Does any one know how the spots should look ??? some body told me they should be no bigger than a Tenpence ( when Adult ) and should be individual .......... just booked a pup and his ears are black and his spots vary !! Only for a pet but just curious ?? no spots on his tail !! lots under belly !!

The dalmatian with perfect spotting has yet to be born! Ideally the spots should be as round and distinct as possible, on the body about 20 - 30mm, but somewhat smaller on the head, legs and tail. The ears should have plenty of white on them, and the spots should be evenly distributed over the body.

That is the ideal that breeders aim for, but spotting is only part of the dog, and correct construction is more important than correct decoration - you can't follow a carriage for miles on the strength of your spots!

Decoration faults are, however, one of the things that decides whether a dalmatian is 'show potential' or purely a pet.

Hope this helps.
:)

20 or 30 mm I think JG :D

Ooops! :o Well 'spotted' (pun intended!) Sandra!
:D

Edit: It was so much easier in the original standard, where the spots could vary from the size of a sixpence to that of a half-crown!

I *believe* that the spots should be no bigger than a 50p piece, evenly distributed, desirable on the legs and the tail (smaller spots), and nicely spotted ears, without too many joined spots, are desirable - but JG will correct me if I'm wrong. Patches can occur on an ear or both or over an eye, but the fur is silkier than normal and a patch has a very defined line and shape - can't think of how else to put it!! Have a look here

They should be about a 10 pence size, most have some larger and smaller, also some joined together........I have yet to see the perfect spotted Dalmatian (well done by the way for spelling it correctly :)).

If his ears are solid black or he has any solid black on him, this is called patches. It would be considered a fault in the showring but as he is a pet it really doesn't matter.

If you have a look on this website there are several links to some interested sites showing spotting on Dalmatians.
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk/toc/index.html

Whatever his spotting it doesn't matter, just enjoy him.

Sandra

Just to be picky, Sandra, solid ears generally aren't patched - they are just densely spotted, and will have been pure white at birth. If there are any white hairs at all on the ears, then they aren't patched.
:)

I bow to your greater knowledge JG, densely spotted they are :) :)

Don't worry, Sandra! It's very disappointing when the ear-spotting is so dense it joins, but if the ear was white at birth, then it isn't a patch. The consolation is that they generally (but not guaranteed) have good hearing. Two of my pups, from different litters, who had very densely-spotted ears, were unilaterals.

what about spotty ears but a white face ???

Known as a 'clownface'. It's down to personal taste. Is the nose completely filled in and the eye-rims complete? (Should be surrounded by colour, like eyeliner.) Incomplete eyerims are a huge disappointment in an otherwise beautifully marked dog. Makes them look piggy. Doesn't stop them being lovely pets though.
:)