Dalmatian

The Dalmatian (also called Dalmatinac) dog breed is more than just the firefighters' best friend. Dalmations have a long history as coach dogs. Even today they love to remain active. Some may even say these fun-loving dogs are mischievous.

Dalmatian's Behavior

Recommended for: family pets

The Dalmatian breed tends to be very active and needs plenty of exercise. This is due to the breed's history as coach dogs. They are generally good with children, but may not be appropriate for toddlers because of their mischievous ways. (Source: Wikipedia)

Remember that breed only provides a general clue as to any individual dog's actual behavior. Make sure to get to know dogs well before bringing them into your home.

Dalmatian's Physical Characteristics

Here are the characteristics of the Dalmatian breed as determined by the American Kennel Club's published breed standard.

* Size: 19-23 inches
* Coat: short, dense, fine and close-fitting
* Color: pure white with dense black spots for black-spotted dogs and liver brown spots for liver-spotted dogs
* Eyes: set moderately well apart, medium-sized, rounded
* Ears: proportionately wide at the base and gradually tapering to a rounded tip
* Skull: top of the skull is flat with a slight vertical furrow; about as wide as long
* Muzzle: stop is moderately well defined
* Nose: completely pigmented on the leather, black in black-spotted dogs and brown in liver-spotted dogs
* Tail: natural extension of the topline, tapering at the tip


Dalmatian's Origins and History

Below are some historical facts on the Dalmatian Dog breed according to Wikipedia.

Country/Region of Origin: Dalmatia (Croatia)

Original purpose: herding sheep, hunting in a pack, and working as a retriever and as a bird dog

Name: also called Dalmatinac

Historical notes: Dalmatians were well-known as a carriage dog and so they were also known as Spotted Coach-dogs. Evidence shows that possibly the breed existed centuries before it was named in the 18th century. There is 4000-year-old Greek art showing dogs that look much like modern Dalmatians. The Dalmatian dog breed's popularity surged with the 1956 novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith, and also the Disney film based on the book.