Progressive Spotting/Ticking?

[Ozfozz]

I've noticed recently that Ruby seems to be getting an abundance of black spots on her coat and skin.

This is a photo of her when we first got her (2013, 1 year old)

She remained pretty clean white with the only spots being the always noticeable large black patches.

Now over the past few weeks/months she's been getting speckly. Of course, she wasn't cooperating for photos today, but you can see, that's the same side as the one above.

My mom is complaining because her precious Ruby doesn't have that clean white coat anymore. So I just figured I'd ask here if anyone knew any genetic markers for this, or any reasoning this would happen beyond 2 years old?

I found this happened similarly with Rigby and her chest ticking. But not knowing her age for sure I didn't really question it.

 

[MicksMom]

It's normal for breeds with ticking. Ticking comes through as they age. The female Brittany across the street had very little when they moved here (she was about 2). She gradually got more ticking as she aged, and by 12 she looked almost roaned.

 

[Ozfozz]

I thought that was probably the case, which is why it always seemed to make more sense to me with Rigby than Ruby - given the suspected breeds in her.
Whereas Ruby, we were told, is mostly Poodle (yeah I know, we still don't really have a lot of faith in the former owner's ability to ID lol).

But up until recently, I wouldn't have considered Ruby to be a ticked dog. Just because although she had the spots on her skin, they didn't generally appear on her coat.

It's really cool how ticking progresses though!

 

[amberdyan]

It seems like you already have your answer, but I have to say, that's kinda cool! It looks like kind of a big difference between the two pictures.

 

[Romy]

Kaia had none as a baby and now at 5 years old she looks like oreo cookie ice cream.

 

[milos_mommy]

Milo had almost none as a younger dog (but did have freckles skin) and now has lots. I'd be interested in the genetics of that, especially if it told us anything about breed!

 

[Stingr69]

My boy has a number of dark skin spots that mark where the ticking will be. Many are on his legs where you would expect them. Probably came from his grandmother on his fathers side. She has a LOT.

My girl has maybe only one small skin spot. At 1 year old it has just started to turn the coat color, but it isn't much. She should not have much ticking as she ages but only time will tell.

 

[Elrohwen]

Very interesting! I've been curious about the ticking gene for a while.

I own a ticked dog and while they are not born ticked (like any other ticked dog) I haven't seen ticking progress beyond maybe 6-12 months old. That's something I'll have to pay more attention to from now on.

 

[Ozfozz]

Very interesting! I've been curious about the ticking gene for a while.

I own a ticked dog and while they are not born ticked (like any other ticked dog) I haven't seen ticking progress beyond maybe 6-12 months old. That's something I'll have to pay more attention to from now on.

I always figured it stopped around the 6-12 month mark as well!
As far as I can tell, that's about the age it stopped for Oz, and beyond that I haven't had a ticked dog from puppy-hood.

I'm definitely going to try to look up more about the ticking gene when I get a chance, it's very neat how progressive is appears to be!


Rigby has changed pretty prominently over the years as well. I used to think it was just her chest that really filled in with ticking, but her muzzle colour has changed quiet prominently, and it would make sense that it's filled in with close ticking opposed to a total colour change.