Q: Is there such a thing as a Dalmatian with no spots?
I was rewatching 102 Dalmatians, and OddBall has no spots. Is she a real Dalmatian with a birth defect or is she not a Dalmatian?
Answers and Views:
Answer by Greg
Well, I can answer your question as the Dalmatian who played Oddball was mine – Minti – sadly she died at age 12 in 2012.
Minti was a 'red' spot dalmatian (similar to a 'lemon' spot). They get their spots a few weeks later so she was more white than usual whilst filming at age 8 weeks. But the film also used lots of computer graphics to make her 'pristine' and they even used a coat in some long shots and even tried a Jack Russel for some shots.
The image on the DVD cover with bizarre blue eyes isn't even a dalmatian and was produced well before the film was shot. I was there throughout the filming. If you look close in the park scenes (the balloon) you can see where they've forgotten to scrub some shots of spots and you see her reddish spots showing on her ears, as they appeared there first.
Hope that answers your question. If you google 'Greg Stevenson Minti dalmatian' you'll probably find news reports etc that were from the period that we filmed 102 in early 2000.
Answer by Vera Britton
A spotless Dalmatian can bring luck to their owner, and it's a clever idea to have an enamel pin, a sticker, or a medal with their image. Especially dalmatians have been the unofficial mascot for firefighters, so have them printed on firefighter challenge coins would be a great choice. You can customize these products on GS-JJ.com.
Answer by Linda Hamilton
I have a purebred adult (6 years old) Dalmatian with no spots, correct term according to our vet is a “spotless Dalmatian”. She has skin freckles but there isn’t black hair on her. She’s blue-eyed and completely deaf.
Answer by Lynne
I found an interesting link when googling "spotless dalmatian". There are dalmatians with spots other than black or brown in color. When one appears all white without spots, it's usually a lemon spotted one where the lemon-colored spots are really pale.
Interesting read if you can deal with all the genetics stuff:)
Answer by abc_kid
The Dalmatian puppy that played Odd Ball in 102 dalmatians, did actually have spots, they just took them all off, so to speak, using the great 20-21st century technology. Really amazing.
There has yet to be found a dalmatian with no spots, a very light lemon spotted, which looks white, has been found but that's it.
& just to clear up the matter about Hearing, Deafness doesn't relate to spotting on the ears or anywhere else, or even if the dalmatian has blue eyes.
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Answer by Meg
I can answer this because I have one close to it. I have a 2.5-year-old purebred Dalmatian named Cora, who has very few spots. She is beautiful, pure white with a full black heart-shaped nose and eyeliner around both eyes, spots on her ears, and a few spots on her back, it looks like someone flicked a paintbrush w black paint on it across her back.
As a puppy, she had an all-white body until about 6 months of age. Both her parents are heavily spotted, and she had 6 brothers and sisters also heavily spotted. She just came out different.
She gets comments everywhere we go! We’ve won a lot of local pet contests and she is a local celebrity where we live bc everyone remembers and recognizes her (plus she’s smart and can do tricks like taking a bow.) So yes, in my opinion, it would be possible for an all-white Dalmatian to exist… Just rare.
Answer by BooLooLoo
Dalmatian puppies do not have any spots, but yes there might be some adult Dalmatians without spots, it would be weird and very rare.
Answer by Doggirl
Ummm actually that's what makes them dalmatians.
If they didn't have spots they would be a different kind of dog.
Answer by Sammi T
In a very rare case, yeah. If the mother of the dog is all white, then a spotless Dalmatian dog with no spots is definitely possible.
Know better? Give your own answer to this question!
Linda Hamilton says
The comment has been moved into the body of the post.
Olivia says
I’m so sorry about Minti. It always sucks to lose a pet.
XO~Dezi~XO says
It is possible. But it happens very rarely. In 102 Dalmations that is mainly what the whole idea is about. :D
BooLooLoo says
Dalmatian puppies do not have any spots, but yes there might be some adult Dalmatian with no spots, it would be weird and very rare
foryoundme622 says
A lot of that movie is computer generated. Plus they can cover anything with a little bit of makeup.
Luvsdard says
Lynne has all the scoop here.
Rottweiler Diva says
No , dalmations markings are ALWAYS white with black or brown spots . If the dog does not have spots it is clearly NOT a dalmation !
doggirl2011 says
uuummmm actually thats what makes them dalmations
if they didn't have spots they would be a different kind of dog
but i guess that it could happen?
slpasma says
She may or may not be, there are some dalmations that through genetic defect will end up with no spots. But my guess is for the movie they would have needed 10 or more puppies to play her part (as pups grow so fast), and probably just covered up spots on a puppy or took them out later.
=] says
actually dalmations are born with no spots they get them as they get older.
also if a dalmation is deaf they dont have alot of spots on their ears….so ive heard not 100% sure about that though