Originated in the region of Dalmatia in Croatia, Dalmatians are dogs with looks which are a class apart. They have a trademark white coat with black or liver spots all over the body which is a very distinctive feature of the Dalmatians. They are one of the favourite family dogs and a popular breed too.

Appearance;

The Dalmatians are a mid-sized muscular breed of dogs with a well built frame. They are born with a plain white coat and within three weeks of birth, the very first spots on their body start to appear. By the time the puppies are a month old, they are covered with most of their spots and throughout their life, spots keep appearing but at a much slower rate. The spots could be black, liver (brown), bluish gray, brindle, mosaic, tricolored, orange or yellow shades. These spots appear anywhere on the body. The coat has short, fine hair, which is dense and smooth. They shed considerable all round the year. Their stiff, short hairs often weave their way into carpets, curtains, clothes and other fabric which are hard to get rid of. With regular grooming, the amount of hair shedding could be reduced, although it is not possible to completely get rid of it. Dalmatians do not secrete oil in their coats and hence they do not have a bad dog odour and they remain fairly clean and neat.

Temperament;

Dalmatians have a remarkable stamina and are very playful and active. You have to make sure that you exercise them every day because that is how they are made. And also the area in which you let them exercised must be well guarded or you simply must put them on a leash and take them for regular walks or jogs for long periods because Dalmatians are adventurous in nature, they like roaming around and because of their exceptional stamina, they can run for miles and miles together before they feel tired. The energy of a Dalmatian demands that it is put through rigorous sport or other strenuous activities daily for its body’s needs. A ten to fifteen minute walk is an injustice to the dog. They are lively, active and almost always never out of energy. They are the best companion for kids because of their energy and the playful nature. They are a bit reserved when it comes to strangers and very apprehensive of strange looking dogs and other things but they are good to other pets once they get familiar with them.

Care;

The Dalmatians are dogs for the hot and warm climates. So if you stay in a place where winters could get very cold or in generally in a place which is always cold, then you must have proper heating system to keep your dog comfortable. Provide soft and warm bedding, water, shelter, and all your love, that is all the Dalmatians need to stay happy. Just make sure you meet their exercise requirements and you really need to keep up with their energy.

Health;

A Dalmatian on an average has a lifespan of twelve to fourteen years. They usually don’t acquire very dangerous disease, but could very easily be victims of regular dog diseases like deafness, allergies and urinary stones. The nearby vet could treat them with early diagnosis, although deafness is not a mild issue.

History;

Although the origin of the Dalmatian coat pattern is unknown, The Federal Cynologique Internationale has recognized Croatia as the country of its origin. Although paintings of Dalmatian like looking dogs have been painted from generations back. Many writers and illustrators have mentioned in their works and words that the Dalmatians are a breed from Dalmatia and were first mentioned as Canis dalmaticus. No violent behaviour is known of them. Throughout history, Dalmatians have been seen performing roles of shepherds, war dogs, carriage dogs, firehouse dogs, bird dog, circus dogs, retrievers and so on. In modern times, they are trained as rescue dogs, guardians and very obviously are great companions for jogs and exercises. Dalmatians and horses get along very well and in Victorian England they served as coach dogs. Since they have so much stamina they could keep up with horses and as the herding capabilities go, they were capable of running in front of horse drawn carriages and lead them in case of fires. With the introduction of the automobile, the Dalmatians lost their position in the high society, but regardless of that they remain to be a favourite choice for family dogs.

So this was all you needed to know in order to have one Dalmatian for your own family space. If you are considering, getting a dog, Dalmatians are one of the most joyful and fun breeds to have for company. It is even better if you yourself are an active and energetic person, in that case these are just the perfect dogs for you.

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