It has been suggested that this breed spread all over Europe by travelling with Gypsies and Romany people. The Dalmatian has been known by many names; the English coach or carriage dog, the plum pudding dog, circus and the firehouse dog. They are an ancient breed, originating as a hunting dog and traced back to present day Croatia and the region of Dalmatia. There are two theories about its origins. One is that he is a cross with German short haired pointer and the spotted great Dane; other canine historians point to records about a 400BC breeding between a Cretan hound (the island of Crete) and the white antelope dog.

They are medium to large and muscular, with excellent stamina and endurance. A great companion for very active people that enjoy running, cycling or even horse riding as they are known for their compatibility with other animals, especially horses. Highly trainable and intelligent, they can make very good competitive sport or obedience dogs. I have seen this breed win some dog trials. The breed was perhaps most notable for their stage and circus work; performing tricks and being doggy clowns.
They are friendly and affectionate, with very high energy, suitable for households with older children. Rarely, Dals can be aggressive to unfamiliar dogs, as they do have some guarding and herding instincts. But like all dogs, early exposure and socialisation should prevent any tendency to be wary and nervous or aggressive. Sensitive to harsh words or tones of voice, which is not required with this breed because they are mostly willing and easy learners that respond best to positive reinforcement. Puppies are born completely white, developing spots from 2 – 4 weeks old. Each individual has unique spots, which come in black, brown, blue, or brindle. It is rare, but there are some long haired Dalmatians. Their life span is from 10 – 13 years of age. Drawbacks of the Dalmatian breed is that if their high energy needs are not met, they can become noisy and get into trouble. They do not cope well with long periods of isolation. Frequent shedding of coarse white hairs, but brushing a few times a week curtails this. They are susceptible to congenital deafness, associated with the piebald gene. According to the Universities Federation of Animal Welfare, between 15-30% of Dals are deaf in one ear and 5% completely deaf. However, deaf dogs are trainable. They can also be prone to Atopic dermatitis, kidney or bladder stones, cardiomyopathy and laryngeal paralysis. Responsible breeders undertake DNA testing for possible diseases.
Pam Brandis
Dip. Canine.Prac.