Dalmatian

The Dalmatian is one of the most famous breeds in the world and need little description. The puppies are born pure white - the dark spots do not appear until the third week of life. The spots may be either black or liver brown. For show purposes, the best dogs are those in which the individual spots are clearly separated from one another and do not run together in irregular blotches. In the old days, the ears were nearly always cropped, but today this practice is outlawed.

Easily recognized by its distinctive spotty coat, and the 1961 Walt Disney movie "101 Dalmatians," the Dalmatian is probably the world's most familiar breed.

Dogs bearing a likeness to Dalmatians have been noticed on ancient Egyptian engravings. Historical evidence suggests that the breed originated in the Mediterranean region and especially in the neighbourhood of the Dalmatian coast of the Adriatic Sea. The Dalmatian breed is thought to be developed by crossing small Harlequin Great Danes with pointer dogs.

This dog is known as a working dog and craves exercise or long working days. They never run out of energy and for this reason they are not recommended for a family with young children or families with a sedentary lifestyle. In America Dalmatians are commonly associated with fireman because they were often used as search and rescue dogs in fires.

The outline of a Dalmatian is very similar to a pointer. Dalmatians come in many different temperaments from withdrawn to aggressive. Since one-third of all Dalmatians are deaf, prospective buyers should purchase puppies only from breeders who use the BAER test to check for deafness. The test can be done when the puppies are seven weeks old and is the only sure way to tell if a puppy is deaf. Dalmatian puppies are born all white and begin to develop their spots by ten to fourteen days.

Dalmatian Breed Outline

COMMENTS

As a breeder, exhibitor and enthusiast of Dalmatians, my observations are...

"...As a breeder, exhibitor and enthusiast of Dalmatians, my observations are as follows: The well bred Dalmatian should be dismissed when seeking a Dal for a companion. In rescue we find a pandora's box of unknowns that often leave the adoptee with a sense of uncertainty with regards to health and temperament. While Dalmatians are in need of homes from back yard breeders trying to earn a buck of the back of the pups they produce, logic and experience have both proven there are not enough homes. The breed is extremely intelligent, very protective and males tend to be more protective overall than females. ..."

Posted by barney on Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Dalmatian: I think that these are one of the most attractive breeds

"...I think that these are one of the most attractive breeds

of dogs I've ever seen. Unfortunately, they have a genetic defect which results in 1 in 7 dalmatian puppies being born completely deaf. The deaf puppies are

usually destroyed, since they cannot expect to have any kind of a good quality

of life, and it's impossible to train them to do anything..."

Posted by willie on Wednesday, November 12, 2008

If you get them as a puppy or they grew up around kids.

"...If you get them as a puppy or they grew up around kids. If you get them from a pound, make sure they are good around your child before adopting them..."

Posted by catarina on Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Dalmatians are amazing

There IS a love and a loyalty and a friendship that money can buy - a trilogy of virtues bestowed on those who have a Dalmatian. Once you have gained the love and devotion of that litle spotted pup, you will learn new meanings fro friendship, understanding and companionship through the many years that he is at your side. His is a heart that beats only for you and yours. A pat and a friendly word is just about all he asks in payment for his devotion. Once you've been owned by a Dalmatian, you'll admit that there is nothing else quite like it.



The Dalmatian isn't bred for any particular job as are hunting dogs or guard dogs. Now, he is a companion dog above all else and can be trained to do almost anything. He uses his senses of smell and sight well, and you will see him occasionally raise his head high in the air if he is in tall grass to look around for the game. With horses he is perfectly at home and it is amazing to see a Dalmatian, with no training whatsoever, naturally fall behind a horse.



They are not yappers, barking simply to amuse themselves. If your Dalmatian barks there is usually a reason for it. Possibly it is only a rabbit or the neighbor's cat, but it could be an intruder.

Posted by cape_hope on Monday, June 09, 2008

Key to successful raising your Dalmatian

I think that most people who have problems with their dals is because they have missed some important things while training and raising their dogs. The important thing is the amount of affection and attention you establish boundaries of behavior. Dals are eagerly responsive to attention, games, praise and positive strokes. They have a memory like an elephant, however, for coercive, negative or harsly corective actions. NO dog is readily responsive to abusively harsh training, but the Dalamatian has a particularly sharp memory for affronts.



Sometimes you can hear some warnings about that Dalmatians, in general (1) are hyper, nervous and have excessive energy. This sweeping generalization is unfair to the breed because good temperament has been a specific focus of breeders for the last several decades and much wonderful work has been done in this area. Consistent choices toward good temperament have moved the whole breed away from shyness and hyperactivity, and breeders have demonstrated this.



If puppies have been raised in a calm environment with their mother, have been touched, petted regularly by the breeder, wormed and weaned properly to a good puppy chow, if they have been taken away from their litter no earlier than 7 weeks and if they have been introduced to their new home with kindness and sensitivity than chances are good that you will see no behavioral abnormalities.



Teasing is the major cause of children being bitten by their pets. Treat it seriously. The best age for a child to get a first dog is between ages 8 and 12. That's when kids are able to take responsibility of their pets. Kids in this group make excellent obedience trainers because they are in the teaching/learning process themselves.

Posted by roxyhart_707 on Sunday, April 06, 2008

Dalmatians and children

My male stud dalmatians, was asleep, and a toddler I was babysitting made a loud noise on the coffee table, the dal jumped across a large table, and attacked the little boy and mauled him severely. We settled out of court, it's in a trust when he trust 18, and he still has laser treatments on scars. I have no idea why this dal did that. The court system made us put him down. We had his sister, who also nipped at kids. And, their nephew, who is deaf, has nipped my granddaughter twice, so HE is always put up in my room, when they visit. If he goes out when they are here, I guard them inside. So, I would differ to say these dogs are good for children.



Mine were and are possessive of me, as their owner. Please, don't recommend these dogs as good for children. I have heard a lot of my dal friend's owners, say they do not like children, including a friend, who bought my dal's sister, who is deaf also. She told me she has a very irritable personality toward

children also. Thank you, Connie Poppen, in Florida.

Posted by lilsweetlilcutie on Monday, March 31, 2008

female dalmation

My dalmation dog was adopted in June 2007 and since the time I got her she developed a skin problem on her tummy specifically it is all pink and red most of the time and it irritates her in this area to the point that she has developed a scab now and she keeps nawing at it. She has been to the vet and given antibiotics two types now and shots to alleviate the itch but to no avail. She is still having the problem that doesn't heal. I have tried bathing her with oatmeal shampoo and medicated shampoos but nothing helps. Do you have a suggestion?

Posted by meilan2 on Wednesday, November 28, 2007

ADD COMMENTS

Animal Calendars