Dalmatians: The Spotted Pets

The companionship between human beings and dogs is old to the stone ages. There are multiple breeds of household dogs today. Among the most popular breeds, the Dalmatian occupy an important place. The Dalmatian is a breed of dog, noted for its white coat with either black or liver spots. The famous spotted coat is unique to the Dalmatian breed; no other purebred dog breed features the distinctive spotted markings. The breed takes its name from the Croatian province of Dalmatia, where it is supposed to have originated.

The Dalmatian is a distinctively poised and alert dog, indeed they are strong too. Dalmatians are muscular, active, free of shyness, intelligent in expression and symmetrical in outline. The Dalmatian is capable of great endurance, combined with fair amount of speed. The ideal Dalmatian should stand between 54 and 61 cm at the withers and weigh from 20 to 32 kg when fully grown. Males are generally slightly larger than females. The overall length of the body from the forechest to the buttocks is approximately equal to the height at the withers. Dalmatians are known for their elegance. The feet are round and compact with well-arched toes. The nails are either white and/or the same color as the spots. The ears are thin, tapering toward the tip, set fairly high and carried close to the head.

As a result of their history as coach dogs, the breed is very active and needs plenty of exercise. They are very fast runners, with a great deal of stamina and self-reliance. Given freedom to roam, they will take multi-day trips on their own across the countryside. Their energetic and playful nature make them good companions for children and they have an instinctive fondness for humans and horses. These qualities make them somewhat 'unbreakable', and forgiving of rough handling by children.

They have very sensitive natures and never forget ill-treatment and cannot be trained by using rough methods. Dalmatians are extremely people-oriented dogs, and will get very lonely if left by themselves, and should be trained to accept their owners' absence if they must be left alone as otherwise they will pine severely. Dalmatians are famed for their intelligence, independence, and survival instincts. In general they have good memories and are usually kind natured.

Dalmatians, being rambunctious and playful breed with a mind of their own, makes them more challenging to train and requires more knowledge of dog training. Generally speaking their attention spans are limited. Dalmatians have short hair, but do shed year around. Grooming is an easy task because of the short hair, but short hair length also means Dalmatians are not outdoor dogs and must be kept warm in the winter. The Dalmatian is an excellent companion who loves children and makes a great watchdog. Dalmatians make excellent pets for active families who like to hike, jog, bike, or ride horses and want to have their dog join them. Exercise, training, and love will help your Dalmatian to live 14-16 years.

The Dalmatian is a fairly healthy breed; however, they have two genetic health issues; congenital deafness and urinary stones. Almost 30% of all Dalmatians are deaf in one or both ears. This genetic trait has been linked in part to the color genes that control the white and black markings. The Dalmatian's kidneys are similar to human kidneys, and a small percentage of Dalmatians sometimes develop kidney or bladder stones. Dalmatians often have large litters, sometimes up to 15 pups. Some can be aggressive if not properly raised.