One of the first things about dogs that catches our eye is their coat. Maybe it’s merle pattern, fluffy white, rich sable, or golden, but all we can see is the BEAUTY.
Yeah, personality matters, but we cannot deny that their coats often make us stop and say “wow”. Every dog breed has different coat colors and patterns. Honestly, none of them can have markings at the same spot or in a similar pattern, and that’s what makes every pup unique.
So if you are planning to get a puppy and just wondering which color to choose, or you may just want to know all the variations, this article is for you. We have shared seven dog breeds with stunning coat color variations in this guide.
You will also learn about the shedding levels, brushing needs of a gorgeous coat, and other grooming needs. We have also discussed their temperament, training, and exercise needs.
Dog Breeds with Remarkable Coat Color Variations
1. Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherds are smart, energetic, and adventurous dogs with beautiful coat colors. They were bred as herding dogs but also served in search and rescue due to their agility and obedience. These medium-sized dogs have a medium-length double coat.
It can be black, blue merle, red, or red merle, while many of them may also have white. tan/ copper tri-color markings and others may not have them. And honestly, it’s hard that two Aussies have similar merle patterns, which makes them one-of-a-kind dogs.
However, they are eager to please but also have high prey drive, so it’s better to get them if you are experienced. In addition, Australian Shepherds require 1-2 hours of exercise daily, including running, herding activities, and interactive games. They also shed moderately year-round and require brushing 2-3 times a week to prevent tangles.
2. Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Cardigan Welsh Corgis have short legs, a sturdy build, upright ears, and a huge personality. They are naturally curious and love being around their favorite humans (that can be you too). These herding dogs have a medium-length double coat in red, sable, brindle, black, and blue merle shades.
However, tan and brindle points are also common in some coats, but the blue merle with white pattern looks stunning on Cogris. Although they have a desire to please, they can be territorial and show dominating behavior sometimes, Orvis shared.
You can train Cardigans with positive reinforcement and consistent training. That said, their coat actually sheds moderately throughout the year and requires brushing two or three times a week. Plus, they require almost 1 hour of exercise for mental stimulation.
3. Catahoula Leopard Dog
Catahoula Leopard Dogs are bold, intelligent, and full of energy. They are also known as Catahoula Hot Dogs, Catahoula Curse, and their name also means “scared lake” as per PetMD. These dogs were bred to hunt and herd with agility and strength.
They have short to medium-length coats in blue merle, red merle, black, red, brindle, chocolate, yellow, and tan colors. However, they are famous for their leopard patterns, which are a marble mix of colors and look unique on them.
That said, Catahoula Leopard Dogs shed low to moderately and require brushing once a week to remove loose hair. They also need 1 to 2 hours of exercise for mental stimulation and mostly require experienced owners due to their independent nature.
4. Great Dane
Great Danes are also known as “Apollo of Dogs” and have a sweet, affectionate, and gentle nature. They are people-oriented and often consider themselves oversized lapdogs. However, they were actually bred to be hunters, and later Danes also worked as guardians.
These tallest dogs are famous for their Dane pattern of pure white-based coats with torn irregular black patches throughout the body. Apart from this, Great Danes can also have brindle, merle, and mantle (bi-color pattern) coats. These dogs also come with standard coat colors like fawn, black, and blue.
That being said, they require around 60 to 90 minutes of daily exercise for mental stimulation. Great Danes enjoy hikes, but they are not built for long-distance running. You can easily train them with positive reinforcement and consistent training. But their short coat sheds moderately and requires brushing 1 to 2 times a week.
5. Dalmatian
Dalmatians were bred to run alongside carriages to protect passengers and guard horses. They are also famous for being coach dogs, as Purina shared. However, Dalmatian puppies are born completely white, and spots begin to appear around 10-14 days after birth and continue as they grow.
Honestly, this is something crazy because not all dogs are this SPECIAL. These adorable dogs have round, evenly distributed black or rich dark brown spots, which are a bit smaller on the head, muzzle, and legs.
They require vigorous exercise daily for mental stimulation. You can take your Dalmatian for jogging, running, and tracking. However, they are strong-willed and highly independent, so pet them only if you are experienced. Plus, they shed heavily year-round and require brushing 3 to 4 times a week.
6. Shetland Sheepdog
Shetland Sheepdogs (Sheltie) are famous for their vocal nature, bright minds, and coat variations. They have sable, black, and blue merle coat colors with different white or tan markings, including sable and white, tri-color (black, tan, white), and bi-color (black and blue).
Shelties are eager to please and deeply attracted to their families, but they can be quite reserved toward strangers. These medium-sized dogs need about 1 hour of exercise for mental stimulation, including brisk walks, fetch games, and running.
Shetland Sheepdogs learn commands quickly and respond best to treats and praise. Their double coat also sheds heavily, so you may have to brush at least 2 to 3 times a week with a slicker brush or pin brush to prevent mats.
7. Chinese Crested
Chinese Cresteds are social butterflies with those they trust and can be cautious around strangers. They are lively, highly sensitive, and also playful. These dogs have two varieties, one hairless and one fully coated (powderpuffs), so their coat colors also vary.
The exposed skin of hairless dogs can be solid, spotted, or marbled in shades of pink, slate, gray, or copper. Their skin color deepens and often changes with sun exposure. However, the white, black, chocolate, apricot, cream, and blue coat colors are common in both.
That said, Chinese Crested dogs require 30 to 45 minutes of daily exercise and are highly sensitive. Their sweet nature and strong desire to be near make them the best choice for first-time owners. You can train these small dogs with gentle positive reinforcement, treats, and patience. In addition, they shed low to almost none, and powder puffs usually require brushing 2 to 3 times a week.
Conclusion
The above-mentioned dog breeds have different solid coat colors, markings, or patterns. So they are actually one-of-a-kind dogs because it’s rare that they can have a patch or marking at the same spot and the same pattern.
However, their grooming, training, and exercise needs differ. Make sure to read these details before choosing solely based on coat colors.
