Dalmatian: Dog Breed Information, Facts and Pictures

Lifespan: 10 – 13 years
Origin: Croatia
Temperament: Outgoing, Friendly, Energetic, Playful, Sensitive, Intelligent, Active
Height: Female: 56–58 cm, Male: 58–61 cm
Weight: Female: 16–24 kg, Male: 15–32 kg
Colors: Liver & White, Blue Belton

The Dalmatian is a lively, yet balanced and friendly dog. As long as he can move enough daily, he spends the rest of the time like and quiet in the house. He is the ideal family dog ​​for sporty families who like to spend a lot of time in the fresh air. His strong intelligence, coupled with a high sensitivity, makes him an attentive companion who is also very cuddly and in need of assistance. So he responds to praise and affectionate confirmation far better than overly communicated authority that intimidates him more.

The Dalmatian is a lively, yet balanced and friendly dog. As long as he can move enough daily, he spends the rest of the time like and quiet in the house. He is the ideal family dog ​​for sporty families who like to spend a lot of time in the fresh air. His strong intelligence, coupled with a high sensitivity, makes him an attentive companion who is also very cuddly and in need of assistance. So he responds to praise and affectionate confirmation far better than overly communicated authority that intimidates him more.

In the past, the Dalmatian was also kept as a watchdog due to his intensive bondage to the pack. Today, he rarely exercises this function. However, he has retained a strong self-confidence from this breeding line, which should be kept in check with a friendly but consistent clarification of the ranking.In the past, the Dalmatian was also kept as a watchdog due to his intensive bondage to the pack. Today, he rarely exercises this function. However, he has retained a strong self-confidence from this breeding line, which should be kept in check with a friendly but consistent clarification of the ranking.

The Dalmatian is bred for perennial run ability at a consistently high speed. Although he is inherently adaptable, it would be completely wrong to consider him as a pure domestic and pet dog. He feels most comfortable with a lot of exercise. Two hours a day should be the minimum, three to four hours are ideal and make for a more balanced dog. 

In keeping with his urge to move, the Dalmatian's leisure time is a must: He likes to do everything with running: running alongside a bicycle (formerly Dalmatians were used as carriage assist dogs), playing with family members, objects on land and also out of the water retrieve or engage in dog sports.

Obedience or agility, for example, he performs with enthusiasm and is extremely willing to learn. The best results are shown when his intelligence and physical abilities are equally addressed. The Dalmatian also appreciates challenges such as search games, where he is by his very nature responsive to positive conditioning by far the best.

The final history of Dalmatian origin is unclear. Whether India, Egypt or England - many origins have already been investigated, but nowhere was a clear origin found. 

First written records of a dog of today's breed can be found in the church chronicles of the 14th to the 17th centuries and suggest that the origin of today's Dalmatians is in the area around the Dalmatian coast. This gives the Dalmatian his name and he is officially recognized by the FCI as a Croatian breed. The first Dalmatian standard dates from 1882 and was officially introduced in 1890.

Otherwise, the Dalmatian is built medium to large and well proportioned. The physique is lean but strong, with well-visible muscular play, a strong back in a straight line and muscular shoulders. The athletic physique gives the Dalmatian a very elegant gait. The ribcage is oblong, with a long, strong neck, without loose throat. He has gently rounded, finely structured lop-eared ears, which lie close to the head and are set high. Head and body should give a well-proportioned whole, with the skull may only be moderately wide. Like the neck, the head shows no skin folds. The zygomatic arch and the chewing muscles are rather reserved, the catching line and cranial line are slightly apart. The catch shows a strongly developed pine.

According to the breed standard, the eyes are dark brown in black spotted dogs and amber colored in dogs with liver brown spots. The crescent-shaped tail reaches to the hocks and runs narrower towards the bottom. The height at the withers of the male measures 56-62 cm, the weight according to breed standard 27-32 kg. The bitch is 54-60 cm tall and weighs 24-29 kg