These 16 Dogs Have Such Unique Patterns You Won’t Believe They’re Real 

Yeti, a three-legged Rottweiler with Vitiligo, has racked up an impressive following on Instagram due to the white splotches on his face, notably around his eyes. Like humans, dogs too can develop vitiligo, a painless, progressive autoimmune disease characterized by random unpigmented blotches (big or small) on a solid base coat color. 

Vitiligo in dogs results from the damage of melanocyte cells (melanin-producing cells, responsible for pigmentation), leading to the loss of natural pigment in different areas of the fur. Vitiligo is linked to genetics, and there’s no known cure for this condition yet.  Learn more about vitiligo

Perhaps the most unique coat pattern in Great Danes is the Harlequin coat pattern. According to the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, this pattern is often characterized by a white base color with random, irregular black or/and gray patches scattered unevenly across the body. 

The Harlequin coat pattern is often a result of the complex intercation of the Harlequin gene and Merle gene. This attractive pattern is among the 17 officially recognized coat colors of the Great Dane breed by the American Kennel Club. 

Even though Harlequin Great Danes differ from the rest in appearance, they still possess the same traits that standard Great Danes have. Harlequins are gentle, loving, friendly and highly trainable, making them wonderful family pets for families that can handle their massive sizes. Learn more about Harlequin Great Danes.

A uniquely colored dog is turning heads because some of her black-and-white spots resemble none other than herself. Meet Lucy, a Pitbull mix rescued from a shelter in Rochester, New York, in 2017. Cassidy Johnson, a stay-at-home mom of two from Clarksville, Tennessee, adopted Lucy. “The day we adopted her, we’d planned to go to the shelter to just look at the different dogs and weren’t planning on officially adopting that day,” she said. “But when we saw her, we knew it was meant to be and that we couldn’t leave without her.”

After adopting Lucy, Johnson and her family initially didn’t notice one of her most unique features: the amazing spots on her ears. They took her to a pet store for some treats and toys, where a worker recognized her from a post the shelter had made about her distinctive ear. Lucy has spots all over her body, but the spots on her left ear appear to look just like a dog, even a selfie of Lucy herself.

Australian Shepherds come in four distinct coat colors recognized by the American Kennel Club: black, red, blue Merle and red Merle.

Merle-patterned Australian Shepherds are often as a result of the inherited Merle gene, which leads to splotches of darker and lighter shades on a solid base coat color. The Merle gene also affects the eye color of a Merle-patterned Australian Shepherd.

Most Merle Aussies are also known to have heterochromia, that is, different-colored eyes. In most cases, both their eyes may be ice blue , or one may be blue, while the other may have a darker color. 

French Bulldogs come in varying standard coat colors, among the black, white, brown, and cream. In rare cases, a French Bulldog can have the brindle pattern on their coat.

The inherited brindle pattern features a a lighter base coat color with darker, blotchy stripes (that can come in a range of colors) covering the entire body. This pattern gives a French Bulldog a somewhat “tiger-stripped” appearance that sets them apart from other Frenchies.

Some Frenchies can have clearly defined darker stripes popping on the solid base color, whereas others may have faint stripping, depending on how dominant the brindle gene is. 

It’s worth noting that the brindle pattern doesn’t have any influence over a Frenchie’s personality. The very same temperament and personality traits that non-Brindled French Bulldog’s have are the same ones you should expect in a brindled Frenchie. Learn more about Brindle French bulldogs.

As if having a sturdy, elongated body and the cutest short legs ever isn’t striking enough, some Dachshunds are liucky enough to have another added beauty advantage: a Merle coat pattern. 

Dapple Merle Dachshunds are simply Dachshunds with the Merle gene, which translates to random, blotches of lighter or darker color shades on a contrasting solid base coat color. Dapple Merle Doxies are the outcome of breeding one Dapple Merle Dachshund with a non-Dapple Dachshund.

Breeding a Dapple Merle Doxie with another Dapple Merle isn’t advisable, as this breeding practice results in an offspring (Double Dapple Dachshund) with life-changing health issues such as deafness or blindness. 

Dapple Merle Dachshunds aren’t any different from the standard Dachshund temperament-wise. These Merle beauties are still loving, lively, curious, playful, friendly, and courageous, just like the non-Dapple Doxies.  Learn more about Dapple Merle Dachshunds.

Unlike the standard Border Collies, Merle Border Collies come in mesmerizing color patterns that’s hard not to obsess over. Thanks to the Merle gene, Merle Border Collies have irregular dark and light splotches on a solid base color.

Like most dogs with the Merle gene, Merle Border Collies can also have one or both eyes in the blue color. However, it’s still normal for a Merle Border Collie to have two brown eyes. Merle Border Collies are loyal, intelligent, energetic, hardworking dog, as is the case with non-Merle Border Collies.       

