Skip to content It is believed that the Dalmatian was bred in Dalmatia, one of the regions, Yugoslavia, where the name of this ancient breed came from. Their resilience, size and guard dog talents were appreciated by the English aristocrats, who began to breed Dalmatians everywhere. During the First and Second World Wars, dogs of this breed were used to protect the locations and camps of American soldiers. Today Dalmatians are often used as a service dog at the fire station.
Characteristic
The Dalmatian is a medium sized dog that is extremely active and energetic. They are brave, unique in their behavior and if there are clowns in the world of dogs, then they are certainly Dalmatians. This is a fairly versatile breed that can perfectly hunt small animals or rodents, work as a watchman or circus performer. With all this, the Dalmatians make excellent family companions.
Character
A Dalmatian is by nature very attached to a person, and therefore he simply cannot do without constant attention to his person. This is an extremely sensitive breed and therefore if you leave the Dalmatian for a long time alone or do not pay enough attention to him, then he can become very yearning. In this case, the dog may become depressed or, on the contrary, become quite destructive for the environment. Despite the generally accepted opinion about this breed, it is not recommended to start a Dalmatian if you have small children in the house, because it has, as they say, a bubbling and, at the same time, rather irritable character. With those pets with which they grew up, Dalmatians coexist quite peacefully, but can behave extremely aggressively towards those dogs with which they are not familiar. In general, dogs of this breed are extremely distrustful and wary of any strangers, which makes them excellent watchdogs. At the same time, you will hear their barking only if it is really necessary.
Wool and care
The Dalmatian’s coat is tough, smooth, short and dense. The color is snow-white, with spots that can be either black or chestnut. Puppies are born completely white and develop spots as they get older. Shedding is constant, increasing significantly twice a year. In order to minimize the loss of dead hairs, it is recommended to regularly brush the Dalmatian with a brush with dense, stable bristles. During active seasonal molting, special attention should be paid to cleaning the dog. In order not to accidentally violate the protective properties of the wool, you can bathe the Dalmatian only when absolutely necessary, using a shampoo of moderate hardness. Dogs of this breed are extremely sensitive to weather conditions and from damp grass or soil as well as ticks and fleas, they can develop fungal infections. The most common diseases are deafness, stones in the bladder and kidney, skin and food allergies, and hip dysplasia.
Training
This breed requires extensive intensive early and ongoing socialization as well as a basic obedience course. Without adequate training, Dalmatians can become overly timid or extremely nervous. Teaching should not be harsh or arbitrary and should be conducted with firmness, fairness, consistency, reward, and patience. Dalmatians perform well in competitions such as obedience, agility or flyball.
Activity
A Dalmatian needs frequent and daily training. He is very active and extremely fond of taking part in all family activities and games. Dogs of this breed generally value the time they spend with their family members. The Dalmatian is a very hardy dog, making it a great companion for jogging, cycling or hiking. It is very good if the dog has a medium or large yard at his disposal, where he could run or wander freely. If you live in a city apartment and you do not have the opportunity to take your dog for a walk several times a day, then the Dalmatian is definitely not suitable for you.
