Dalmatian

Dalmatian

This is a favorite companion dog which is intelligent and loves children. Popularized by 101 Dalmatians, the 1959 Walt Disney film, this breed has a long history of popularity from the 1700s, both with royalty and as a hunter. The Dalmatian has at various times been a sled dog, herd dog, and guard dog.

History:

The Dalmatian's history is difficult to trace; it was possibly taken to the Dalmatia region of Yugoslavia by gypsies from India or the Middle East. Early pictorial depictions, in prints of the 1600s, show Dalmatians as guard dogs for coaches. They are shown either perched on top of the carriages or running alongside or between the horses, skilfully avoiding the hooves and without disturbing the horse.

The Dalmatian was seen as the height of carriage accessory fashion in Britain and France in the nineteenth century. More recently in Britain and America, the Dalmatian has been a firefighter's helper to seek out trapped and injured people. The Dalmatian is strong enough to carry an injured person, and has a keen intelligence to seek out a safe route through a burning building.

Physical characteristics:

A good-sized dog. Height: 22 - 24 in (56 - 61 cm) for the dog and 21 - 23 in (53.3 - 58.4 cm) for the bitch. Weight: 49 - 55 lb (22 - 25 kg). The body is strong and muscular, with shoulders laid back and chest not too broad, but deep and ample. Ribs are well-sprung and the loin is lean, strong, muscular, and slightly arched. The tail is thick, tapering at the tip and slightly curved.

The coat is dense, short, hard and fine. It is also smooth and shiny. The color is white with well-defined black or liver markings. Pups are born all white and develop pigmentation and spots from two weeks old; their coat markings are fully developed by about one year old.

Behavior:

The Dalmatian seems to gain its confidence from its size. This large dog usually has a gentle nature, and therefore gets along exceedingly well with children. Care should be taken that the young and boisterous Dalmatian does not accidentally bowl over small children during play. Otherwise, Dalmatians make great family companions.

The Dalmatian is an intelligent and alert dog, and makes a good watch-dog. Its deep purposeful bark provides a good deterrent to would be intruders. Normally, Dalmatians do not become too bossy with people, but it is still wise to be assertive towards them, particularly when they are young. These energetic dogs must be given plenty of physical exercise and mental stimulation. Bored dogs can become destructive. If the family are working in the garden on the weekend the young dog may continue with its own ideas of digging when they have gone to work the next day. Once they are over their very energetic "adolescence," Dalmatians mature into excellent family dogs. They become very loyal and delight in protecting their family.