Everything you need to know about Dalmatians

Dalmatians are known worldwide for their unique spotted color. These dogs are characterized by a high level of intelligence, the ability to train, as well as incredible activity, which can both amuse and cause inconvenience. This article will examine all known information about the Dalmatians: the history of the origin of the breed, their lifestyle, especially nutrition and training.

Unfortunately, the exact origin of the Dalmatians is not known. Mention of these extraordinary dogs sometimes pop up in ancient historical documents. However, these data are not enough to confidently state the ancestors of this breed, as well as the region of its origin.

Breed development can only be clearly tracked since the 16th century. Dogs reminiscent of modern Dalmatians are often depicted on objects of art, signs and announcements. It could be theater posters where the Dalmatians were participants in the program, or portraits of socialites and nobles with their unusual spotted pets.

Perhaps the most significant document proving the antiquity of these dogs are images in religious temples. For example, images of spotted dogs are present in the altar paintings of the Church of St. Mary (Losinj city), in the fresco of the Franciscan church (Zaostrog), as well as in some fragments of the frescoes of the Church of Santa Maria Novella.

It is worth saying that the Dalmatians received the most popularity precisely on the canvases of artists from Tuscany, it was in their works dogs were depicted in the company of their noble owners. A striking example is Cosimo II Medici (1590-1621) - the Tuscan duke who was often portrayed in the company of his beloved Dalmatian. The same applies to paintings depicting his son Francesco Medici and his beloved dog.

The first naturalist to give this breed its first official name was Thomas Pennant. In his work “Four-legged Synopsis,” the scientist included the breed in the general classification of Tuscan breeds and gave these dogs the name Dalmatian. It is believed that the creation of this name involved the Roman Catholic Djakovo-Osijekov Archdiocese. It was in her archival documents that records from the beginning of the 18th century were found that described a breed called Canis Dalmaticus. It was indicated that these dogs have a unique exterior and color for Croatia.

Around the beginning of the 19th century, active distribution of the breed throughout Europe beganHowever, it received the greatest popularity in Britain. First of all, the British breeders were engaged in breeding the breed, since not so many individuals were brought to the territory of the country, and there were more and more people wishing to purchase them. In the selection process, the genetic material of other dog breeds was used, in particular, black pointers and white English terriers. These breeds were also used to create many other modern dogs: bulldogs, bull terriers, Staffordshire terriers and some others.

Today, explaining the popularity of these dogs at that time is not difficult. In addition to their original and unlike anything else, the Dalmatians possessed amazing stamina and speed, which allowed them to travel vast distances without problems. In addition to decorative purposes, the Dalmatians acquired the qualities of a defender - they were often taken on trips as property guards. As a rule, these dogs were driven away from carts with supplies of thieves and wild animals. A little later, Dalmatians began to be credited with the status of carriage type dogs - they were taught not only to guard their luggage, but also to drive horses, biting those legs, when the pace of the trip slowed down.

In private households, Dalmatians also played a role. They were wonderful companions, watchmen, sometimes took part in hunting and hunting down game. Fashionistas often took these animals for a walk in the dark - these dogs remarkably guarded the ladies from criminals, rapists and thieves. For some time, the presence of Dalmatians at the court of nobles meant their high status.

Once on American soil, the Dalmatians lost their direct purpose. At that time, carriages that transported water were actively used to extinguish fires. Horses harnessed to such carriages, and it was the Dalmatians who accompanied them — they cleared the path to the fire through crowds of people and barriers. Today, the Dalmatians are an unofficial symbol of the US fire service. Many modern American firefighters start precisely the Dalmatians - these animals are considered their mascot., which protects the owner from the dangers and risks of getting burns.

A lot of time passed until the Dalmatians began to be recognized at European and American exhibitions. A professional jury recognized the Dalmatians only in 1860 at an exhibition in Birmingham. Only 30 years later, the world's first Dalmatian breed club opened and the first breed standard was adopted.The International Cynological Federation (or MKF) recognized this breed of dogs only in 1926.

On the territory of modern Russia, Dalmatians first appeared only at the end of the twentieth century (approximately in the 80s), however, due to the too small population, breeding was very slow. The breed’s market promotion was also hindered by the banal ignorance of the majority of Russian breeders about the existence of this breed. The very first nurseries with Dalmatians, as well as official breed clubs, appeared in Russia only by the 90s of the 20th century.

