Dalmatian
Breed Standard
General
Appearance
The Dalmatian is a distinctively spotted dog; poised and alert;
strong, muscular, and active; free of shyness; intelligent in
expression; symmetrical in outline; and without exaggeration
or coarseness. The Dalmatian is capable of great endurance, combined
with a fair amount of speed. Deviations from the described ideal
should be penalized in direct proportion to the degree of the
deviation.
Size,
Proportion, Substance
Desirable height at the withers is between 19 and 23 inches.
Undersize or oversize is a fault. Any dog or bitch over 24 inches
at the withers is disqualified. The overall length of the body
from the forechest to the buttocks is approximately equal to
the height at the withers. The Dalmatian has good substance and
is strong and sturdy in bone, but never coarse.
Head
The head is in balance with the overall dog. It is of fair length
and is free of loose skin. The Dalmatian's expression is alert
and intelligent, indicating a stable and outgoing temperament.
The eyes are set moderately well apart, are medium sized and
somewhat rounded in appearance, and are set well into the skull.
Eye color is brown or blue, or any combination thereof; the darker
the better and usually darker in black-spotted than in liver
spotted dogs. Abnormal position of the eyelids or eyelashes (ectropion,
entropion, trichiasis) is a major fault. Incomplete pigmentation
of the eye rims is a major fault.
The ears are moderate size, proportionally wide at the base and
gradually tapering to a rounded tip. They are set rather high,
and are carried close to the head, and are thin and fine in texture.
When the Dalmatian is alert, the top of the ear is level with
the top of the skull and the tip of the ear is level with the
top of the skull and the tip of the ear reaches to the bottom
line of the cheek. The top of the skull is flat with a slight
vertical furrow and is approximately as wide as it is long. The
stop is moderately well defined. The cheeks blend smoothly into
a powerful muzzle, the top of which is level and parallel to
the top of the skull. The muzzle and the top of the skull are
about equal in length.
The nose is completely pigmented on the leather, black in black-spotted
dogs and brown in liver-spotted dogs. Incomplete nose pigmentation
is a major fault. The lips are clean and close fitting. The teeth
meet in a scissors bite. Overshot or undershot bites are disqualifications.
Neck,
Topline, Body
The neck is nicely arched, fairly long, free from throatiness,
and blends smoothly into the shoulders. The topline is smooth.
The chest is deep, capacious and of moderate width, having good
spring of rib without being barrel shaped. The brisket reaches
to the elbow. The underline of the rib cage curves gradually
into a moderate tuck-up.
The back is level and strong. The loin is short, muscular and
slightly arched. The flanks narrow through the loin. The croup
is nearly level with the back. The tail is a natural extension
of the topline. It is not inserted too low down. It is strong
at the insertion and tapers to the tip, which reaches to the
hock. It is never docked. The tail is carried with a slight upward
curve but should never curl over the back. Ring tails and low-set
are faults.
Forequarters
The shoulders are smoothly muscled and well laid back. The upper
arm is approximately equal in length to the shoulder blade and
joins it at an angle sufficient to insure that the foot falls
under the shoulder. The elbows are close to the body. The legs
are straight, strong and sturdy in bone. There is a slight angle
at the pastern denoting flexibility.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are powerful, having smooth, yet well defined
muscles. The stifle is well bent. The hocks are well let down.
When the Dalmatian is standing, the hind legs, viewed from the
rear, are parallel to each other from the point of the hock to
the heel of the pad. Cowhocks are a major fault.
Feet
Feet are very important. Both front and rear feet are round and
compact with thick, elastic pads and well arched toes. Flat feet
are a major fault. Toenails are black and/or white in black-spotted
dogs and brown and/or white in liver-spotted dogs. Dewclaws may
be removed.
Coat
The coat is short, dense, fine and close fitting. It is neither
wooly nor silky. It is sleek, glossy and healthy in appearance.
Color
and Markings
Color and markings and their overall appearance are very important
points to be evaluated. The ground color is pure white. In black-spotted
dogs the spots are dense black. In liver-spotted dogs the spots
are liver brown. Any color markings other than black or liver
are disqualified. Spots are round and well-defined, the more
distinct the better. They vary from the size of a dime to the
size of a half-dollar. They are pleasingly and evenly distributed.
The less the spots intermingle the better. Sports are usually
smaller on the head, legs and tail than on the body. Ears are
preferably spotted.
Tri-color (which occurs rarely in this breed) is a disqualification.
It consists of tan markings found on the head, neck, chest, leg
or tail of a black- or liver-spotted dog. Bronzing of black spots,
and fading and/or darkening of liver spots due to environmental
conditions or normal processes of coat change are not tri-coloration.
Patches are a disqualification. A patch is a solid mass of black
or liver hair containing no white hair. It is appreciably larger
than a normal sized spot. Patches are a dense, brilliant color
with sharply defined, smooth edges. Patches are present at birth.
Large color masses formed by intermingled or overlapping spots
are not patches. Such masses should indicate individual spots
by uneven edges and or white hairs scattered throughout the mass.
Gait
In keeping with the Dalmatian's historical use as a coach dog,
gait and endurance are great importance. Movement is steady and
effortless. Balanced angulation fore and aft combined with powerful
muscles and good condition produce smooth, efficient action.
There is a powerful drive from the rear coordinated with extended
reach in the front. The topline remains level. Elbows, hocks
and feet turn neither in nor out. As the speed of the trot increases,
there is a tendency to single track.
Temperament
Temperament is stable and outgoing, yet dignified. Shyness is
a major fault.
Disqualifications
-Any Dog/Bitch over 24 inches at the withers
-Overshot or undershot bite
-Any color/markings other than black or liver
-Tri-color
-Patches
Major
Faults
-Abnormal position of the eyelids or eyelashes
-Incomplete pigmintation of the eye rims
-Incomplete pigmentation of the nose
-Low tail sets and ring tails
-Cowhocks
-Flat feet
-Shyness