.
They literally represent the spotty race!
Originating in the region of Dalmatia in Croatia, the Dalmatian dog became more popular when movies like 101 Dalmatians were released.
Intelligent, friendly, and outgoing, the Dalmatian dog can be a little destructive sometimes.
Regular exercise, however, will help burn their energy along with tracking and sniffing activities.
Trivia: The Dalmatian has served as a war dog, fire department mascot, sentinel, hunter, and performer.
This spotty canine breed also worked as a carriage, escort, and guard dog back in the day.
2. German Shorthaired Pointer
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Very Friendly |
| Openness to Strangers | Friendly |
| Spot Color Combination | Liver brown, white |
The German Shorthaired Pointer is one of the spotted dog breeds that are popular in the hunting field.
Perfect as gun dogs, this spotty canine breed can work on both land and water.
Smart, active, and friendly, the German Shorthaired Pointer has a knack for adventure and enjoys spending time in the open.
Originating in Germany in the 1800s, breeders aimed to successfully come up with a hunting dog that’s a great family companion at the same time.
Trivia: The German Shorthaired Pointer has a high drive and razor-sharp instincts for prey.
It can easily find anything it suspects is a nuisance.
That means you have to tighten your grip on their leash because they’ll likely bolt into action in unexpected times.
3. Great Dane
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Moderate |
| Openness to Strangers | Moderate |
| Spot Color Combination | Black, white |
The Great Dane is a gentle giant that can terrify you with its large build but swoon you with its loving personality.
Known as the Apollo of Dogs, this spotted dog breed originated in Germany in the 18th century as guard dogs.
Trivia: The Great Danes were famous for hunting deer and boar for the upper class.
4. Cocker Spaniel
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Very Friendly |
| Openness to Strangers | Friendly |
| Spot Color Combination | Liver brown, orange, red, lemon, blue |
Adorable, loving, and playful, who would’ve thought that the gentle Cocker Spaniel is a mighty gun dog breed?
That’s one badass pooch right there!
This medium-sized furball is one of the spotted dog breeds that’s a popular, friendly companion, especially with kids.
Trivia: The Cocker Spaniel dog is the first canine to detect cancer in humans by scent.
5. Bluetick Coonhood
| Affectionate with Family | Moderate |
| Good with Young Kids | Moderate |
| Openness to Strangers | Moderate |
| Spot Color Combination | Black |
Originating in the US, the Bluetick Coonhound was first bred to hunt boar and bear.
Not just that, this spotted dog breed is another hunting pooch that also targets raccoons.
Trivia: Bluetick Coonhounds are literature and media favorites.
This spotty dog has appeared in various films and TV shows, such as the cartoon character Huckleberry Hound.
Bluetick Coonhounds was also mentioned in literature pieces, including the novel Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls and Savage Sam by Fred Gipson.
6. English Springer Spaniel
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Moderate |
| Openness to Strangers | Moderate |
| Spot Color Combination | Black, liver, lemon, orange, or red |
Founded in England in the 1800s, the English Springer Spaniel is one of the spotted dog breeds that are well-loved by many.
They even appeared in 16th-century art countless times, including Charles II as Prince of Wales (1630) and James Stuart, Duke of Richmond and Lenox (1637).
Not just that, but prominent figures in history like the Scottish army commander William Wallace and former US president George W. Bush owned one, too.
Trivia: Springer Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels used to be of the same breed.
In a litter of puppies, the smaller ones were regarded as Cocker Spaniels, while the larger pups were Springer Spaniels.
But in the 20th century, both canines were already separate breeds.
7. Australian Cattle Dog
| Affectionate with Family | Moderate |
| Good with Young Kids | Moderate |
| Openness to Strangers | Moderate |
| Spot Color Combination | White, black |
Bred as farm dogs in the 1820s, the Australian Cattle dog is recognized as one of the smartest canines by author and expert Stanley Coren.
Trivia: Australian Cattle dogs help herd livestock by biting or nipping at their heels.
Hence, the nickname Heeler.
This spotty dog breed is a celebrity magnet, too.
Actors Owen Wilson and Matthew McConaughey actually own one.
8. Pointer
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Moderate |
| Openness to Strangers | Friendly |
| Spot Color Combination | Black, lemon, or orange |
Believed to have originated in Spain, the Pointer dog is another spotty canine breed that’s known to be ancient.
Trivia: The intriguing history of Pointer dogs can be traced from the walls of 3,000-year-old Egyptian tombs.
Not only that, but French and English paintings from the 17th to 19th century also show the evolution of this pup.
And their best feature yet?
Pointer dogs love and adore children.
