About Dalmatians

---

A common mistake is the spelling of Dalmatians. Often spelt DalmatiOn with an "o" instead of an "a". The correct spelling is Dalmatian. 

By Denise Flaim (February 05, 2021) from the AKC

Theories are just that: theories
As scientists began digging into our dogs' DNA, mapping what genes several races share, they've been able to reconstruct how they relate.
But when it comes to Dalmatians, all that scientific evidence stops suddenly. Although genetically grouped among canines, Dalmatians do not align strongly with any established modern breeds. ("They might actually be cats,"" an investigator teased me).
This whole lab puzzle confirms what Dalmatian fans have always known: Theirs is an indisputably unique, ancient breed.

Where do Dalmatians really come from?
Dogs with distinctive spots have been documented in all cultures and continents, not to mention millennials. As early as 3700 BC, King Keops of Egypt, who built the Great Pyramid, is said to have one. Some 2,000 years later, the Greeks depicted dogs with black and brown spots, with their meticulously painted dotted fur, chasing a boar.
Connecting these two ancient sources, some canine historians point out that in 400 BC there was a crossover between a Cretan hound (which still survives on the Greek island of Crete) and a bahakaa dog, or white antelope dog, probably e n reference to its color and speed. That crossover gave birth to a offspring that hunted deer and worked so well with horses that he was naturally inclined to run alongside them—a tantrum of the Dalmatian’s later role as preeminent carriage dog in the world.
To increase the mystery of race, its own name is the source of countless theories. Some argue that this is a time-softened version of "Damachien," which in turn is an acronym for "lady," the Latin term for gamo, and the French word for dog. Others point to Jurji Dalmatin, a 16th-century Serbian poet who mentioned race in his correspondence, or to the "Dalmaticus" fur mantles worn by monks in a fourteenth-century painting by Florentine artist Andrea Bonaiuto who also rep it was spotted Dalmatian type dogs.
Finally, and probably most unlikely, the name is attributed to the Croatian province of Dalmatia, where the race emerged in the mid-nineteenth century and where it was often associated with the Romanian people. Still, it certainly didn't originate there. And just like those wandering travelers whose brightly colored wagons he jogged alongside, the Dalmatian was an expert of all trades—able of herding, retrieving, protecting and controlling predators. Any race that can function as a messenger during two world wars, as well as a star as a catchy circus performer, is nothing but versatile.

Athletic dogs with polka dots
The earliest indications of modern Dalmatian can be traced back to the 16th century, when wealthy English returning from the continent brought with them some of these dogs of moon attractions. The breed’s strong but aerodynamic body made her a natural athlete, and her affinity with horses—similar to that of the Egyptian chariots that accompanied her ancestors—made her soon to be used as a carriage dog.
In the era before automobiles, those who could afford to travel did so in horse-drawn carriages. Some dogs were meant to be small enough to jog under the axles, which is probably one of the reasons why the Dalmatian standard includes a height disqualification: no head blows, please! But not all dogs ran under the cars, but some jogged alongside, behind and in front of them, and some research has suggested that these position preferences are actually inherited tendencies.
Tireless in their endurance, the dogs didn't hesitate to protect both horses and passengers from any stranger. To further strengthen the canine-equine bond, the Dalmatians stayed in the stables, where they grew up from puppies.

Why do firemen use dalmatians?
When firefighters began using horses to pull their water pumps, the Dalmatian was the natural choice to run alongside his brass-equipped fire trucks. The dogs acted like living sirens, barking in front of firefighters to get pedestrians out of the way of helmets, and moving around the horses as firefighters carried out their dangerous work. The Dalmatians not only made sure no one took the precious horses, but they also kept them calm in an environment where fear and tension floated through the air with the same force as smoke and ashes.
The Dalmatian's connection to firefighters was especially strong in the United States. Long after the arrival of the automobile caused the horses to be replaced by bright red engines, white and spotted dogs continued to occupy a place of honor in the fire’s park, although they no longer had any interest and n follow the new trucks.
(Since the 1950s, the Dalmatians have also been accompanying Anheuser-Busch’s famous Clydesdales whenever horses pulling from the brew company carts appear. But instead of running next to the red beer wagon, the dogs sit on top of the car next to the driver, which is not a bad job).

