Most of the regular dog owners prefer a canine which is easy to handle and requires moderate maintenance. They love a dog who is easy to train, can adapt efficiently to the existing environment and is easy on the pocket as well. The Dalmatian, famously called as black and white spotted dog, falls under the category of easy-going dogs. They are not that rare and can be readily available, they have good tolerance to heat and thus can comfortably thrive in the Indian climatic conditions, they are not that expensive to purchase and are also pocket-friendly to maintain and they are alert and agreeable while getting trained. Thus, they are a very good choice for someone looking for a hassle-free experience while raising a pet. Their friendly and affectionate nature is an add-on bonus for the owner.
The Dalmatians are strong and muscular, distinctively spotted medium to large sized dogs. They have a fairly high level of endurance and a decent amount of speed. They are always quite active and alert and have a sharp expression on their faces. Official standards for Dalmatians are given below:
There is not much difference between a male and a female Dalmatian in terms of weight. But, in terms of height, males are slightly taller than the females. The average height of male Dalmatians is between 22-24 inches while the females are somewhere between 19-22 inches. And, the average weight for both the male and female Dalmatians lies anywhere between 20-30 kilograms.
|
GENDER |
WEIGHT | HEIGHT |
|
MALE |
20-30 kg |
22-24 inch |
|
FEMALE |
20-30 kg |
19-22 inch |
They have a fine, dense and close fitting coat which is shorter in length. It is glossy and sleek in appearance and is neither woolly nor silky. They have a uniquely spotted coat which is white in color and has black or liver brown markings on it. The spots are very well-defined, round and are evenly distributed.
They have a balanced body with a decently long, nicely arched neck which smoothly blends into their robust shoulders. Chest region is quite spacious and deep and is moderately wide. The back is strong and leveled which provides them with the required sturdiness. Forelegs and hind legs are muscular, powerful, smooth and well-balanced.
Their head is in proportion to the overall body. It is adequate in length and is free of any wrinkles or folds of skin. They have medium-sized, somewhat round eyes which are set moderately apart and are mostly dark in color like brown or blue. Their ears are set rather high and are of moderate size with a fine and thin texture on them.
They have a sturdy jaw region with their teeth meeting in scissors. Their muzzle is equal in length to the top of the skull and is quite powerful.
As mentioned earlier, Dalmatians are very easy-going dogs. They mostly do not require any special kind of attention or care like some other breeds do. They love their family members and are very friendly with them. They are mostly in the mood to play with their loved ones and are quite energetic. They are a bit shy in front of strangers and seems a bit reserved but once they get to know someone, they become affectionate towards them as well. Apart from all these qualities, they are very intelligent as well and do well under various training exercises if taught by an experienced and abled trainer. Key temperamental traits of a Dalmatian are listed below:
Dalmatians are one of the most easily recognizable dogs in the world. They have a fairly simple yet such a unique look that anyone can easily identify a Dalmatian. Unlike most of the other breeds, that are available in various different colors, purebred Dalmatians are only available in a white colored coat with black or brown markings on it.
They were moderately famous in the Indian households before but after the release of Disney movie named 101 Dalmatians, they saw a great boom in their popularity and their demand gradually increased.
Apart from their eye-catching look, they are also filled to the brim with many admirable qualities. Some of these qualities are:
All these qualities make the Dalmatian a very good house pet to raise and any owner would be happy and proud of his/her choice.
Dalmatians can be only divided on the basis of their coat’s color and there are only two recognized and registered color variants found for a Dalmatian. These are:
|
Adaptability |
**** |
Sensitivity Level |
**** |
|
Affection Level |
***** |
Potential for mouthiness |
** |
|
Apartment-Friendly |
** |
Drooling Potential |
* |
|
Barking Tendencies |
*** |
Energy Level |
***** |
|
Friendly towards dogs |
**** |
Health Issues |
**** |
|
Friendly towards other animals |
*** |
Intelligence |
***** |
|
Child Friendly |
***** |
Playfulness |
***** |
|
Exercise Needs |
**** |
Shedding Level |
***** |
|
Grooming Needs |
* |
Social Needs |
***** |
|
Good for novice owners |
*** |
Stranger Friendly |
*** |
|
Trainability |
**** |
Watchdog Ability |
*** |
|
Tolerates Heat |
**** |
Tolerates Cold |
*** |
Dalmatians are medium to large dogs and thus require a decent amount of food to suffice their feeding needs. The quantity of food should be increased with the doggy’s age. A high-quality food given as required by the pooch but also keeping an eye on the overall calorie consumption should be sufficient for this distinctively spotted dog in keeping it fit and full.
Dalmatians are very energetic and do require a good amount of exercise. They love to spend their energy in doing physical activities like jogging or running in a park, chasing a ball thrown by the trainer/owner et cetera. It is important to make them exercise as it helps them to be in shape and also makes them happy.
Dalmatians display a positive attitude towards any kind of training. They like to learn new things and are very alert and responsive while getting trained. They also are a bit sensitive, hence harsh training methods should be avoided and instead, positive reinforcement techniques should be implemented.
Dalmatians are quite easy to groom because of their short coat. They just need a weekly brushing of hair and occasional baths to be in good condition. Trimming of nails and brushing of teeth can be done as deemed necessary by the owner or groomer. Coming to their shedding potential, they are frequent shedders and sheds in good amount.
If purchased from a good breeder, there are fewer chances of dangerous health issues to be present in the Dalmatians. But just like all the breeds, they are also prone to quite a few health problems. These are:
Dalmatians are only required to be taken to a Veterinarian’s clinic if they are suffering from a serious health issue or for vaccination purposes, but apart from that, they are mostly healthy and fine and do not require a vet’s assistance on a frequent basis.
Dalmatian’s history and background are not very clear and there is no concrete evidence about their past life including their origin. It is believed by most historians that Dalmatians were depicted in the ancient cave paintings in Egypt. In the paintings, a white spotted dog is seen besides the warriors.
The first illustrations of this breed were found in Dalmatia, a province of Croatia and from here, they received their distinct name. Dalmatians were used for various purposes like guard dogs, retrievers, circus dogs et cetera in this region.
When they moved to England, they were given a single role of coaching dogs. Here, they started developing and were used to clear the path for the horses, guard the horses and even run alongside the coach and because of this the Dalmatians have a natural liking for horses.
In the United States, they took a different role and became firehouse dogs. They were used to watch over the equipment, to alert the presence of someone in need during the fire et cetera. Today, they are mostly seen as a family pet but their inner abilities can still be utilized if they are properly trained by someone experienced.
