Should You get a Dalmatian?
Dalmatians are a beloved breed known for their distinctive black spots and friendly personalities. These energetic dogs have a rich history and are a popular choice for families and individuals alike. In this article, we will explore 14 interesting facts about Dalmatians, including their origin, physical characteristics, and even some lesser-known facts that will surprise you. Whether you’re a long-time Dalmatian owner or simply interested in learning more about this unique breed, this article is for you!
The Dalmatian is one of the oldest breeds
known to exist, and historians believe they originated in Croatia as a cross between an indigenous Carpathian breed and English or Flemish Pointer. From there, the dogs spread throughout Europe where they were prized for their ability to run with horses.
The Dalmatian breed gained
recognition from The Kennel Club (UK) in 1884. While various theories exist about their spots, it’s widely accepted that these markings connected to the piebald gene.
The Dalmatian
known by many names like English Coach Dog, Carriage Dog, Plum Pudding Dog, Fire House Dog, and Spotted Dick, ultimately got its name from its believed place of origin, Dalmatia, Croatia.
Born with a white Coat
most Dalmatian puppies are born all white and usually develop their spots after about 10-14 days. Their spots are just like human fingerprints-they are unique to the dog and no two dogs will have the same pattern!
According to FCI Breed Standard
the Dalmatian can reach up to 24 inches in height and 70 pounds in weight. Accepted coat colors are:
“The ground colour is pure white. Black spotted variety with black spots, liver spotted variety with brown spots. The spots should be symmetrically placed all over the body, clearly defined and without intermingling into the white ground colour.“
Growing Up Dalmatian!
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In this Same Research
the Dalmatian ranks 40 out of 124 breeds in aggression towards strangers. Essentially, this means they are approached by, or a strange person enters their territory they are likely to growl, bark, bear teeth and in extreme cases lunge to bite an unfamiliar person. Once again, this seems to occur only when they feel their territory is being invaded.
Dalmatian Humor!
In the Landmark Book
entitled, “The Intelligence of Dogs”, professor Stanley Coren researched and documented the intelligence of over 130 different dog breeds. In his book, the Dalmatian ranks 39th out of 130 breeds in working/obedience intelligence. Essentially this means they will learn new commands in 15 to 25 repetitions and obey first commands more than 70% of the time. This puts them in the “above average working and obedience intelligence” category. In contrast, the lest intelligent breeds will require 80-100 repetitions to learn and follow the same commands and the most intelligent, 5 repetitions or less!
The Dalmatian “Smile”
Is it real or imagined? Some Dalmatian owners say their dogs have a unique way of curling their lips around their teeth in a hilarious “smile”. It seems to happen when the dog knows they have done something wrong and may be in trouble!
A Genetic Mystery
In groundbreaking research on modern dog breed development, DNA from 161 dog breeds was used to create a dog breed “family tree.” The research went back 200 years. No clear DNA sharing was discovered among Dalmatian and ANY other breeds. So, the million dollar question is, “Where did the Dalmatian originate?”
Take a Fun Dalmatian Quiz!
