Dalmatian

Dalmatian

General

The Dalmatian  is a breed of dog whose roots are often said to trace back to Dalmatia, a region of Croatia where the first illustrations of the dog have been found. The Dalmatian is noted for its unique black- or brown-spotted coat and was mainly used as a carriage dog in its early days. Today, this dog remains a well loved family pet and many dog enthusiasts enter their pets into the competitions of many kennel clubs.

The Dalmatian is one of the most famous breeds in the world and need little description. The puppies are born pure white - the dark spots do not appear until the third week of life. The spots may be either black or liver brown. For show purposes, the best dogs are those in which the individual spots are clearly separated from one another and do not run together in irregular blotches. In the old days, the ears were nearly always cropped, but today this practice is outlawed.

 Dogs bearing a likeness to Dalmatians have been noticed on ancient Egyptian engravings. Historical evidence suggests that the breed originated in the Mediterranean region and especially in the neighborhood of the Dalmatian coast of the Adriatic Sea. The Dalmatian breed is thought to be developed by crossing small Harlequin Great Danes with pointer dogs.

This dog is known as a working dog and craves exercise or long working days. They never run out of energy and for this reason they are not recommended for a family with young children or families with a sedentary lifestyle. In America Dalmatians are commonly associated with fireman because they were often used as search and rescue dogs in fires.

The outline of a Dalmatian is very similar to a pointer. Dalmatians come in many different temperaments from withdrawn to aggressive. Since one-third of all Dalmatians are deaf, prospective buyers should purchase puppies only from breeders who use the BAER test to check for deafness. The test can be done when the puppies are seven weeks old and is the only sure way to tell if a puppy is deaf. Dalmatian puppies are born all white and begin to develop their spots by ten to fourteen days.

Origins

The FCI recognized as its country of origin the region of Dalmatia in the Republic of Croatia, citing Bewick's 1792 work.

The Republic of Croatia was recognized by the F.C.I. as the country of origin of the Dalmatian; the breed had been developed and cultivated chiefly in England. When the dog with the distinctive markings was first shown in England in 1862 it was said to have been used as a guard dog and companion to the nomads of Dalmatia. But nothing is definitely known about its origin. The breed's unique coat became popular and widely distributed over the continent of Europe beginning in 1920. Its unusual markings were often mentioned by the old writers on cynology

Body

Dalmatians are a mid-sized, well defined, muscular dog with excellent endurance and stamina. When full grown, these dogs' weight normally ranges between 35 to 70 pounds (16 to 32 kg) and they stand anywhere from 19 to 24 inches (48 to 61 cm), with males usually slightly larger than females.The body is as long from forechest to buttocks as it is tall at the withers, and shoulders are laid back. The Dalmatians' feet are round with well arched toes and nails are usually white or the same color as the dog's spots. Their thin ears taper towards the tip and set fairly high and close to the head. Eye color varies between brown, amber, or blue with some dogs having one blue eye and one brown eye, or other combinations.

Temperament

Dalmatians are intelligent, playful, loyal and active dogs. They usually get along well with other animals, notably horses, and are great companions. Dalmatians are high energy dogs and love to play and romp outdoors, although they also enjoy lounging with their owners. Some dogs, if cooped up, can become aggressive and some have been known to attack smaller breeds of dog when attempting to 'play' with them. In most cases this only shows up in a tendency to bark, often just for play. If shown love and companionship from a young age Dalmatians will be loyal and affectionate

Uses

The Dalmatian is often used as a rescue dog, guardian, athletic partner, and most often an active family member. Dalmatians are a very active, high maintenance breed. Pet owners should be willing to put extra time and effort into the care of this dog versus others. Dalmatians normally have a big appetite and will eat whatever is put in front of them so pet owners should carefully control food intake.This fun loving breed is very easily trained and rarely aggressive, and owners should find it relatively simple to train their dogs to participate in activities such as jogging, horse back riding, agility, flyball, and common dog tricks. Dalmatians need plenty of exercise otherwise they may develop anxieties, but if given ample room to run and romp 30 to 40 minutes daily this should be sufficient

Litter size

Dalmatians usually have litters of less than 10 pups, but they have been known to have larger litters on occasion. In January 2009 a Dalmatian gave birth to the massive brood, 18 puppies and all were healthy.

Health

Like other breeds, Dalmatians display a propensity towards certain health problems. Hip dysplasia (which affects only 4.6% of purebred Dalmatians) is not a major issue in this breed. The Dalmatian Club of America lists the average lifespan of a Dalmatian at between 11 and 13 years, although some can live as long as 15 to 16 years. Breed health surveys in the US and UK shows an average lifespan of 9.9 years and 11.55 year respectively. In their late teens, both males and females may suffer bone spurs and arthritic conditions. Autoimmune thyroiditis is a relatively common condition for the breed affecting 10.4% of dogs.

Country of Origin:	Dalmatia, Croatian Republic
FCI Classification:	Group 6 - Scenthounds and related breeds Section 3 Related breeds
Utilization:	Companion dog, family dog, suitable to be trained for various purposes.
AKC Classification:	Non-Sporting Group
Personality:	Outgoing and friendly, not shy nor hesitant, free from nervousness and aggression. Intelligent and outgoing with a desire to please. Dals enjoy human companionship a lot and get very distressed when left alone for long hours. They will bark only for a good reason.
Size:	Medium
Height:	22-24 inches at shoulders
Colors:	Ground color pure white. Black spotted variety with dense black spots, liver spotted variety with liver brown spots; not running together but round, well defined and well distributed; size 2-3 cm in diameter. Spots on head, tail and extremities smaller.
Other Names:	FCI Official Name: Dalmatinac; Dal, Spotted Coach-dog, Spotted Dog, Plum Pudding Dog, Carriage Dog
Average Litter Size:	5
Life Span:	10-12 years
Grooming Requirements:	Dalmatians should be brushed weekly with a grooming glove or rough towel.
Shedding:	Moderate
Social skills:	Usually gets along with other animals, but early socialization is recommended.
Suitable for Children:	Dalmatians love children.
Exercise Needs:	They never run out of energy and should be exercised at least 2 hours a day. Dalmatians love to romp and play. They can be too much for people with sedentary life style.
Train Ability:	They can be trained for a variety of purposes but keep in mind that they respond better to consistent, gentle discipline.
Health & Behavior Issues:	Deafness, skin allergies.