Any officially fixed breed of dog has a unique standard that defines its exterior. Consider the key characteristics of the Dalmatians standard.

• Head and face. The head is proportional and flat, the muzzle is elongated. A characteristic pronounced stop is noticeable, the length of the muzzle is approximately equal to the length of the occipital part. There are no folds on the face and head.
• The ears. Larger than the average size and hanging type, set wide and most often pressed to the head in a calm state. The shape of the ears is triangular, the color should be the same as the native color of the dog - with pronounced spots.
• Eyes. Small eyes are oval. Widely spaced, not deepened. Dark brown tones prevail in the shade of the iris (for individuals with dark and black spots) and honey, brown and amber tones (with the appropriate color). The look is concentrated, expressive, the eyelids fit snugly to the eye, right up to the eyeball, covered with short hair with spotted pigmentation.
• Nose. Large, wide, well developed nostrils. It is identical in color to the general coloring of the breed - for individuals with black spots, black, for individuals with brown - chestnut.
• Jaw and teeth. The jaws are massive and strong, the correct bite is the type of “scissors”. The upper jaw is slightly longer than the lower, which allows you to completely hide the lower jaw and fangs. The lips are always adjacent to the jaw and do not form extra folds.
• Neck. Long, strong, although thin enough. Flexible, allows the dog to turn around freely.

• Body. Strong, slightly elongated and proportionate. A large number of muscles are located on the shoulders and lower back. Chest broad and deep, vaulted ribs. The back is flat, almost not inclined at the croup.
• Limbs. Long, straight and powerful, while quite thin and elegant. The elbows should be pressed firmly against the body. The hind limbs are very muscular, the knees are well developed. The paws themselves are tightly assembled, most often round or oval in shape.
• Tail. Long, massive, weakly pigmented, either purely black or white. A distinctive feature of the tail is that it is perfectly straight, covered with a thin layer of wool and slightly narrowed at the end. Thanks to this structure, the tail of the Dalmatians looks like a smooth wooden stick.
• Woolen cover. The coat is thick and very dense, but short. Glossy shimmers on the sides and back are noticeable. In structure, a rigid, uniform layer covers the entire body of the dog - on the chest and in the genital area it can be slightly longer.
• Color. Regardless of the percentage of shades, the dominant color should always be white. Against a white background, frequent brown or black spots with clear edges are acceptable. All over the body, the spots should be the same color, while being located on all parts of the body without localization in any particular place.

Common signs of a Dalmatian dog breed.

• The average female weight is 20-27 kg, the adult male is 22-32 kg.
• The average height of females at the withers is from 55 to 58 centimeters, males from 58 to 62 centimeters.
• The average life expectancy is standard - 10-13 years. In ideal conditions of detention - up to 17 years.
• Country of origin - Croatia.
• Short hair is not the key to the absence of molting - quite the contrary, this breed sheds much more often than others.
• About 12% of the total number of newborn Dalmatians from birth are deaf.
• The unusual spotted color of the Dalmatians is individual for each individual.

Dalmatians are individualists not only in terms of appearance, but also of character. These are unusually charismatic dogs with an extraordinary character.

These dogs are not suitable for owners who are used to sofa dog breeds. From birth, the Dalmatians have been surprisingly playful, active, they cannot stand sitting still for a long time, preferring to give all their free time to games and entertainment. With insufficient physical exertion, they become destructive - they can chew on furniture, spoil interior items or even snap on family members. In a state of excitement, these dogs are completely uncontrollable and do not obey any orders.

The main condition in education is the designation of the owner as a dominant. The fact is that these dogs need hard training with a large share of direct instructions, without empty rewards and handouts.

This breed of dog perfectly understands both its owner and members of his family, as well as strangers. They are able to very quickly assess the situation and make informed decisions. Thanks to the keen mind, Dalmatians are easy to train - they themselves strive to understand the owner and fulfill his commands. At the same time, goodies play a secondary role for them here, the main goal is to earn the approval of the owner.

