10 Dog Breeds Similar to the Dalmatian
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The Dalmatian is a medium-sized dog, and one of the most popular spotted dog breeds. Popularly branded as the star of the spotted dog breeds, the Dalmatian can weigh up to 80 pounds. These dog breeds rose to fame after starring in Disney’s 101 Dalmatians and are synonymous with firefighters. As reported in Wikipedia, Dalmatians originated from Croatia as hunting and carriage dogs, and their ancestors are thought to be certain breeds of Pointers and the Great Dane. Dalmatians have exceptional stamina and endurance and can stand from 19 -23 inches when fully grown. Their puppies are born with white coats and start to develop their beautiful spots within the first three months.
What are some dog breeds similar to the Dalmatian? While the Dalmatians are considered the kings of spotted dogs, there are other breeds with beautiful spotted coats. Some breeds like the German Shorthaired pointer, the Catahoula Leopard dog, The Great Dane, and the English Springer Spaniel certainly have magnificent spotted coats. Spotted dog breeds are some of the most popular and unique breeds worldwide, and this is all because of their genetics.
According to Animal labs, the piebald gene causes the spotting patterns in these dogs. It is a recessive gene, meaning that for a puppy to be piebald, both parents must be piebald. The piebald gene has not been associated with any health issues in dogs, so piebald dogs are just as healthy as other dogs. If you are looking for a spotted dog that is not the Dalmatian, here is a list of 10 dog breeds that are similar to the Dalmatian.
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10. Cocker Spaniel
The cocker Spaniel is a medium-sized gun dog breed. According to the American Kennel Club, they are its smallest sporting spaniel, are 14 to 15 inches tall, and weigh from 20 to 30 pounds. They can live up to 15 years. These beautiful dogs are one of the world’s most loved breeds because they are very loving companions. Although Cocker Spaniels were initially bred as hunting dogs, Cockers love to be around the family and follow their owners around the house all day.
Cocker Spaniels are very loyal, easy-going, and affectionate pets and are great additions to the family. They are also good therapy dogs. Unlike other hunting dog breeds, Cocker spaniels adapt very well to apartment living and are happy to cuddle and snuggle with you or play with the kids outside. But because they are hunting dogs, they need plenty of exercises to help keep them in shape because they like to eat. Cockers need regular grooming and brushing to prevent their hair from matting and keep them looking good.
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9. Bluetick Coonhound
The Bluetick Coonhounds are a hunting breed of dogs from the United States. These dogs are beautiful, sweet, and affectionate. They are also fast, muscular and energetic dogs that weigh 45 to 80 pounds, are 21 to 27 inches tall, and have a life expectancy of around 12 years. Because they were bred to track and hunt wild boars and raccoons, they are very active and love to run around looking for prey and do not do well being behind closed doors all day. Bluetick Coonhounds need a home with a large backyard or large tracts of land to fulfill their adventurous side every day. These dogs don’t do well in tiny houses or apartments with little space to run around. They will thrive with owners who like to hike or go on daily runs. They are also excellent sporting dogs for competitive activities, including tracking, following scents, and agility.
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8. English Springer Spaniel
The English Springer Spaniels originate from England. They were first bred as gun dogs for flushing and retrieving games in the fields. They are very athletic and energetic dogs that thoroughly enjoy canine sports. These high-spirited and fun dogs need activities to stimulate their minds and keep them from destroying things in the house. Because of its energetic nature, the English Springer Spaniel makes an excellent working and sporting dog.
They love running, hunting, tracking, and retrieving things and are great if you like hiking or camping. English Springer Spaniels weigh around 40 to 50 pounds, stand at 19 to 20 inches, and can live for up to 14 years. They are friendly and playful dogs and very protective of their owners, especially children. They make fantastic family dogs, hunting dogs, and watchdogs. If you live in an apartment alone and work a lot, you might want to stay clear of these dogs because they can quickly get bored and decide to turn your house into a playing field.
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7. The Brittany Spaniel
The Brittany Spaniel is a versatile and energetic gundog from Northwestern France. In the 1800s, French people crossed their small spaniel dogs with English Setters in an attempt to breed a sporting dog. What came about was the Brittany Spaniel dogs which are excellent retrievers. They are very agile and athletic dogs with lots of energy. The American Kennel Club reclassified Britanny Spaniels as just Brittanys in 1984.
These beautiful dogs typically weigh around 30 to 40 lbs, are 18 to 19 inches, and can live up to 13 years. Brittanys are friendly dogs that love to be around their owners and are sweet playmates for children. They have lots of energy and need at least an hour of exercise daily. They do well in homes with active families, big pieces of land, or a backyard to run around.
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6. The English Setter
English Setters are medium-sized gun dogs from the UK, bred for their excellent crouching, pointing, and retrieving abilities when hunting. They are well known for being affectionate, gentle, and playful, which makes them popular family dogs. Males weigh 65 – 80 lbs while females weigh around 45- 55 lbs. They are typically 23 – 27 and can live up to 12 years. English Setters are energetic dogs that need enough exercise, preferably for about an hour daily. They adapt very well to family life and are compatible with humans and other pets. Because of their laid-back nature, they get along with kids quickly and can make good therapy dogs. You need at least a big yard to give them somewhere to release their energy; otherwise, they can become destructive if left all day indoors.
