The Dalmatian: A brief history of this breed


The breed was named after Dalmatia, a place in Western Yugoslavia on the Adriatic sea, which at one time was part of Austria. However, the dogs were known in other parts of the world as well long before they acquired the name of Dalmatians.

Historians have found references of this beautiful dog since the mid 18th century but also in other parts of the world the historians found that the breed was shown in several types of unique art like engravings, paintings, models and early writings which have accounted for the presence of spotted dogs of the same size throughout Africa, Asia and Europe. History also tell us that ancient gypsies carried these dogs in their trips around the world, which also explains the great widespread and popularity of the breed.

Later on, dalmatians were brought to Great Britain by members of the British upper classes who made trips to Europe and would often come back accompanied by some of the striking spotted dogs. After dalmatians were adopted by the British aristocracy who used them to accompany their carriages, the dalmatian soon became a feature of these processions. The dogs were taught to station themselves beneath the rear axle of the coach, and in some cases to trot underneath the pole separating the horses. They were also taught to lead the procession, trotting along ahead of the first horse, which was an impressive sight to see!

When, in 1860, Great Britain held its second dog show there were only five breeds represented. These included Dalmatians, and so far as history records, this was the breed's initial appearance in dog show competition. Were it not for a gentleman named Fred Kemp, who was President of the British Dalmatian Club and a third generation owner of this breed with which he himself was involved for more than half a century, Dalmatians might not have survived World War I.

Mr. Kemp is credited with having kept alive dogs in his kennel through the difficult and in many cases devastating period between 1914 and the Armistice in 1918, providing breeding stock at the end of this period. It is exciting to contemplate what happened to Dalmatians in England at the close of World War I. They fairly leaped ahead in popularity, the two Dalmatians registered with the Kennel Club in 1918 having increased to 125 by 1925 and to 889 by 1932. When the world famous dog show resumed, following World War I, there were two Dalmatians entered. In 1934, no fewer than 199 Dalmatian entries filled the classes for the breed, of which 15 were provided.

The dalmatian also became known for his very famous role of being a "firehouse dog". This was said to have started with the dogs being used as ratters, for the function of killing vermin in London's stables and firehouses, which they did with expertise. Today, many Dalmatians can still be seen riding on the fire trucks with their masters. Dalmatians are still considered as the mascot and are often found in firehouses around the world.

But the Dalmatian is not only known as the "firehouse dog", he also worked in war times as a sentinel, served as shepherd's dogs and as draft dogs. They also have been seen in circus shows as "assistant" of the clowns, their intelligence, aptitude, and showy appearance having fitted them particularly well for this activity.

By: Hector Sanchez

Post edited by: hedvig, at: 2009/06/01 04:50

Instantly recognizable as the unofficial mascot of firehouses, the Dalmatian is a medium sized breed with the familiar white with black spotted coat. Dalmatians are not born with a spotted coat; they are born completely white and the spots develop later. Experts disagree on the origins of the Dalmatian, but they have always been associated with horses.

Bred for the purpose of running alongside horse drawn carriages, Dalmatians were later used to clear paths for horse drawn fire engines to travel and to help calm the horses while at the fire. Though firehouses today no longer need Dalmatians for this purpose, the affection remains. Dalmatian males will grow to an average height of 22 to 24 inches and females an average height of 20 to 22 inches. Both will reach an average weight of 55 pounds and live approximately 10 to 12 years.

Most Dalmatians have blue eyes, though some have a blue-brown combination. The spots on a Dalmatian can be black, brown lemon, dark blue, tri colored, brindled, or sable. Though they require little bathing, Dalmatians shed profusely, especially during their twice a year shedding season, and require daily brushing to keep up with it.

Since Dalmatians were originally bred to be a working dog, they have abundant stamina and energy. They are not suited to apartment life for this reason as they require frequent exercise periods to be happy (but not in the cold as Dalmatians cannot tolerate it for long periods). Additionally, they enjoy human company and will become unhappy if left alone for long periods. Their enjoyment of human company make Dalmatians an excellent family pet. Their medium size makes them able to withstand the roughhousing children like. Dalmatians can also be trained to be watchdogs. Their desire to be with humans and their intelligence also makes Dalmatians easier to train than some breeds. Dalmatians like to please their master but can be willful, so firm and consistent training is necessary.

Dalmatians do have some unique medical issues. They have an unusual uric acid metabolism, with high levels of uric acid excretion, which makes them more likely to form kidney and bladder stone. Because of this, they should not have an excessive amount of protein in their diet. Some Dalmatians are also prone to skin allergies. Approximately 10 to 12 percent of all Dalmatians are born deaf. Testing at 6 weeks of age will confirm the diagnosis. Deaf Dalmatians can be difficult to raise, becoming snappish and irritable though some people have had success teaching Dalmatians sign language and use that to train their Dalmatians. There is a website that has great information on Dalmatians and most other breeds of dogs. It has details that pertain to a dog breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:

http://www.dogandcatfacts.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Post edited by: hedvig, at: 2009/06/01 04:50