dapples

Dapples are a coat pattern characterized by lighter or darker circular patches that create a mottled appearance on the fur or hair of various animals. The term is most commonly used in describing horses but is also applied to dogs and other species. Dappling is not a disease or defect; it is a natural variation of pigmentation influenced by genetics and development.

In horses, dapples typically appear as round or irregular lighter spots on a base coat, most noticeable on gray or roan animals. They can be more visible in certain lighting and may become more pronounced after grooming or during certain seasonal changes. In some cases, dapples fade during winter or with aging, and they may reappear as the coat condition changes.

In dogs, dapples describe patches of lighter pigment against a darker background. The pattern is recognized in breeds such as dachshunds, where the coat shows lighter patches with darker outlines, and similar blotched patterns occur in other breeds. The dapple pattern can arise from specific genetic variants and is distinct from other pigment patterns in some breeds.

Other animals may show dappling as a form of coat mottling, including rabbits and cattle, though the pattern is less uniformly described across species. Dapples are generally valued for aesthetic variety and do not by themselves indicate health problems, though overall coat condition and health can influence how clearly the pattern is displayed.