101 Dalmatians
The Dalmatian entered into the consciousness of Americans, for better or for worse, with the 1985 re-release of Walt Disney's 60s classic "101 Dalmatians" and the various sequences that followed. The dangers of Pongo and Perdita in their attempt to protect their growing breed of fur-craving Cruella de Ville puppies sparked a massive increase in the breed's popularity. Some owners who acquired by reflection a Dalmatian after becoming attached to the early puppies of Disney's beautiful drawings did not realize that art imitates life: Dogs, who live and breathe, are also very energetic tics and need an exit for your enthusiasm and a owner willing to set clear boundaries.
Today, Dalmatian breeders strike a careful balance by remembering that the breed’s spectacular appearance shouldn’t be the only reason to acquire one. Future owners should also appreciate the lively and intelligent character of the Dalmatian, which has sustained its existence over millennia and forms a part of it as much as its beautiful spotted coat. Source: https://www.akc.org/.../dalmatian-history-ancient.../The origin of the Dalmatian dog can be recognized in paintings and in church chronicles from the 16th to the 18th century. Dalmatians can be found on the altar painting “Madonna with Jesus and Angels” in the church “Gospa od andjela” in the town Veli Losinj, island Losinj in Croatia dating back to 1600 – 1630 and also in a fresco in Zaostrog, Dalmatia, Croatia. It suggests that the Dalmatian originates from the eastern Mediterranean region, in particular the historic province Dalmatia.

The first descriptions of the Dalmatian were found in the diocese Djakovo, in the Croatia, namely in the church chronicles of the Bishop Petar Bakic from the year 1719 and the church chronicles of Andreas Keczkemety from the year 1737. The dog was named with the Latin name “Canis Dalmaticus” and the height of the dog described with 4-5 “Spithamus”. Thomas Pennant described this breed in his work “Synopsis of Quadrupeds” in the year 1771 as very independent, named it “Dalmatian” and wrote the origin of this breed to be Dalmatia. A work by Thomas Bewick, published in 1790, refers to this breed as “Dalmatian or Coach Dog”. The first unofficial Dalmatian Standard was written by an Englishman named Vero Shaw in the year 1882.

Dalmatians entered the AKC Stud Book in 1888. 

Followed by the formation of the Dalmatian Club in England in the year 1890. 

Next was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1914. 

Finally, by T FCI in 1955 under the name of “Dalmatian Huntingdog”.

The Dalmatian is a breed of balance and moderation, alert and intelligent with a stable and outgoing, yet dignified,  Never shy.    

The head should have clean lines, a clean mouth, not drooling or loose-lipped. and it also notes appropriate size and angle relationships.

 The head is in balance with the overall dog. It is of fair length and is free of loose skin. The Dalmatian's expression is alert and intelligent, indicating a stable and outgoing temperament The eyes are set moderately well apart, are medium sized and somewhat rounded in appearance, and are set well into the skull. Eye color is brown or blue, or any combination thereof.

The neck, top line, body segment calls for a smooth throat with no excess skin folds and a nicely arched, fairly long neck. The word "arched" denotes a curved structure. 

The top line should be smooth, without a dip or break between the withers and the back. 

The chest, back, loin and croup descriptions are clear. Tail docking refers to removing any portion of the tail, whether it is done at birth or later for any reason, through surgery. 

The front legs are to come straight down from the elbows to the pasterns, whether looking at the dog from the side or the front. 

The feet, coat and color and markings sections are reasonably clear.

The shoulders are smoothly muscled and well laid back. 

The upper arm is approximately equal in length to the shoulder blade and joins it at an angle sufficient to insure that the foot falls under the shoulder. 

The elbows are close to the body. 

The legs are straight, strong and sturdy in bone. There is a slight angle at the pastern denoting flexibility..

The hindquarters are powerful, having smooth, yet well defined muscles. The stifle is well bent. The hocks are well let down. When the Dalmatian is standing, the hind legs, viewed from the rear, are parallel to each other from the point of the hock to the heel of the pad. 

The feet are very important. Both front and rear feet are round and compact with thick, elastic pads and well arched toes. Toenails are black and/or white in blackspotted dogs and brown and/or white in liver- spotted dogs. Dewclaws may be removed. 

The coat is short, dense, fine and close fitting. It is neither woolly nor silky. It is sleek, glossy and healthy in appearance. 

The color and markings and their overall appearance are very important points to be evaluated. The ground color is pure white. In black-spotted dogs the spots are dense black. In liver-spotted dogs the spots are liver brown. Any color markings other than black or liver are disqualified, this includes tri-color, lemon, blue etc. Patches are a disqualification. A patch is a solid mass of black or liver hair containing no white hair. 

The gate should be In keeping with the Dalmatian's historical use as a coach dog, gait and endurance are of great importance. Movement is steady and effortless. Balanced angulation fore and aft combined with powerful muscles and good condition produce smooth, efficient action. There is a powerful drive from the rear coordinated with extended reach in the front. The topline remains level. Elbows, hocks and feet turn neither in nor out. As the speed of the trot increases, there is a tendency to single track.

For the Dalmatian Breed Standard 

Personality & behavior are qualities that are hard to generalize within a breed.  Dalmatians are alert, extremely energetic and affectionate with their owners and "circle of family & friends". They are loyal, self confident and determined which is the foundation for a good working dog. Plus, they have the stamina to work long hours. An ideal Dalmatian is neither aggressive , neurotic, nor disobedient  rather an extended family member.  with good self-esteem and acceptance of position in the family, "pack."