Dalmatian

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Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Dalmatian originated in Croatia (around the area of Dalmatia) and was bred to protect their master's territory which commonly would have been a horse-drawn carriage. They were also used as hunting or retrieving dogs and were commonly known as the firefighter's aid. This comes from their original breed purpose which was to lead and make sure nothing was in the way of the trail the fire fighters would take on their way to a fire!

This breed has a very unique coat that has become famous to the general public of today. Their white with black spotted fur and lean, athletic body is needed in their line of work. The Dalmatian has a slender face with a long muzzle and large floppy ears. Their legs are muscular and strong, giving them speed and fortitude while working. These dogs have a long, narrow tail and medium sized boney paws.

The Dalmatian is well known for their tightly bonded relationships with their masters. This breed became very popular when the cartoon movie '101 Dalmatians' premiered but this gave the public false knowledge of their behavior and personality. The Dalmatian is a great pet but can be an anxious breed and should be around adults or older children that will treat the dog with respect and give them their space when it's needed.

Color

The Dalmatian has a one of a kind coat colouring which is the spotted black with a solid white body colouring. The under layer of colouring must always be white but the spots may be black, liver, lemon, blue, brindle or orange. Only the black and liver are permitted for show rings. Puppies are white when they're born but will 'grow' their spots as they age.

Coat

This breed has a very short yet smooth coat that will need minimal grooming to upkeep. Weekly brushing and monthly bathing is all this dog needs to keep their prim appearance.

Personality

The Dalmatian is an energetic and devoted breed that is extremely loyal to their owners. They make great pets for people that have the time to spend with them as well as give them the amount of exercise they need. This breed will need to be socialized thoroughly as puppies especially around children and dogs to ensure they will be comfortable around these as adults. Dalmatians are affectionate and cuddly towards their owners but will be weary of people they've never met. These dogs are very intelligent but will need repetitive and gentle training. They have the ability to compete in obedience trials because they grasp training concepts quickly and they have a fantastic memory. Dalmatians today are used primarily as companions but have the skills to be a hunter, retriever and guard dog as well!

Care

The Dalmatian will need to be brushed once per week and bathed every 1-2 months. They are clean dogs that won't need too much grooming. This breed will be prone to urinary ailments, such as bladder stones, or urinary infections. Deafness is not uncommon among these dogs as well as skin problems, so the family vet might suggest a special diet for them to prevent some of the urinary or skin ailments.

Training

The Dalmatian will need an owner who is calm and patient when it comes to training. These dogs are clever but will be stubborn at times and using harsh methods will definitely not promote their learning. They are sensitive and should be trained using short sessions and also making obedience fun for them to encourage the actual learning process.

Activity

The Dalmatian will need at least 1-2 hours of exercise per day. They are very energetic and need to run or be taken on a very long walk to tire them out. Off-leash park visits are suggested so they can play with other dogs or run after a ball to burn off their energy. The Dalmatian will do well in a household as they need a lot of room to live in. A back yard will be needed so they have extra outdoor room to roam around in.