When do dogs develop spots/ticking?

[Jane&Ziggy]

We got our rescue dog Maggie in April. The centre said they thought she was about a year old.

She is a Springer/Collie cross and after she had lost the podge that comes with being in kennels she looked a lot younger. Her teeth are absolutely perfect, white and new. And three days ago, quite suddenly, she has come out in spots!

She has been a liver and white tricolour (with ginger eyebrows and face paint) up to now, but she has developed dark liver freckles all over her body - very Springer. I wondered for the Spanielophiles among you if anyone knows at what age these freckles develop on the average Springerdog? And if collies get freckles, when do they get them?

 

[Jessey]

All the ones I've seen (both collie and spaniel, a few litters of each) had the freckles before weaning but they weren't clear and defined until a bit later. Perhaps its like dapples on a horse and they show when healthy?