The Brindle coat pattern is one of the many coat variations within the Pit Bull dog breeds.

Brindle Pit Bulls are simply Pit Bull dogs with a “tiger stripe pattern” as a result of inheriting a copy of the brindle gene. Normally, a Brindle Pit Bull will have a lighter base coloring with darker shades of stripes or swirls across the body.  It’s no surprise that these Brindle beauties are often sought-after because of their striking looks. 

Besides their outstanding looks, Brindle Pit Bulls — like other Pit Bull dogs — also have an outgoing, good-natured personality and are known for their loyalty, friendliness and eagerness to please their owners.

Not all dogs are born equal, and Enzo, a Golden Retriever, proves this. Enzo became an internet sensation thanks to the huge black splotch spread across the right side of his face.

Golden Retrievers are typically known for their single-colored coats, so there’s nothing ordinary about the black “birthmark” on Enzo’s face. Enzo was born with a rare genetic mutation known as pigment cellular somatic mutation that often results in a random black marking amidst a solid base coat color. The good thing is, this unique marking doesn’t bring Enzo any health issues; it simply makes him extra stunning. 

When you look at the standard American Bully, you’ll likely fall in love with its muscular build and fierce overall appearance. But when you come across a Red Merle American Bulldog, chances are, the first thing you’ll gush about them will be their rare merle-patterned coat.

Red Merle American Bulldogs feature a solid reddish-brown base color with blotches of lighter and darker liver-colored patches distributed unevenly across the body. Red Merle American Bullies are just as gentle, friendly, and affectionate as the non-Merle Bullies. 

Rowdy, a once all-black Labrador Retriever, found stardom on social media courtesy of the white, round Vitiligo-triggered patches surrounding his two eyes. At first glance, one might assume that someone intentionally painted Rowdy around the eyes because of how well-defined these two white blotches are.

Beyond his head-turning eye markings, Rowdy served as the ambassador of the American Vitiligo Research Foundation, offering comfort and inspiration to kids affected by the very same skin condition that made him internet-famous. Learn more about Rowdy and vitiligo.

Sure, Cardigan Welsh Corgis are beautiful. But Merle-patterned Cardigan Welsh Corgis? Unbelievably stunning, if you ask us!

The Merle coat pattern in the Cardigan Welsh Corgi is characterized by irregular splotches of darker and lighter coloring over a solid base coat color. Let’s just say, the Merle Cardigan Welsh Corgi scores high in the Corgi beauty department. 

Not to mention, the Merle gene also affects the Cardigan Welsh Corgi’s eye color. Merle-patterned Cardigan Welsh Corgis tend to have a piercing light blue color on either one or both eyes.

Beyond their uniquely gorgeous coat pattern, Cardigan Welsh Corgis with a Merle pattern are still similar to their standard-colored counterparts as far as personality and temperament is concerned. Just like the non-Merle Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Merle Corgis are also friendly, easily trainable, energetic, even-tempered, and protective. 

If you often find yourself smitten by Dachshunds rocking a single coat color, we’re pretty confident you’ll fall in love ten times harder for a Dachshund with a distinct coat pattern resulting from Vitiligo.

This harmless condition leads to the loss of pigment on most areas of a Dachshund’s body, leaving them with white markings that overshadow the rest of the coat coloring. In a room full of Dachshunds, we’re sure this Vitiligo furry warrior would draw all attention to themself. 

A Merle Chihuahua often has splotches of darker color over a lighter-colored base as a result of inheriting the Merle gene from one of their parents.

Since the Merle gene also influence a dog’s eye color, it’s not unusual for a Merle Chihuahua to have either two blue eyes or heterochromatic eyes (one blue eye, and the other of a darker color). Merle Chihuahuas only differ from standard Chihuahua by their unique coat pattern. When it comes to temperament and personality, Merle-patterned Chihuahuas aren’t any different from the non-Merle Chihuahuas.

What’s more attractive-to-look-at than a Dachshund? A Piebald Dachshund, of course!

Piebald Dachshunds have the Piebald gene that gives their coat an unsual Piebald pattern, often characterized a darker base coat color with random white patches. This gene gives Piebald-patterned Dachshunds a “cow-like” appearance. 

As you may probably know, French Bulldogs have currently occupied the number one spot as America’s most popular dog breed. Given the fact that Merle Frenchies are the rarest form of French Bulldogs to own, it’s no wonder Merle Frenchies attract a much hefty price tag than the standard, non-Merle Frenchies. 

Merle French Bulldogs are characterized by a lighter solid base color with darker, uneven patches scattered throughout the body. This eye-catching coat pattern makes Merle Frenchies extra unique.