DALMATIAN Breed Standards
The Dalmatian is one of the older dog breeds, and its origins have been rather obscured by the mists of time. There are many theories to attach the origin of the breed to either Europe, Asia, or Africa. The breed gets its name from Dalmatia, a region in Yugoslavia where the dog is thought to have first become popular with humans. Since then, the dog has been employed in more ways than perhaps any other breed of dog: military dog, watch dog, shepherd, trailer, ratter, retriever, draft dog and circus dog, just to name a few. In England, the dog was even trained to run alongside the carriages of fire brigades and wealthy aristocrats, protecting them from robbers and dangerous animals. It was in this capacity that the Dalmatian received the nicknames English Coach Dog, Carriage Dog, and Fire House Dog.
The Dalmatian was transported wherever horses were carrying carriages, which eventually brought the dog to America. The American Kennel Club recognized the Dalmatian in 1888. The release of the highly popular film 101 Dalmatians, as well as subsequent re-releases and sequels, caused wild swings in the breed’s popularity during the 20th century. Today, the Dalmatian is neither at a peak nor trough in popularity, and remains a revered dog with devoted followers all over the world.
SKILLS: 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 fair amount of speed. Deviations from the described ideal should be penalized in direct proportion to the degree of the deviation.
SIZE: 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.
COAT: The coat is short, dense, fine and close fitting. It is neither woolly nor silky. It is sleek, glossy and healthy in appearance.
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. Spots 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.
CARE REQUIRED: The Dalmatian sheds profusely twice a year. It is a hardy, easy to keep breed, though frequent brushing is needed to cope with constant shedding. They do not have a doggy odor and are said to be clean and even avoid puddles. Bathe only when necessary.
CHARACTER: Temperament is stable and outgoing, yet dignified. Shyness is a major fault.
TRAINING: The Dalmatian is a very energetic breed and needs daily romps to prevent destructiveness. They love to run!
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR: A Dalmatian is not an ideal dog for apartment dwellers unless it can be taken out for a brisk walk or run several times a day. They are very active indoors and will do best with at least an average-sized yard. This breed should not be kept outside in the cold.
EXERCISE: The Dalmatian is trainable to a high degree of obedience. They can be trained for defense and are good watchdogs.