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5. The Bull Arab
Bull Arabs are medium to large-sized muscular dogs. Initially, the Bull Arab was bred for hunting wild pigs. They were bred in Australia by Mike Hodgens and Heather Rea by crossing different breeds of large dogs like bull terriers, greyhounds, and pointing breeds. The crossing of these breeds made the Bull Arab a robust and intelligent dog with incredible speed and excellent tracking skills. According to Dog Time, they weigh from 60 to 95 pounds, stand at 24 to 27 inches tall, and can live for up to 15 years. Bull Arabs need to be well-trained and fed. Because they come from a lineage of hunting dogs, they are pretty active and must be exercised daily for at least an hour.
Bull Arabs are great working dogs and love to be in an active environment like ranches or have at least a backyard they can run around. Because they are always alert and have excellent hearing abilities, they also make good guard dogs. Bull Arabs are very loyal to their owners and are not very affectionate with strangers, but well-trained dogs are polite and calm around new people. If you love Dalmatian dogs but cannot seem to get your hands on one, the list above provides excellent alternatives to Dalmatians in terms of their beautiful spotted coats and agility and lifestyle needs. Just like Dalmatians, the dog breeds mentioned above are mostly very energetic and strong hunting dogs that need an active home with plenty of land to run around and exercise.
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4. Australian Cattle Dog
The Australian Cattle dog is a medium-sized herding dog that originates from Australia. Australian cattle ranchers bred it to help herd cattle across rough terrain over long distances. As is typical with all working dog breeds, the Australian Cattle dog is energetic, alert, and intelligent. They weigh around 35 to 45 lbs, stand 18 to 19 inches tall, and live for up to 13 years.
Australian Cattle dogs are loyal to their owners and suspicious of strangers. They are also fiercely protective watchdogs and can get aggressive with other dogs. Because they are energetic work dogs, they require a very active owner to keep them busy and working. They also need a vast space to run around and need to be kept preoccupied with work, or they start getting destructive around the house. These dogs are not suitable for someone living in an apartment and will thrive in areas like farms and ranches.
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3. The Great Dane
The Great Danes are indeed great. They are one of the largest dog breeds in the world and originate from Germany. The dogs were bred by the German nobility for protection and were also excellent hunting dogs for wild boars and deer. They are excellent guardians and protectors of their homes. Also known as the Apollo of dogs, the Great Danes are between 30 to 32 inches tall, weigh from 100 to 120 lbs, and have a life expectancy of around eight years. Because of their large size, the owner must be willing to accommodate the dog. It will eat a considerably large portion of food, so it’s slightly more expensive to maintain. Great Danes are predisposed to a condition called bloat due to their size.
This condition involves stomach twitches and a lot of gas buildup. To prevent this problem, the owner must feed the dog two or three small meals a day instead of one large meal. Even though they are a giant breed, great Danes are loving and playful dogs. They are very good with children and their owners. Because of their size, they need lots of exercise in a day. They do well in homes with lots of space to play and move around like yards and ranches. You must be prepared to take them for long walks if you live in the city.
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2. Catahoula Leopard Dog
From Petfinder, in 1979, the Catahoula dog breed became the state dog of Louisiana. It is also named after the Catahoula Parish, Louisiana. The Catahoula leopard dogs are agile, well-muscled dogs with large heads, drop ears, and slightly pointed muzzles. These dogs can grow up to 24 inches, weigh 50 to 95 pounds, and have a lifespan of 11 to 14 years. These remarkable hunting dogs are versatile and thrive in a working environment.
Like the German Shorthaired Pointers, the Catahoula Leopard are good companion dogs but are not happy to sit around the house all day. They are happiest when running around herding cattle, hunting wild hogs, retrieving things, and being watchdogs. They thrive in very active environments like ranches which have much free space for the dogs to run around, exercise, and be themselves. If you don’t own a ranch, they can also live in a home with a large fenced backyard where they run around and exercise daily. This dog breed needs a strong trainer and can be stubborn. They make excellent family dogs when well trained.
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1. The German Shorthaired Pointer
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a medium to large-sized pointer breed. These moderately sized dogs can stand from 22 to 24 inches tall and weigh 45 to 75 pounds. They have streamlined bodies with powerful, strong legs, making them suitable for land and water. Because of its athletic body, the German Shorthaired Pointer makes for a great running companion. Aside from their glorious spotted coats, this breed also comes in various colors, including black and white, liver and white, or solid brown. These dogs are versatile hunting breeds.
The GSP came about in the 1800s after german hunters had cross breed many different dog breeds. The German Shorthaired Pointers are energetic and excel in many dog sporting activities. They love to spend their days running in the fields, exploring and hunting games, and running around in large circles. Seeing as they are so full of energy, they will not be contented with just sitting all day. They should be taken out to exercise for at least an hour every day. They also need a home with a fair-sized backyard to run around and release their energy; otherwise, they will wreak havoc in your home. The German Shorthaired Pointer is an amiable breed and makes an excellent companion and playmate for kids and other dogs.
