Dalmatian

The Dalmatian is a harmonious, well-proportioned dog. They are muscular and lively, with a symmetrical outline and clean lines. Their withers are well defined, followed by a powerful, straight back. The loins are lean and muscular, and the croup slightly sloping. The chest should not be too broad, but reach down to the elbows.

The front legs are perfectly straight and solidly boned. Shoulders are slightly sloping. The hind legs are straight and parallel when viewed from behind. The paws are round and firm, with strong, elastic pads.

The tail reaches approximately to the hock. It is fairly strong at the base, tapering gradually to the tip. The presence of numerous spots on the tail - which must be smaller than those on the body - is desirable, but the Dalmatian standard also accepts their absence.

The head is fairly long, with a flat skull. The upper lines of the skull and muzzle are parallel. The nose is the same color as the spots, i.e. black or brown. The muzzle is long and powerful. The jaws are also powerful and scissor-like.

The eyes are set wide apart, medium-sized, round and bright. They give the dog a lively, intelligent expression. As with the nose, their color depends on that of the spots, so they can be either black or brown.

The ears are set fairly high and have a fine texture. They are broad at the base and rounded at the tip. They, too, have many well-defined spots, preferably nummular, i.e. well-rounded.

The Dalmatian's coat is short, hard and glossy. It is, of course, the breed's main distinguishing feature, along with its nummular spots, which are smaller and sharper today than they were a few centuries ago, according to the images we have. They remain enigmatic, since no one has yet established with any certainty where they come from. In any case, the background is always white, and the spots can be black or brown (liver). They should be round and well-defined, evenly distributed over the whole body, but those on the head and tail should be smaller than the others. There are also tricolored specimens (white with black spots and liver), but these are not accepted by the breed standard.

The origins of the Dalmatian are rather unclear. Ecclesiastical chronicles from the 18th century suggest that it originated in the eastern Mediterranean basin, and more precisely in the region of the Dalmatian coast (in Croatia), from which it takes its name. In these chronicles, the dogs depicted are named Canis dalmaticus.While it's difficult to pinpoint the Dalmatian's ancestors, some believe that Great Danes and Pointers contributed to the creation of the breed.

Some experts believe that this dog — or at least its close relatives — already existed in Ancient Egypt, 2000 years BC. This hypothesis is based on drawings found on pharaohs' tombs.

In any case, between the second half of the 18th and the 19th centuries, the Dalmatian roamed Europe alongside Roma nomads, making its appearance in many countries. This is how, in the second half of the 18th century, they arrived in the UK, where they really began to be bred and developed. So, even if its origins do indeed seem Croatian, it was the UK that gave it its letters of nobility, and which can be considered its second home.

During the Victorian era of England (1837-1901), it attracted the particular attention of racehorse trainers, who used it to protect their horses from predators and thieves, and to add a touch of style to their breeding operations.

At the end of the 19th century, a number of English nobles began to select the breed for use as a carriage dog. In fact, in addition to its role as a horse guardian, it was able to accompany horses and the carriages they pulled, running in front of them and leading the way with barking sounds that alerted animals and people in the way and made them move aside. Even today, the Dalmatian is recognized as having a particular affinity for equines.

During this period, Dalmatians began to be used for many other tasks. In particular, they proved highly competent as guard dogs,shepherds, drafting dogs and even circus dogs.

It was imported into the United States probably at the end of the 18th century, mainly from the United Kingdom. Here, too, it made his mark as a carriage dog, accompanying firefighters as they ran towards the fire ahead of the horses towing their vehicles, clearing the way for them. It would then keep an eye on their equipment as they tried to put out the blaze. Although this practice has obviously disappeared today, many American fire stations have long kept a Dalmatian as a mascot.

Born to run and seemingly endowed with inexhaustible energy, the Dalmatian is one of the most enduring dog breeds.This makes them the perfect choice for sporty owners who dream, for example, of taking their companion for a run or a bike ride. In fact, this very active dog needs to expend a lot of energy, and is therefore not suited to life in an apartment, or even in the city for that matter. They should have access to a garden or yard, but beware: whether at home or out for a walk, their instincts for freedom sometimes make them a bit of a runaway. This is all the more true if it's not able to get all the exercise he needs, not to mention the fact that this can lead to various behavioral problems: aggression, stress, destruction of objects, etc.

Friendly, loyal and sensitive by nature, it loves to make people laugh with its many antics, but also to greet its owners and their friends with a broad smile. They love to please, to be with their masters, to follow them everywhere, to receive attention, and therefore greatly appreciate human contact. This is not an animal to be kept in its kennel without much concern: its place is within the home. If left alone or out of place in the living room, this family dog is bound to be unhappy.

