Dalmatian Dog Breed

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The Dalmatian is a breed of dog, noted for its white coat with either black or liver spots. The famous spotted coat is unique to the Dalmatian breed; no other purebred dog breed features the distinctive spotted markings. Dalmatian dog breed takes its name from Croatia's Dalmatia region, where it's believed to have originated.

Although the most common colors for Dalmatians are black or liver spotted on a white background. There are other spotting colors (rare though) such as blue, orange or lemon (dark to pale yellow), brindle, mosaic, tri-colored (may appear on any other coloured spots), and two-toned.

The Dalmatian is a well-muscled, mid-sized, elegant dog with excellent endurance. The ideal Dalmatian's size should stand between 54 and 61 cm (19 and 24 inches) at the withers and weigh from 20 to 32 kg (45 to 70 pounds) fully grown.

Dalmatians shed considerably. They are not advised for those who prefer a hair-free atmosphere or are allergic to animal's fur. The hairs are barbed at the ends, causing them to stick to clothing, upholstery and nearly any other kind of fabric. New owners must be prepared to deal with an extraordinary amount of dog hairs constantly littering their households if they want to own a dalmatian.

The Dalmatian breed is very active and needs plenty of exercise. They are very fast runners, with a great deal of stamina and self-reliance. Given freedom to roam, they will take multi-day trips on their own across the countryside. Their energetic and playful nature make them good companions for children and they have an instinctive fondness for humans and horses.

However, they should be socialized with children while still puppies, and also that children be taught the correct way to play with animals. They love human companionship and do poorly if left alone in a backyard. They are highly intelligent dogs and have strong survival instincts. They are also known to have very sensitive personalities and will not forget ill-treatment. Ill-treatment can and will break their spirits.

The Dalmatians are a very old breed that has come through the centuries virtually unchanged. Paintings of dogs resembling dalmatians running along-side chariots have been uncovered in Egyptian tombs. There is also a 4000-year-old Greek art showing dogs that look much like modern Dalmatians. They are truly an amazing dog breeds.