Published 5/1/01 - Vol. 1, Issue 1

The Dalmatian
by Kathleen Newton

Breed History:
The Dalmatian's beginnings are so deeply buried in the past that researchers cannot agree as to the breed's origin. Dalmatians often roamed with Gypsies, making the presence of the breed widespread throughout ancient Europe. While the Dalmatian was easily recognized and very well-known, he was not specifically located in any one area. This may account, at least in part, for the divergence in opinion on the origin of the Dalmatian.

The Dalmatian gets his name from Dalmatia a province of Croatia. Although the origins of the Dalmatian are a mystery, Dalmatia was the first proven home of the breed. The breed has been referred to as the Dalmatian since the mid-18th century.

Dals have served in many diverse capacities over the centuries, but their most admired and useful expertise is as coach dogs. The Dalmatian ran with horse-drawn carriages, clearing the path before the conveyance and often running under the axles of the carriage. Carriage owners and passengers also felt comfortable leaving the carriage, and their possessions, under the watchful eye of the Dalmatian.

In the days of horse-driven fire carriages, the Dalmatian was especially suited to his task, where speed and a clear path were absolutely necessary. Thus the Dalmatian became known as the firehouse dog. To this day you can find Dalmatians in firehouses throughout the world, although his position today is more honorary than functional.

Physical Characteristics:
Height: 19-23 inches.
Weight: On average, 40-60 pounds, with females typically on the lighter end, and males being heavier.
Coat: Very short, dense white fur with many black or liver (brown) spots. Shedding is constant, and those short hairs show on everything.
Body: Sleek and muscular. Overweight Dalmatians are rare because of their high activity level. However, the occasional obese Dalmatian tends to be very obese.
Life Span: 10-12 years.

Health Issues:
Between 10-20% of all Dalmatians suffer from congenital deafness. Responsible breeders will have their litters tested for hearing impairment using the BAER test. Other major health concerns include the formation of urinary stones due to a breed-specific flaw affecting urine production in the kidneys. (This flaw requires Dal owners strictly follow a specialized dietary regimen to help reduce the incidence of stone production.) Dalmatians are also prone to seizure disorders (epilepsy), allergies, and skin sensitivity.

Behavior Traits:
The Dalmatian is a highly intelligent and active breed. Training a Dal can be a real challenge, since they are easily bored by repetitive tasks. However, a well-trained Dalmatian understands what is expected of him and will usually perform to the best of his ability. The Dal's intelligence can also cause him to be destructive if left alone for even a short period of time with nothing to occupy his attention but your furniture and books. (Crate training is a necessity.) Note: Most Dalmatians are highly food-motivated, so little treats may help during training. You don't have to use expensive dog treats. One Dalmatian I know passed his obedience class with flying colors because he was anxious to please his owner and have a taste of what was hiding in her pocket: tiny pieces of frozen carrots!.

Social Skills:
Dalmatians are loyal and devoted to their owners. However, they are distrustful of people they don't know and tend towards nervousness in unfamiliar situations. This combination can result in excitability and fear-based aggression (including growling, snapping, and biting). Contrary to popular belief, Dalmatians are NOT appropriate pets for families with young children. The unpredictability of children paired with the nervousness of a Dalmatian can result in an unfortunate, even tragic, incident. Dalmatians tend to get along with other pets in the home as long as a proper period of adjustment is provided. When there are two or more dogs in a household it's inevitable that one dog will emerge as the Alpha (dominant) dog. This is not a problem, as long as the dogs are introduced slowly, with supervised play times until the canine hierarchy is established.

The best home for a Dalmatian has:

• no young children. A home with adults and older children is best
• a fenced backyard for all that Dalmatian energy
• an owner who is prepared to train and socialize his Dal right from the very start
• family members who are willing to devote much time and energy to their very active Dalmatian
• a living area that has been carefully dog-proofed (unless you like shredded furniture, books, clothes, etc.)
• LOTS OF LOVE!

Healthy Dalmatian Biscuits
(Good for dogs with allergies and if you want to stay away from stone-forming ingredients.)

• 2 cups white flour
• 1/4 cup cornmeal
• 1/4 cup chopped, unsalted sunflower seeds
• 2 tbl. safflower oil
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 2 eggs mixed with 1/4 cup milk

Variations:
Add yogurt instead of milk
Add peanut butter instead of safflower oil
(Recipe from the Dalmatian A to Z Resources Site Index)

Tidbits:

• The popularity of the Dalmatian (as ranked by the AKC) is 49th out of 148 breeds
• All Dalmatians are born pure white. Their spots develop as the pups grow. A 12-week-old Dal will look much different when he reaches his first birthday
• The most famous Dalmatians are Pongo and Purdy of "101 Dalmatians"
• Dalmatian Rescue Resources has a wealth of information on Dalmatian rescue organizations as well as information for new owners of Dals
• Visit the Dalmatian Club of America, founded in 1905, dedicated to all things Dalmatian