9. English Setter
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Friendly |
| Openness to Strangers | Friendly |
| Spot Color Combination | Blue, orange, chestnut, lemon |
Nicknamed the Gentlemen of the Dog World, the American Kennel Club (AKC) describes this spotted dog breed as:
- Gentle
- Friendly
- Affectionate
- Without shyness, fear, or viciousness
Trivia: English Setter dogs specializes in bird hunting, earning the nickname Bird Dogs.
10. American Hairless Terrier
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Friendly |
| Openness to Strangers | Moderate |
| Spot Color Combination | Black, red, gold, gray or blue |
Directly descended from the Rat Terriers, this spotted dog breed is known to have great hunting skills despite being hairless.
But because of this prominent trait, the American Hairless Terriers aren’t really suitable for hunting anymore.
Just like other hairless breeds, American Hairless Terriers come in 2 varieties: hairless and coated.
Interestingly, the coated variety carries the hairless gene, which can be passed to its offspring.
Trivia: American Hairless Terriers are the only hairless breed with normal dentition.
11. American Bulldog
| Affectionate with Family | Needs training and supervision |
| Good with Young Kids | Needs training and supervision |
| Openness to Strangers | Needs training and supervision |
| Spot Color Combination | Black, fawn, red, or brown |
Laid-back, lovable, and family-loving, the American Bulldog is another spotted breed that’s popular for its wrinkled and slobby look.
Trivia: The American Bulldog almost went extinct.
That’s because the English Parliament banned bullbaiting in 1835.
Bullbaiting is an English blood sport that involves setting a bull against dogs.
The sport aims to take down the bull with dogs biting and holding onto its nose or neck.
12. Australian Shepherd
| Affectionate with Family | Moderate |
| Good with Young Kids | Very Friendly |
| Openness to Strangers | Moderate |
| Spot Color Combination | White, tan, black, red |
Trivia: The Australian Shepherd dog is not actually from Australia.
This spotty dog came from the Basque region of Spain.
So, what’s the confusion behind it?
Basque herdsmen went to Australia with their dogs before coming to the US.
So, Americans thought that this spotty dog came from Australia when the breed came to their land.
Popularity-wise, Australian Shepherds rose to fame due to their rodeo appearance as herders.
Besides herding bulls, this spotted dog breed can also perform tricks.
13. Beagle
| Affectionate with Family | Moderate |
| Good with Young Kids | Very Friendly |
| Openness to Strangers | Moderate |
| Spot Color Combination | Black, light blue-gray |
Trivia: Beagles can vocalize in 3 ways.
One of the most vocal dog breeds, this spotty dog can do the following:
- Howl
- Standard bark
- A yodel-like sound called a bay (used when hunting)
It was believed, however, that the term Beagle was derived from the French word begueule or gaped throat.
What’s more?
Beagles have a great sense of smell that the Department of Homeland Security hires them to help find passengers’ luggage in airports.
Referred to as the Beagle Brigade, this pup also helps detect and prevent the spread of foreign diseases and parasites.
This mighty sniffing dog is usually hired as a bedbug detector, too.
14. Border Collie
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Moderate |
| Openness to Strangers | Friendly |
| Spot Color Combination | Black, blue, tan, copper, white |
With their intelligence paired with an oozing eagerness to please, it’s safe to say that Border Collies are the happiest when they’re put to work.
These hardworking smartypants can learn an incredible number of words and commands, too.
Trivia: Queen Victoria was an active enthusiast of the Border Collie breed back in the day.
Not just that, but this spotted dog breed also is a big record breaker.
A Border Collie named Chaser has been recognized as the world’s smartest dog; it knows the names of more than 1,000 objects!
15. Brittany
| Affectionate with Family | Moderate |
| Good with Young Kids | Friendly |
| Openness to Strangers | Moderate |
| Spot Color Combination | Orange, liver brown, black |
Developed in the Brittany region in France 100 years ago, the Brittany dog is known as a hunter and poacher in medieval times.
Trivia: The Britanny dog breed was once named Brittany Spaniel.
Until 1982, this spotted dog breed bore the name Brittany due to the AKC’s mandate.
Accordingly, the AKC dropped the name Spaniel because the Brittany dog is more like a pointing breed rather than a flushing one like the Spaniels.
What are flushing dogs?
Flushing dog is the term used for canine breeds that accompany bird hunters.
In bird hunting, flushing dogs aim to locate and put birds in the air.
What’s the difference between pointing and flushing dogs?
According to Project Upland, pointing dogs are:
…designed to range to maximize their effectiveness in finding birds.
Flushing dogs, on the other hand, are designed to “hunt close.”
16. Catahoula Leopard Dog
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Moderate |
| Openness to Strangers | Moderate |
| Spot Color Combination | Blue, Light Gray, Red, Black, Solid Silver, Tan |
Recognized as a state dog of Louisiana in 1979, little is known about this spotted dog breed’s history.
