The origin of the Dalmatian breed, exterior standard, character, health description, care tips, interesting facts. Price when buying a Dalmatian puppy. Dalmatian - everyone knows this cute spotted dog, both adults and children. He is the one and only, proud and trusting, independent and unusually funny. No other dog in the world has such a chic polka-dot costume, so surprisingly reminiscent of the ermine robes of royalty. And the Dalmatians themselves not so long ago were an indispensable attribute of the royal chambers and estates of the aristocrats of the upper world. They, like loyal guardsmen, served as a luxurious escort of the first persons of states and nobility, proudly accompanying them on long journeys, guarding and protecting them on the way. And although, with the departure of coach carriages, the functions of Dalmatian dogs have changed dramatically, this breed is still one of the most beloved and demanded by animal lovers around the world.
The history of the origin of the Dalmatian breed
Even despite the fact that the Dalmatian dog breed has long been known in the world, with its true origin, not everything is as clear and simple as it might seem. And although the name of the Dalmatian breed is directly associated with the historical region of Dalmatia on the Adriatic coast (the territory of present-day Montenegro and Croatia), there are currently several hypotheses for the origin of the cute spotted dogs.
Some researchers suggest the Egyptian origin of these unique dogs, finding real confirmation of their conclusions in the presence of numerous images of "polka-dot dogs" on the frescoes found in the burials of the pharaohs and priests of Ancient Egypt. The dogs depicted in ancient drawings, white with black spots (so surprisingly similar to Dalmatians), actively participate in the daily life of the Egyptians, in the hunt, accompany the chariots of noble nobles.
Another origin hypothesis is related to India. And it is based on the writings of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, who repeatedly mentions in his works "tiger dogs" with a spotted color, brought from India. What kind of dogs are discussed in the works of the ancient author, one can only guess. Supporters of this version also like to refer to the ancient Indian epic, which tells about the birth of white dogs with black spots from a white Bengal tiger. Who knows, maybe they are right, and spotted dogs came to the Balkans after the Indian campaign of Alexander the Great.
The main and most confirmed version is now still considered to be the version of the Dalmatian origin of spotted dogs, which, however, does not deny either Egyptian or Indian roots. Ancient Greek philosophers (and then Roman) in their writings often mention dogs similar to "Dalmatians" that lived in the territories of Illyrian tribes. Ancient Illyria was later called Dalmatia. Apparently the ancestors of the modern Dalmatian dogs were so unusual and attractive in appearance that the Athenian thinker and historian Xenophon, who lived at the turn of the 5th-4th centuries. BC. drew some funny parallel between color and origin of the dog. He considered that dogs with a monochromatic color have a common origin, while variegated animals have a noble origin.
Modern zoologists and archaeologists believe that all variegated hunting dogs (including the Dalmatian) descend from the so-called ash dog (Canis familiaris intermedius - Woldzich), whose appearance is attributed to the Bronze Age. The remains of these animals have been found in the Balkan Peninsula, Silesia and Moravia.
Be that as it may, but almost all travelers of the Middle Ages who visited Dalmatia did not fail to describe in their travel notes amazingly beautiful white dogs with black spots on the body. A lot of sketches, frescoes, sculptures and drawings of the medieval period, depicting this unique almost "royal" breed, have also been preserved.
Since the Middle Ages, the breed begins its triumphant march across Europe. Monarchs and aristocrats want to see Dalmatian dogs in their estates. They hunt and walk with them. But the main prestige is the accompaniment of the aristocrat's carriage by a pack of variegated dogs, which gives the cavalcade a special splendor and significance. Dogs with colors reminiscent of an ermine royal mantle entered the cohort of "heraldic animals", they began to be depicted on the family coats of arms of the nobility, the coats of arms of principalities and cities. As soon as they did not call the Dalmatian dogs in those years - the Danish hound, Turkish dog, harlequin, Bengal brack, Dalmatian dog, Dalmatian coach dog, French, calico and even (for some reason) Russian dog.
The heyday of the breed fell on the XVIII-XIX centuries. At the same time, a serious study of the type and characteristics of these extraordinary dogs begins. One of the first serious works was "Dalmatian or Carriage Dog" by the Englishman Thomas Bavick, published in 1792 and containing a complete description of the breed with drawings and comments.