The peculiarity of these dogs is that they are not prone to attachment to any one person. If the Dalmatians grow up in a large friendly family, they will equally protect and love each of its members. The good-natured and courageous character allows Dalmatians to quickly establish contacts with dogs of other breeds. As for cats and other pets, the dog will also try to establish relations with them, but it will be too active for most animals. In their games and entertainment, Dalmatians can simply accidentally cripple their "neighbors."

If we are talking about matured children (after 8 years), then with them the Dalmatians feel at ease. They feel in children the same indefatigable energy and attachment to active games. As for young children, then for them the Dalmatians will not be the best option. The fact is that most dogs often have hearing problems, which forces them to instinctively respond to the slightest strange sounds and movements. At the same time, small children often do not follow their actions and may disturb the resting dog, and this will already lead to injuries or severe fright of the child.

When it comes to guests or passers-by in the streets, Dalmatians behave in a friendly and restrained manner. They will not rush to the first person they meet, but they will allow themselves to be stroked and will try to treat the stranger with goodwill.

Today, there are only two registered varieties of Dalmatians: black-spotted Dalmatians and black-brown Dalmatians.

• Black-spotted look. The main difference between these individuals is a clear black-and-white segmentation, where white always stands out for the main color, and clear black spots are evenly distributed throughout the body. As a rule, it is the white (non-cream) color that dominates in these dogs and the corresponding pigmentation of the claws is observed.The acceptable eye color for Dalmatians is precisely the dark color, however, defective individuals with blue and green irises, as well as with characteristic heterochromia, are sometimes found. Such individuals are allowed to be represented at exhibitions only in the United States.

• Black-brown Dalmatians. These individuals differ mainly in white color with dark brown spots throughout the body. The nose of such individuals is black or brown. Eye color may vary significantly, however it should be brown, amber or hazel shades.

It should be said that today the Dalmatians are actively breeding with other dog breeds, which leads to the creation of mixed breeds - representatives of mixed breeds. Such dogs also differ in their characteristic spotted color, however, they may have dwarf growth, small paws, a thick and long wool coat, brown or even red shades of spots in the color.

If you want to breed Dalmatians at home, you should carefully consider the procedure for choosing puppies for breeding. Below will be described the rules and recommendations that should be followed when choosing puppies of this breed.

• Age. The fact is that Dalmatians can be given into the wrong hands only after reaching 10-12 weeks. After this age, puppies are already vaccinated against most diseases, accustomed to the tray and walking, they have formed their own diet. In addition, appearance defects and some hereditary diseases are already noticeable by this age. Particular attention should be paid to the hearing of the pet - for this you should take the pet to conduct a BAER test. This study will help you determine if your pet has hearing problems.
• Appearance. Pay close attention to the appearance of the pet. If you choose a show model, then the puppy must possess all the external qualities. However, the appearance can also determine the health status of the pet. Usually about the problems with the gastrointestinal tract there is a lot of evidence of the condition of the coat (wet, falling down at the anus or genitals), the condition of the eyes (the presence of lacrimal paths), the flatness of the bones, the length of the claws, and the purity of the ears.
• Conditions of detention. Regardless of where your pet was purchased, ask in what conditions he and his parents were kept. So you will have an idea of ​​the breeder’s good faith in pet care.
• A prerequisite is a full package of documents. In pedigree farms and nurseries, you must provide a veterinary passport, metric and pedigree of the puppy. When buying a pet, it can be difficult to get the whole set of documents, since not all breeders keep such documentation. In addition to documents, it will be useful to study the documents of the puppy's parents, so you will learn about hereditary diseases and predispositions of the future pet.
• Activity. Be sure to pay attention to the behavior of puppies. It is always worth choosing exactly the active individuals - this indicates good health, a stable nature and determination. These pets learn faster and better tolerate exercise.

In terms of nutrition, the Dalmatians are not distinguished by any finicky. They are absolutely omnivorous and adapt to any diet. For a balanced diet, it should include the following foods: white meat, fish, dairy products, vegetables and fruits. The peculiarity of feeding Dalmatians is that they are better at digesting natural food. They may be allergic to artificial supplements, as well as kidney stones.

If we are talking about feeding ready-made feeds, then only premium or super-premium products are suitable for Dalmatians. It is these feeds that have a sufficient vitamin base and practically do not contain harmful soy elements. Modern feeds for active dogs offer mixtures with a huge amount of proteinHowever, for a Dalmatian, such nutrition will be useful only at first. Here you should turn to food intended for medium-sized dogs.