Although partly bred from the Choctaw tribe’s wild dogs, some breeders have speculated that the Catahoula Leopard dog is mixed from the following breeds:
- Mastiffs
- Red wolves
- Greyhounds
- Beaucerons
- Bloodhounds
Trivia: The Catahoula Leopard dog has three distinct breed lines according to size and appearance.
- Wright-Line – weighs around 100 lbs; developed by Preston Wright
- Lovie Fairbanks Line – weighs around 70 lbs; has yellow or brindle color
- McMillan Line – weighs around 55 lbs; has a blue leopard color and unique glass eyes
17. Chihuahua
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Low tolerance |
| Openness to Strangers | Low tolerance |
| Spot Color Combination | White, Blue, Brown, Tan, Fawn |
Chihuahuas can have unique markings and spots, but this physical trait is considered to be rare.
While the AKC recognizes this tiny dog’s unusual patterns, it’s often ground for disqualification in the United Kennel Club (UKC) in the US.
It’s also a sign of health concerns and genetic problems that can occur later in a Chihuahua’s life.
Trivia: The Chihuahua dog was sacred to the Aztecs.
When an Aztec aristocrat died, a Chihuahua dog was sacrificed, which was buried or cremated along with the dead body.
The Aztecs believed that the dog’s spirit would guide the deceased’s soul to the other side.
18. Pyrenean Mastiff
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Friendly |
| Openness to Strangers | Moderate |
| Spot Color Combination | Brown, Gray, Black |
Native to the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain, this next spotted dog breed is known as a gentle and herding guardian.
But despite their calmness, Pyrenean Mastiff dogs can be protective and vicious when it comes to keeping their territory and owners safe.
Trivia: The Pyrenean Mastiff has a Spanish name Mastín del Pirineo.
19. Dogo Argentino
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Moderate |
| Openness to Strangers | Friendly |
| Spot Color Combination | Black, Dark Patch |
Trivia: The Dogo Argentino has a strong bite force of up to 600 PSI.
Proven by their physical stature alone, Dogo Argentino dogs have a DNA that’s enveloped with courage and power.
But with the right and experienced owner, this spotty dog can be a great family companion, too.
Developed by Dr. Antonio Nores Martinez in 1928 in the province of Cordoba, Argentina, this mighty dog was crossbred with several other large canines.
20. English Bulldog
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Moderate |
| Openness to Strangers | Friendly |
| Spot Color Combination | Black, White, Brown |
Like the American Bulldog, this next spotted dog breed was also a popular opponent in bullbaiting.
With their powerful jaw, English Bulldogs can take a bull down by biting its snout.
But just like any canine breed, this strong pup is known to be loving, attention-seeking, and a total heartthrob.
Only that it can be quite wary around strangers.
21. Great Pyrenees
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Moderate |
| Openness to Strangers | Moderate |
| Spot Color Combination | Gray, Reddish Brown, Tan |
Trivia: The Great Pyrenees is an ancient canine breed that has been fossilized.
It was found that the Great Pyrenean fossils that were unearthed in the region existed between 1800 B.C. and 1000 B.C. ago.
So, it’s estimated that this canine breed has existed since 3,000 B.C. in the Pyrenean Mountains.
Experts also believed that these dogs evolved from white mountain dogs that originated in Asia Minor 11,000 years ago.
22. Jack Russell Terrier
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Moderate |
| Openness to Strangers | Friendly |
| Spot Color Combination | White, Black, Brown, Tan |
What Jack Russell Terriers are good at?
They can jump as high as 5 ft.
Not only that, but this spotty dog is a great climber and digger, too.
So, be sure to properly pet-proof your home to prevent any accidents.
Meanwhile, Jack Russell Terriers are also Hollywood regulars.
And because of their high trainability, this Terrier breed landed popular roles such as:
- Skip in the movie My Dog Skip
- Friday in the movie Hotel for Dogs
- Eddie in the American sitcom Frasier
- Soccer in the American TV series Wishbone
Trivia: A Jack Russell Terrier dog Uggie is the first dog to place a paw print on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Credits to its incredible performances in 2011 movies The Artist and Water for Elephants.
23. American Staffordshire Terrier
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Moderate |
| Openness to Strangers | Friendly |
| Spot Color Combination | Black, White, Tan |
The American Staffordshire Terrier actually came from the same roots as the American Pit Bull Terrier.
Coming from the bull-and-terrier ancestry of 19th-century England, the AmStaff dog bears strength, intelligence, and unwavering loyalty.
This reliably spotted dog breed also served the US military during World War I.
Trivia: An American Staffordshire Terrier named Stubby actually became a national hero.
It served with the 102nd Infantry and participated in 17 battles on the Western Front.