In 1803, the Dalmatians are included in the list of twenty-three most popular dogs in England (the encyclopedic edition of William Bingley). In 1873 "Dalms" were included in the studbook of the British Kennel Club, and in 1860 they already fully participated in the "First Exhibition of Sporting and Other Breeds" in Birmingham.
The Dalmatian dogs received their final international recognition in 1926 in Monaco with the approval of the international standard developed by the FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale).
Purpose and use of dalamatin
In ancient times, Dalmatian dogs were usually used as hunting dogs when hunting big game.
In much later times, the Seljuk Turks tried to use the "Dalmatians" already as combat "Cerberus" in the battle of Vienna. And although the breed showed itself well in a battle against enemy cavalry, the combat aspect did not receive further development. Perhaps because of the defeat suffered by the Turks (they were no longer interested in animals).
The peak of demand for Dalmatians fell on the 18th – 19th centuries. Hardy and well-dressed dogs have become an irreplaceable adornment of the cavalcades accompanying the nobles on their wanderings.
Nowadays, these handsome beauties are less and less used for any specific purpose, more and more turning into a beautiful pet, a favorite of the whole family. Dalmatians are indispensable participants in championships and exhibitions, they are filmed in films and in music videos. Also, Dalmatians are often used as sports dogs to participate in agility competitions or tracking. Hardy and energetic polka-dotted dogs often become prize-winners of these competitions.
Sometimes they serve in the police or save people (as was the case after the 1986 Mexico earthquake), sometimes they work as guide dogs for the blind. Well, in the USA, "Dalmatians" at one time managed to work as fire dogs and to this day are a pretty mascot of US firefighters. But more and more often, their main function is to bring joy and happiness to the people around them, just to give the feeling of a holiday to all those who love them.
Dalmatian exterior standard
The representative of the breed is a perfectly balanced, strong and muscular dog with a characteristic spotted color. The exterior of the Dalmatian dog does not have any rudeness or heaviness, it is absolutely harmonious, elegant and well-dressed.
The maximum height at the withers in adult purebred males is 61 centimeters, and in bitches - 59 centimeters. The body weight of animals is also not very different: in males it does not exceed 32 kg, and in females - 29 kg.
- Head harmonious in proportion to the body of the animal, elongated, with a fairly wide and flat skull, with a moderately pronounced stop and a well-developed occipital protuberance. The muzzle is elongated and full. The bridge of the nose is moderately wide. The nose is large and distinct. The color of the lobe itself depends on the color of the coat (in black-spotted Dalmatians, the nose is black, and in brown-spotted dalmatians, it is brown). The lips are soft, tight-fitting, pigmented. The jaws are strong with a regular scissor-like bite, the number of teeth is standard (42 pcs.). The teeth are even, large, white.
- Eyes medium in size, round, set well apart. Eye color is slightly different depending on the color of the spots. The dark brown color is typical for animals with black spots, light brown and amber brown for dogs with brown spots. The look is smart and a little wary.
- Ears set high, medium-sized, rounded, with a wide base and rounded tips, drooping, with spots.
- Neck long, beautifully arched, muscular, but without relief. There is no suspension.
- Torso elongated (sometimes more dense), strong with good bones and well-developed, not too wide chest. The back is strong and elongated. The back line is straight. The croup is convex, slightly sloping. The belly is tucked up.
- Tail Medium set, strong, resilient and flexible, reaching the length of the hock. Dogs with spotted tails are preferred for evaluation.
- Limbs almost perfectly straight, strong with strong bone and good muscles. Feet are round, compact, with well-knit toes.
- Wool very short, smooth, hard, shiny, tight-fitting, free from dewlap and folds.
- Color. The main color is exclusively pure white. There are two varieties of Dalmatian dog color: black-spotted and brown-spotted. The spots should be well defined, round, not merging with others and evenly distributed throughout the body of the animal. The average size of black or brown spots is 2-3 centimeters in diameter. The presence of the so-called "speck" (smaller, up to 1 cm in diameter spots) is very undesirable. The spots on the head, ears, limbs and tail may be smaller.
Dalmatian personality
Starting a conversation about the nature of these cute "polka-dot", it should be noted that these are very active energetic and absolutely gentle dogs. Therefore, if you want to have a dog for protection or like to lie for an extra hour on the couch, then such dogs are clearly not for you. When guarded, the Dalmatian, at best, will loudly bark at the bell or knock on the door, but will not bite. He is too friendly and kind for that. Well, his activity is unlikely to allow you to sleep an extra hour or to walk such an energetic and nimble pet quickly.
