Dog Breeds 101: Dalmatian

Dog Breeds 101: Dalmatian – Image To Repin / Share
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The Dalmatian perhaps received most of its fame from the legendary Disney film, “101 Dalmatians”. This dog is often identified by their white coat with black spots. In the past, these dogs were mere carriage dogs and it was not until later that they became well loved pets. In the 1600s, having one of these dogs run along side your carriage was a symbol of wealth. Their job was to protect the carriage from robbers and in the late 18th century they were also brought to the US for the same reason. ^[1]

The Dalmatian may have originated in a small region on the coast of Croatia named Damantia. However, few spotted dogs live there today and this theory is contested by many others. ^[2]

Considering the Dalmatian’s guarding instincts, this dog is quite reserved. However, they are very loyal and friendly to those they are able to trust.

In addition to being very dedicated, Dalmatians are known to be easygoing, happy, and playful dogs. They cannot stand sitting still all day. They can be good dogs for families with children because of their willingness to play with them all day. Young Dalmatians are known to be very energetic with enormous stamina.

They can get along with other dogs but may become aggressive if their owners fail to make them understand that fighting is an undesirable behavior. People who intend to adopt this breed should make sure that they have adequate time and energy for them because they can be destructive and difficult to deal with when their needs are not meet. Although Dalmatians are people-oriented, if these dogs are not trained to be social, they may be timid around strangers. ^[3]

There are a number of health conditions that are associated with this breed. For example, only about 70% of Dalmatians are fully capable of accurate hearing. These dogs also tend to have skin allergies and are more likely than most dogs to get bladder stones. ^[4]

Dalmatians rarely need to be bathed. On the other hand, they shed year round. Certain seasons will be worse than others and it is recommended to brush these dogs as often as possible.

The average life expectancy of a Dalmatian is about 10 to 12 years.