Stubby was a highly recognized dog and has already met 3 US presidents due to its contribution to the military, including:
- Alerting the unit to poison gas attacks
- Locating wounded soldiers
- Capturing a German spy
24. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Very Friendly |
| Openness to Strangers | Very Friendly |
| Spot Color Combination | Brown, Chestnut, Roan |
Known as the Supreme Gundog, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a rare dog breed that’s popular for its harsh, low-shedding coat.
Originally bred as hunting canine breeds, this spotty dog is great at flushing, pointing, and retrieving waterfowl, game birds, and even hares.
Trivia: Breeding the Wirehaired Pointing Griffons was inspired by scientist Gregor Mendel’s research about genetics.
Although no evidence can back this claim, experts say that breeding this dog began shortly after Mendel’s research on genetics was released.
By breeding pea plants, Mendel established intriguing rules on heredity.
The renowned scientist was the first to claim that living things inherit one allele from each parent.
An allele is one of 2 or more versions of a genetic sequence at a particular region on a chromosome.
25. Chinese Crested Dog
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Moderate |
| Openness to Strangers | Friendly |
| Spot Color Combination | White, Pink, Black |
Trivia: A Chinese Crested pup named Scooter won World’s Ugliest Dog of 2023.
Held in Petaluma, California, on June 24, Scooter captured the hearts of the panel with its unconventional look.
Bald with crisp hair and reversed hindlegs, the tiny Chinese Crested pooch is actually a rescue dog from the Saving Animals From Euthanasia (SAFE) group.
26. Dachshunds
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Moderate |
| Openness to Strangers | Friendly |
| Spot Color Combination | White, Cream, Tan, Red, Blue, Brown |
Affectionately called Doxies, Dachshunds are popular for their prominent features — long bodies and short legs.
Trivia: Dachshunds were originally bred to hunt badgers.
This spotted dog breed’s short legs keep them low on the ground and help them track the prey’s scent.
Meanwhile, their narrow bodies also help them crawl easily into burrows.
27. Cardigan Welsh Corgi
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Friendly |
| Openness to Strangers | Friendly |
| Spot Color Combination | Black, Gray, Tan |
Popularly called Corgis with a tail, this is the prominent physical trait of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi that’s easily recognizable from other Corgi breeds.
Despite their humble size, this spotty pup was once bred as a cattle dog.
Interestingly, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi was trained to nip at the heels of livestock animals just like Australian Cattle dogs.
Trivia: The late Queen Elizabeth II owned 2 Corgi dogs, Sandy and Muick.
28. Braque Francais Pyrenean
| Affectionate with Family | Moderate |
| Good with Young Kids | Very Friendly |
| Openness to Strangers | Moderate |
| Spot Color Combination | Brown |
Originating in the Pyrenees mountains of southern France, the Braque Francais Pyrenean dog is another obvious spotted breed.
Paired with their sleek, muscular stature, you can almost see a resemblance with the Dalmatian dog.
Except that the Braque Francais Pyrenean dog usually has small to large brown spots.
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Friendly |
| Openness to Strangers | Friendly |
| Spot Color Combination | Gray, Black, Tan |
As the name implies, the Pachón Navarro dog originates from northern Spain in the Chartered Community of Navarre.
Bred as a hunting dog, this spotted dog breed is popularly known for its double nose.
This striking feature gives the dog a great advantage in hunting because of its heightened olfactory sensitivity (sense of smell).
30. Small Münsterländer
| Affectionate with Family | Lovey-dovey |
| Good with Young Kids | Friendly |
| Openness to Strangers | Moderate |
| Spot Color Combination | Chocolate Brown, Black, Gray |
Bred on the grounds of Germany in the 19th century, the Small Münsterländer is believed to be descendants of the German Spaniels or Wachtelhunds of Munsterland.
Confusion aside, this spotty pup is very skilled and versatile at hunting.
They can locate, fetch, and retrieve all kinds of furry or feathery animals with ease.
31. Bracco Italiano
| Affectionate with Family | Moderate |
| Good with Young Kids | Friendly |
| Openness to Strangers | Moderate |
| Spot Color Combination | Fawn, Tan, Chestnut |
And last but definitely not least, the Bracco Italiano.
Originating in Italy, this spotted dog breed is a calm companion and diligent worker.
Trivia: The Bracco Italiano dog existed during the 4th century B.C.
This ancient dog breed was crossbred with local mastiff dogs and sighthounds brought by Phoenician traders from Egypt.
Almost went extinct in the 1900s, the efforts of the Società Amatori Bracco Italiano and Bracco Italiano breeder Ferdinando Delor saved the breed’s race.
Spotted Dog Breeds: Before You Go…
When it comes to dogs with spots, the first thing that comes to mind is the Dalmatian breed, isn’t it?
Well, today, we learned a lot of different canines that have spots, too.
Which among these spotted dog breeds do you find interesting?
Let us know in the comments below.
And oh, if you find this blog helpful, you might want to check the following top picks, too!
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