Dalmatien

The origin of the Dalmatian is obscure and hypothetical. Dogs of the same type were depicted on the tombs of pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Ecclesiastical chronicles of the 14th century and 1719 consider that the Dalmatian originated from Dalmatia, a coastal region of Croatia along the Adriatic Sea. The obscure origin of the Dalmatian is reflected in its classification according to the nomenclature of the International Cynological Federation: many times moved from one group to another, the breed is now 'related' to running dogs. In the work of Thomas Bewick published in 1792, one finds the description and drawing of a dog whose hair is white and spotted. Bewick names this dog a 'Dalmatian' or 'coach dog' because its primary function was to open the way for the coach and the stagecoach carrying mail. Englishman Vero Shaw drew up the first Dalmatian standard in 1882, formalized in 1890. The Dalmatian is also known as a mascot of firefighters in the United States. In the 18th century, the Dalmatian followed the footsteps of horses pulling American firefighter vehicles and barked to warn and drive away animals and people. In the 20th century, the film One Hundred and One Dalmatians increased the popularity of this breed. To meet demand, quality unfortunately suffered from intensive breeding of inbred puppies.

The standard of the International Cynological Federation describes the Dalmatian as friendly, lively, loyal, independent and easy to train. The Dalmatian must not be shy, suspicious, nervous or aggressive. It is a dog that appreciates water, wide open spaces and has a pronounced hunting instinct. The Central Canine Society describes the Dalmatian as frank, sensitive, faithful, intelligent. It cannot tolerate being alone or tethered. The Dalmatian is gentle with all family members, including children. It has retained from its past as a carriage dog an affinity with horses.

Origins and role It is believed that the Dalmatian originated in central Europe or the Mediterranean and has been known since the Middle Ages. Because of its affinity for horses and its ability to cover long distances at constant speed, it was used to accompany and guard coaches and as a stable dog. It was later often used to accompany and guard fire-fighting equipment pulled by horses, particularly in the United States. General appearance The Dalmatian is a dog distinguished by its spots; it is a harmoniously proportioned, vigorous, muscular and lively dog. It is in no way coarse or heavy and shows great endurance at high speed, appropriate to its role. Unified movement and the ability to cover ground at a trot are of paramount importance for this breed. Temperament A lively, active dog with a pleasant character. Size Overall balance is paramount. The ideal shoulder height is 56 to 61 cm (22 to 24") for males and 53 to 58 cm (21 to 23") for females. Coat and color The coat should be short, dense and fine, slightly shiny, neither woolly nor silky. There are two acceptable coats: white with black spots and white with liver spots. The white is pure; black should be as deep and rich as possible. Liver approaches chocolate rather than fire or yellow colors. The spots may touch or slightly overlap; they are preferably round, clearly defined, evenly distributed and have a diameter of 1.8 to 3 cm (the size of a dime to a two-dollar piece). Spots on the head, tail and paws should be smaller than those on the body. The tail should preferably be spotted; the ears are covered with as many spots as possible. A solid black or liver color is not desirable. Head Fairly long, in balance with the rest of the dog, with a moderate stop and a slightly marked frontal furrow (not in a straight line from nose to occiput). The upper lines of the skull and muzzle are of equal length. The skull is flat, of good width between the ears and well defined at the temples. It must not have permanent wrinkles. The muzzle is long and powerful, never tapered. The lips are dry and must not be flappy. The truffle is always black in dogs with black spots; in dogs with liver spots, it is always brown. The jaws articulate in perfect and regular scissors. The lower incisors slightly touch the upper incisors. The eyes must be moderately spaced, medium in size, round, clear and bright. Their expression is intelligent and alert. Their color is as dark as possible in dogs with black spots and a light brown to amber color in those with liver spots. Blue or mottled eyes are undesirable and should be penalized. The eye surround in dogs with black spots is black and brown in dogs with liver spots. No dog should have flesh-colored eyelids. The ears are set high, medium in size, wide at their base and taper to a rounded end. They are carried close to the head and of thin and fine texture. Neck Fairly long, gracefully arched, light, tapered and without dewlap. Front limbs Well placed shoulders, slightly oblique, neat and muscular, indicating speed. They must be close to the body. Legs perfectly straight with strong bone. Elbows close to the body. Pasterns slightly angulated when viewed from the side and perfectly straight from the front, slightly elastic. Feet compact with well-arched toes and resistant and elastic pads. The nails are black and/or white in dogs spotted with black. They are brown and/or white in dogs spotted with liver. Body Straight topline, may arch slightly at the loin. Chest not too wide but very deep

Until 12 months old, the puppy should eat three meals to develop harmoniously. Disadvantages of inadequate nutrition:

The coat should be brushed regularly. It is inadvisable to let it sleep outdoors due to its short coat.