Dalmatian
Large
Dalmatia
The Dalmatian is one of the oldest breeds of dog, the Dalmatian has remained relatively unchanged for centuries. Tradition suggests that these dogs come from Dalmatia, a region along the Adriatic Sea. Dalmatians have been war dogs, guard dogs, shepherds, bird dogs and retrievers. Its great retentive memory made it a star circus and stage performer. But his most famous role (job) is as a coaching dog following wagons, chariots, and other horse drawn vehicles including - fire trucks. The modern day version of the traditional role as a carriage dog can be seen on display at the annual Carriage dog trials, where Dalmatians can compete alongside their equine friends for Road dog & Carriage dog Champion status. A dalmatian should always be outgoing and friendly - never shy or hesitant, free from nervousness or aggression. Large and boysterous they are not for the faint hearted! A dalmatian can live to 13 or 15, without ageing much at all. They go through adolescence approaching 18mths to 2yrs then tend to settle a little. They can quite easily turn their hand to being a working dog, obedience, agility, flyball & much much more.
Eager to please the Dalmatian can be and should be a pleasure to live with. An unhappy Dalmatian is quite a different matter. Dalmatians crave human company and attention, and can become unhappy when left for long periods alone, and may become destructive. They love to run and play and therefore adequate room to do so is needed. A secure enclosed garden is a must. Access to free running space is also highly advisable. Excellent house dogs, and good at adapting to different situations. Deafness is a breed trait - therefore BAER hearing testing is highly recommended for all pups at 6 weeks. Bilateral hearing is preferable, although unilateral is also acceptable. Urinary stones are also common to the breed, males are also known to be more prone. - This can quite easily be treated with adequate diet adjustments. Dalmatians are know for "stealing" any food or toy object left within reach! This is one sign of their high inteligence and can quite easily be nipped in the bud. Attention should be drawn to not over excercising pups - growing bones and muscles need time to develop. Just like humans dont run marathons till late teens, pups should also be discouraged from long walks and stress on joints, including jumping into and out of cars and bounding down stairs.
