The Dalmatian

Height: 19 to 24 inches.
Size: Medium. Weight: 55 to 70 pounds (male);
40 to 55 (female).

History:
Though his origins are far from clear, the
Dalmatian was first historically placed in Dalmatia,
part of the former Yugoslavia. The breed became
popular as a carriage dog in the 1800s, trotting
beside (and even among)the horses and then
guarding the carriage and horses while the master
was occupied elsewhere.
The versatile Dalmatian has seen many uses,
before and since, as a mascot for firemen,
war sentinel, circus performer, vermin hunter,
retriever, hound, shepherd and guard dog. Today,
this beautiful breed is primarily a companion dog.

Description:
The familiar black-and-white spotted dog, the
Dalmatian is a symmetrical, muscular medium
sized dog with superior endurance. He has
soft ears and a tail that tapers to the end.
Puppies are born completely white, with the spots
developing later. Spots should be well defined
and ideally should not blend together into
large patches. The short coat is sleek and shiny.
Dalmatians can also come with liver-colored spots.

Notes:
A hardy, easy to keep breed, though frequent
brushing is suggested, to cope with the constant
shedding. Clean, with no doggy odor. Dalmatians
often have large litters, sometimes up to 15 pups.
The Dalmatian is a very energetic breed, and
needs daily romps to prevent destructiveness.
Deafness can affect some Dalmatian puppies.
Every Dalmatian puppy should be BAER-tested
for deafness. Buy only from a reputable breeder to
avoid this serious problem and to ensure
good temperament. Buy only from OFA stock to
avoid hip dysplasia, though the incidence of hip
dysplasia in the breed is low. Dalmatians can be
prone to kidney problems. Uric acid levels in
Dalmatians are higher than in any other breed,
sometimes causing urinary stones. Veterinarians
may recommend a low protein diet for this breed
to prevent urinary tract problems. Do not
keep Dalmatians outside in the cold.

Personality:
Playful and devil-may-care, Dalmatians
need human companionship, so they do not make
good yard dogs. They love to play with
children, but may be too rambunctious for toddlers.
Dals get along well with other pets, though
they sometime can be aggressive with strange dogs.
Males often dislike other males. Very energetic,
quite intelligent, but they can sometimes be
willful. Generally they do very well with
obedience training.

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