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Dogs 101 - DALMATIAN - Top Dog Facts About the DALMATIAN
The Dalmatian is a breed of large dogs known for their distinctive black or liver spots. The breed gets its name from the region of Dalmatia, in modern day Croatia. While the earliest mention of these spotted dogs is found in art and literature from Croatia dating back to the early 17th century, there is a fair amount of conjecture regarding the breed’s actual origins or even the original purpose that it was used for. Over the years, this versatile dog has been used for guarding, herding, ratting, retrieving and even as a circus dog. But the breed saw its proper development in Victorian England, where it found its niche as a carriage dog – trotting along with coaches, protecting the horses from feral dogs, as well as providing esthetic value. The first official breed standard was drawn in 1890, and even after the decline in use of horse-drawn carriages, the dog found employment with fire coaches, or as a pet and a show dog. With its recent starring role in popular films, the breed has experienced renewed interest from dog lovers.
Time for some Ruff Trivia:
- Who is the antagonist/main villain in the film 101 Dalmatians?
o A: Ursula
o B: Lady Tremaine
o C: Cruella de Vil
What do you think, give it your best guess in the comments below before we get to the answer! Hang on tight and we’ll get back to this Ruff Trivia Question toward the end of the video.
A fully-grown Dalmatian typically has a height in the range of 19 to 23 inches, and weight in the range of 40 to 60 pounds. It is a strong muscular dog, capable of great endurance and agility. The distinctive spots range in size from 30 to 60 mm, and are generally black or liver on a white background. Other colors like blue-gray, brindle, mosaic, tricolored and orange are also seen, but are rare. The coat itself is short, fine and dense. Medium-sized, rounded eyes set well apart; moderately sized ears, wide at the base, tapering to rounded tips and set rather high; clean and close-fitting lips; and an alert expression characterize the head. The tail is a natural extension of the topline, carried with a slight upward curve, but never curled.
Grooming:Dalmatians shed continuously yearlong, and finding their short hair on the carpet, in clothing, and practically everywhere is a common complaint from their owners. Regular brushing using a hound mitt or curry comb, with frequency depending on your individual pet, can help control this to some extent. Brushing of teeth, cleaning of ears and trimming of nails has to be regular.
Temperament:The Dalmatian is a smart, affectionate and loyal breed that enjoys spending time with its family on outdoor activities. Generally reserved with strangers, it has great guarding instincts. With its own family, and especially children, it can be playful. It might get aggressive with other dogs, but gets along well with other pets, especially horses. It has very low tolerance for boredom and needs an outlet for its mass of energy to stay happy.
Training:The many uses the Dalmatian has been put to over its long history prove well that this is an eager, highly trainable dog that enjoys being kept busy. It continues to perform well in many kinds of performance events. It is a very active breed that needs a good jog or an exhausting game everyday to prevent it from turning destructive. Physical exercise should be in moderation for dogs younger than 18 months or in hot weather.
Health:Life expectancy for the breed is 12 to 14 years. Two breed-specific disorders are deafness and hyperuricemia. The latter, seen also in human beings, can cause kidney and bladder stones. Its risk can be minimized with diet control. Other health concerns that can arise are some allergies, epilepsy, congenital heart disorder and von Willebrand’s disease.
A sturdy, sleek and smart dog, the Dalmatian can be both serious and spirited. More than just a fad because of its unique looks, owners need to ensure they can provide it a daily workout.
Find out if the Dalmatianwould be a good addition to your home. Now you can visit Brooklyn’s Corner.com to take our quiz and find out which dog would be the best match for you.
Music by Kevin McLeod - Royalty Free