As a pet, Dalmatians are simply wonderful - friendly and welcoming, affectionate and obedient, attentive and reasonable. They never come into conflict, either with humans or with the animals around them. They adore horses and are able to be excellent companions during horseback riding. They also get along well with cats.
Well, the children are absolutely crazy about them. The breed gained particular popularity among children after the release of the film "101 Dalmatians". Every child all over the world wants to have such a pet. And getting to know each other better, not a single kid was disappointed. "Dalmatians" are amazingly kind and affectionate animals, perfectly knowing the way to the heart of both adults and children.
Undoubtedly, this is one of the best breeds, the purpose of which is to be a faithful and pleasant companion of a person, a true friend.
Dalmatian dog health
Distinguished by fairly good health, and not having the negative genetic problems that artificially bred breeds suffer, nevertheless, there are a number of problems that sometimes manifest themselves.
A small percentage of Dalmatian puppies are born completely deaf. Serious and responsible breeders usually euthanize these puppies before they are sold. Dishonest breeders, in pursuit of selfish goals, sell everyone in a row. Therefore, when choosing puppies, it is imperative to check his hearing. Also, "Dalmatians" have a tendency to form stones in the bladder. Properly organized nutrition and timely full-fledged walking of the animal can largely prevent the appearance of this problem.
Sometimes Dalmatians suffer from allergies, which is often inherited. Therefore, when purchasing a puppy, it will not be superfluous to find out what his parents and ancestors suffered, and whether they had any allergies.
The average life span of a Dalmatian is 10 to 13 years.
Dalmatian care tips
The Dalmatian is a mobile dog and is not at all small in size, capable of energetically filling the entire space of a small apartment. Therefore, the best place to keep them is a country house with a securely fenced yard or a warm aviary (these large dogs are very thermophilic and do not tolerate the cold well). Walking the animal should also be complete, with the ability to run a lot and actively.
Dalmatians molt all year round. And although their coat is short, it is too visible on dark upholstery and clothing, and sometimes it is extremely difficult to clean it from a fleecy cloth or carpet. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, it is necessary to devote at least 3-4 minutes a day to combing the pet with a special rubber brush or at least with a damp hand.
An energetic and healthy Dalmatian does not need any special diet. Most ready-made food for energetic dogs of industrial production is quite suitable for him. The only thing that needs to be done is to ensure that the protein level in the feed is not too high (preferably no higher than 26%).
Interesting facts about the Dalmatian
Dalmatian dogs came to the United States with the first settlers, but until 1800 they were not very popular. An interesting fact is that it was in the United States that these "coach dogs" acquired a new profession. They became "fire dogs". In those days, fire brigades went to extinguish fires on a horse-drawn carriage, a special fire-fighting vehicle pulled by horses. Well, and "Dalmatians", as you know, get along well with horses. And therefore, during the departure to the fire, the main duty of the white handsome men was to run in front of the fire cart, clearing the way for the passage and showing the way for the stallions. Over time, the running white dog "with polka dots" was already associated with the common people with the need to give way.
This breed was so fond of firefighters that it became their symbol. Particularly distinguished animals were awarded medals in the form of fire helmets attached to the collar of a four-legged hero. Children regularly came to the fire departments of the USA to feed the heroic "firefighters". And, despite the fact that horse-drawn fire-fighting carts have long been replaced by modern cars, the tradition of keeping a Dalmatian dog in the fire station of the United States has remained. And a figurine of the famous Dalmatian firefighter Sparky in a fire helmet (the symbol of the fire company) always adorns posters and brochures issued by the US Fire Department.
Price when buying a Dalmatian puppy
Dalmatians are no longer a wonder for Russia. There are plenty of decent kennels for these dogs in the country. But there are purebred puppies in different cities of Russia, as well as in different kennels, in different ways. The cost of puppies directly depends on the number of titles from parents and ancestors, the sex of the puppy and its show prospects. And, of course, on behalf of the breeder and those additional services that he is able to provide in the future as additional assistance (preparation for exhibitions, consultations, pet training, etc.).
With that said, the average cost of a Dalmatian puppy is US $ 100–500. For more information about Dalmatians, see here:
