Featured Dog Breed of the Week: Dalmatian

I've decided to make things here at Animals Are Everywhere a little more exciting. Every week we will now be profiling a different dog breed. This week it's the Dalmatian!

Height: 19-24 inches

Size: Medium

Weight: 55-70 pounds (male); 40-55 (female)

Description

The familiar dapper black-and-white spotted dog of Disney fame, the Dalmatian is a symmetrical, muscular medium sized dog with superior endurance. He has soft ears and a tail that tapers to the end. Puppies are born completely white, with the spots developing later. Spots should be well defined and should not blend together into large patches. The short coat is sleek and shiny. Dalmatians can also come with liver-colored spots, though that type is not as popular.

History

Though his origins are far from clear, the Dalmatian was first historically placed in Dalmatia, part of the former Yugoslavia. The breed became popular as a carriage dog in the 1800’s, trotting beside (and even among) the horses and then guarding the carriage and horses while the master was occupied elsewhere. The versatile Dalmatian has seen many uses, before and since, as a mascot for firemen, war sentinel, circus performer, vermin hunter, retriever, hound, shepherd and guard dog. Today, this beautiful breed is primarily a companion dog.

Key Facts

The Dalamatian is a hardy, easy to keep breed, though frequent brushing is needed to cope with the constant shedding. Dalmatians are clean, with no doggy odor. They often have large litters, sometimes up to 15 pups. The Dalmatian is a very energetic breed, and needs daily romps to prevent destructiveness. Deafness affects 10–12% of Dalmatian puppies. Every Dalmatian puppy should be BAER-tested for deafness. Because Dalmatians are so popular, and people are breeding indiscriminately, deafness is on the rise. Those people thinking about breeding their Dalmatian must be willing to deal responsibly with any deaf puppies in the litter. Deaf dogs may be difficult to raise, and can become aggressive and snappish from fear. Many are run over by cars if they ever "escape" from home. For these reasons, and to help reduce the incidence of deafness in the Dalmatian gene pool, the Dalmatian Club of America encourages humane euthanisation of all deaf puppies, though this policy is somewhat controversial. Buy only from a reputable breeder to avoid this serious problem and to ensure good temperament. Buy only from OFA stock to avoid hip dysplasia, though hip dysplasia incidence in the breed is quite low. The Dalmation is also prone to kidney problems. Uric acid levels in Dalmatians are higher than in any other breed, sometimes causing urinary blockage. Veterinarians may recommend a low protein diet for this breed to prevent urinary tract problems. Do not keep Dalmatians outside in the cold

Personality

Playful and happy-go-lucky, Dalmatians need human companionship, so they don’t make good yard dogs. The very energetic Dalmatian loves to play with children, but may be too rambunctious for toddlers. Dalmatians tend to get along well with other pets, though they may be aggressive with strange dogs. Males often dislike other males. This breed can be somewhat high-strung and can be timid without enough socialization. Though they are quite intelligent, Dalmatians can be willful. They generally do well with firm, consistent training.

Source: Iams