It's a breed recommended for children.In addition to its affectionate nature and closeness to its family, the fact that it is very active and playful makes it a perfect companion for them. On the other hand, their energy, large size and long tail mean they are not ideal for little ones, who risk being unintentionally pushed around. It's best for children to be of a certain age. Dalmatians can also be suitable for retired people, provided they are active and healthy enough to take them out enough every day.

Alert and very interested in everything in their environment, Dalmatians make good alert dogs, warning their owners without fail that someone is coming. On the other hand, it's more unrealistic to expect him to take on the role of guard dog, as it's not really aggressive or threatening towards strangers. And yet, throughout its history, the Dalmatian has indeed been used to guard homes, but it has to be said that its protective instinct has gradually diminished over the years as its use has evolved. As a result, when strangers enter his home, he tends to stay away and not seek too much contact with them, at least initially. Generally speaking, although he can be protective when necessary, it's a very friendly dog with humans..

Although Dalmatians have a well-balanced (if sometimes a little stubborn) nature, they still need to be socialized from an early age, i.e. exposed to many other canine companions, animals, people, sounds and situations. Provided this is done properly, it can get along with most dogs and cats, whose company he generally enjoys. It also has a special affinity for horses, inherited from working with them in the past. On the other hand, it has retained a strong hunting instinct from its ancestors, and loves to catch birds, rats, moles, mice and other rodents. So it's best to keep an eye on it in situations where he may come into contact with them, and avoid trying to get it to live with them.

With its origins as a fire-fighting dog, the Dalmatian is a reactive creature. It's not particularly difficult to train, but the basics need to be taught early on, in a gentle but strict manner. Dalmatians are not particularly difficult to train, but it's important to teach them the basics early on, in a gentle but strict manner, as they can be stubborn and get the better of a novice or insecure owner who hasn't had the opportunity to be supervised.

Endowed with an excellent memory, highly receptive, eager to please and appreciative of rewards, they lend themselves particularly well to dog training methods based on positive reinforcement,such as clicker training.A former circus dog, it loves learning tricks and showing off its clowning skills.

A Dalmatian puppy, on the other hand, is often prone to destructive behavior,such as chewing on objects or digging holes in the garden. Here too, it's important to show it from an early age which behaviors are desirable and which are undesirable. If left to its own devices, it'll soon pick up bad habits, just as it does good ones.

Finally, socialization from an early age is a guarantee of successful adaptation to any situation he may encounter later in life. It's naturally sociable, but as with any dog, it's best to teach it as early as possible to react calmly to as many possible scenarios as possible.

Dalmatians enjoy good overall health. However, like all breeds, they are particularly prone to certain problems, often hereditary. When adopting a Dalmatian, it's a good idea to ask the breeder for the results of health tests carried out on both parents.

One of the main risks to which Dalmatians are exposed is that of hereditary deafness, especially as no lineage seems to be spared. If around 5% of puppies become completely deaf within 6 weeks of birth (after a short period during which they are able to hear), it is even more likely to obtain individuals hearing in only one ear. The percentage is difficult to define, as the adopter or owner is often unaware of the problem unless a hearing test is carried out. In fact, a dog deaf in one ear shows much the same reflexes and reactions to sounds and situations as a normal individual. However, some doctors have already looked into the problem. According to several studies carried out in the 90s, the percentage of Dalmatians deaf in one ear is around 20%. In 1999, Dr. Bruce Cattanach published a report of his work in the Journal of Small Animal Practice. entitled “ The dalmatian dilemma: white coat colour and deafness ”.. ».

In any case, a test cannot be carried out at birth. Whatever the breed, a puppy is always born with closed external auditory canals. These open around the 12th to 16th day of life, and it's only then that you can test his hearing. In the Dalmatian, deafness appears before 6 weeks. It is caused by deterioration of the organ of Corti (the organ of auditory perception) and seems to be due to the genes responsible for its white color. It can be detected with a test from the age of 6 weeks, and any serious Dalmatian breeder does just that. Individuals suffering from deafness are of course excluded from breeding.

Dalmatians can also suffer from urolithiasis (bladder stones), a disease caused by a peculiarity of the Dalmatian's urinary system. Dalmatian urine contains a particularly high level of uric acid. This acid increases the risk of stone formation and makes the urinary system more fragile and sensitive than that of other breeds. The condition can even be fatal if it progresses to the point of total blockage of the urinary tract. So it's important to make sure your Dalmatian urinates regularly and without difficulty, and to always give it easy access to fresh water. To avoid life-threatening diagnoses, the disease must be detected as early as possible, and veterinary care taken immediately.

