Dalmatians are one breed that exhibit a high incidence of congenital deafness. Although no consistent evidence exists, the deafness is believed to be related to the absence of color in the coats of Dalmatians. Hair coat color associations with deafness have been described with other species including mice, cats, mink, and humans. Between 20-22 percent were found to be unilaterally deaf and eight percent were bilaterally deaf. Each study tested approximately 1,000 dogs from three geographically separate areas.
Setters are the second most common breed when it comes to deafness.
Other breeds that frequently report deafness are the Beagle, Boston Terrier, Cocker Spaniel, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Maltese, Poodle, Scottish Terrier, Shetland Sheepdog, and West Highland White Terrier. A loose deaf dog is in danger of oncoming traffic or other hazards. Always keep a deaf dog in a confined area when outdoors such as fenced yard. Avoid startling a totally or partially deaf dog. Their natural response may be aggression.