In addition, many representatives of the breed suffer from skin allergies. These can be caused by food: in this case, simply remove the problem food from the dog's meals. They can also be contact allergies, i.e. caused by a direct reaction to certain substances intended for dogs, such as flea treatments,shampoos and other chemicals. Finally, Dalmatians can suffer from inhalant allergies, caused by pollen, dust or mildew, for example. These are often accompanied by ear infections. Treatment can be prescribed by a vet, depending on the severity of the reaction.

Like many large breeds, the Dalmatian can also suffer from hip dysplasia,a hereditary disease causing imperfect insertion of the femur into the pelvic cavity of the hip joint. Some affected individuals present pain and lameness in one or both hind legs, but in others it's impossible to perceive the slightest symptom. As age advances, dog osteoarthritis problems can also appear. Fortunately, a test is available to detect dogs suffering from dysplasia, so that they can be excluded from breeding (and even from sale, in the case of early detection). To minimize the risk, anyone wishing to adopt a Dalmatian puppy should ask the breeder about the test results.

This breed is also more prone to laryngeal paralysis,which can occur at an early age. This is a paralysis of the muscles that open and close the larynx during breathing. The main consequence of this disease is a limitation in the animal's ability to breathe, i.e., difficulty in breathing. While for many breeds this problem mainly affects older individuals, the Dalmatian runs the risk of being affected much earlier. This problem can easily be corrected by surgery.

The Dalmatian can also suffer from a hereditary eye disease called iris sphincter dysplasia. Quite rare, it causes pronounced sensitivity to bright light, poor night vision and partial or total blindness..

Finally, this is a dog sensitive to extreme cold.It must therefore be kept indoors in cold regions and/or when temperatures drop sharply in winter.

Dalmatians are fairly easy to care for, but you should be aware that they shed constantly and go through a strong seasonal molt twice a year, in spring and autumn. During these periods, daily brushing is recommended. Outside these periods, brushing once or twice a week is sufficient, although some owners opt for more frequent brushing to minimize the amount of hair in the house.

In any case, it's not suitable for people who can't stand to find hair everywhere in their home: not only does it shed constantly, but its hair is stiff and easily lodged in fabrics, so it can be difficult to remove it from clothes and sofas, for example.

That being said, apart from this heavy shedding, the Dalmatian is a fairly clean dog, with a coat that doesn't get very dirty, and doesn't develop strong body odor. What's more, because of its short coat, it's not normally necessary to have your dog professionally groomed..

Nor is it particularly necessary to bathe it regularly, unless of course it's really dirty - for example, after a trip outdoors. Apart from that, a bath once or twice a year is more than enough.

However, as with any dog breed with floppy ears,special care must be taken to avoid the risk of infection. A weekly cleaning is perfectly adequate, in addition to those carried out, for example, after every outdoor outing in damp environments.

If your Dalmatian spends a lot of time outdoors, trimming its claws is not normally necessary, as natural wear and tear is usually sufficient. For less active dogs, however, they should be trimmed as soon as they extend beyond the pads, on average about once a month.

Finally, as with any dog, it's advisable to groom its eyes once a week, to prevent any risk of irritation or infection.

Generally speaking, a Dalmatian can be fed on quality industrial food. However, given the urinary problems it can suffer, it's imperative to provide it with a diet lower in protein than normal. In fact, proteins can promote the formation of urinary stones, due to the increased presence of uric acid in the urinary system. It is therefore advisable to opt for products with a maximum protein content of 20% — bearing in mind that conventional foods tend to contain around 25%.

The amount to be given is around 1.5 to 2 cups per day, and obviously depends on the individual, especially age and activity level. Generally speaking, this is not a breed particularly prone to obesity, but care should be taken not to give it too large a ration.

All dogs, whatever their breed, must have constant access to fresh water, but this is even truer for the Dalmatian, because of its high propensity to suffer from urinary problems.

Throughout its long history, the Dalmatian has fulfilled all kinds of functions: it has been a carriage dog, a guard dog, a shepherd dog, a draft dog and even a circus performer.

Today, he is above all an active, enduring companion who loves to accompany his master outdoors, for example on jogs or bike rides. They can also act as alert dogs, but not much more: their skills as guard dogs, guard dogs are far from what they once were.

It also makes an excellent competitor in dog sports that call on his great physical abilities, such asagility,flyball, flyball or Frisbee (or disc dog)..