Water takes a very important place in dry fodder nutrition, which is why kefir or vegetable oils are added to ready-made mixtures. These products strengthen the coat, make it thicker, and the color richer. When feeding prepared feeds, be sure to refer to the instructions. Particular attention should be paid to this norm in the very first days after the appearance of the pet in your home. Eliminate additional vitamins from the diet when feeding the dog with ready-made feeds - they already contain everything you need.

A common mistake of inexperienced breeders when feeding a dog is to give her only white meat. The fact is that the main condition in feeding the Dalmatians is precisely the diversity of food in the diet. It can be either nutritional supplements or vegetables that provide the body with the necessary vitamins.

So that meat products are well absorbed in the body, they should be processed with boiling water and cut into small parts (especially if we are talking about feeding very young puppies). It is worth choosing varieties with a low fat content: lamb, beef, rabbit, chicken is also suitable.

It is better to give meat products at night so that the dog's body can calmly absorb all the components during the rest of the animal. In the morning, they usually give light and satisfying food - cereals and vegetables, which will give the pet strength for fun and training.

Cereals and cereals from cereals also show themselves well as a healthy diet for the Dalmatians. It is best to use barley, buckwheat (on water) and millet. Hercules should be discarded - it is proved that the dog’s hair starts to turn into an unpleasant yellow color.

Fresh vegetables are also an indispensable element in the diet of the Dalmatians. Raw vegetables and fruits (apples, peppers, carrots, celery) and boiled vegetables are suitable for this.

A good substitute for meat will be sea boiled fish, as well as some offal. To diversify the diet of the Dalmatians, it is recommended occasionally to include curd products, cheese and eggs (hard-boiled) in it.

Inexperienced breeders sometimes confuse the indefatigable appetite of Dalmatians with unquenched hunger. Sometimes a pet eats food specially quickly to demonstrate the desire for an additive. If this behavior persists, try increasing the amount of food a bit. Despite the fact that most Dalmatians can determine the required amount of food on their own, you should still carefully monitor the portion size. Being overweight can lead to the development of many serious diseases, including the cardiovascular system.

Sometimes Dalmatians show a complete reluctance to eat food at the moment. If this is an isolated case that lasts several days, do not worry. This breed of dog can occasionally arrange for itself the so-called unloading, when the animal digests the food it has already received and distributes proteins and carbohydrates in the body.

Each type of feeding has its positive and negative sides.

Pros:

• the possibility of long-term storage of large volumes of food;
• high-quality prepared feeds a priori contain the whole complex of vitamins and minerals necessary for a dog's life;
• there is no problem with balancing nutrition, in the finished feed contains the optimal amount of protein, fat and carbohydrates;
• you don’t need to constantly check portions of ready-made food, usually their size is indicated on the packaging of any feed.

Minuses:

• premium and higher feed costs a round sum, especially when it comes to large volumes;
• in such a diet, the diversity of nutrition is lost, since the pet always receives the same food;
• the content in feed of a large amount of protein, which is harmful to the body of the Dalmatian.

Pros:

• relatively low cost;
• the ability to independently adjust the quality of food and its calorie content;
• in natural feeding it is easy to change the diet, diversify it by adding a new product.

Minuses:

• the need for regular preparation of fresh food, since portions are suitable for consumption only in a short period of time;
• the difficulty of constantly calculating calories and the ratio of protein, fat and carbohydrates.

The diet, as well as the frequency of nutrition in adults and young individuals, is often very different. For example, an adult animal will need a strictly balanced diet with a limited amount of protein, as well as the presence of vitamins and minerals. If we are talking about a young or newborn puppy, then it should be fed at least 4-5 times a day in small portions. Over time, usually every 3 months, one meal is removed from the diet, and the portions themselves increase. Thus, by about 10-12 months, the pet should eat no more than 2 times a day.

In no case should the Dalmatian be given bones until they reach the age of one. Before this period, the pet's teeth are actively changing, and the bones can harm their structure. A good option would be feeding mixtures of ground bones and meat, as well as offal and cartilage. Dalmatian puppies also need at least two servings of fresh cottage cheese per week. To make the cottage cheese more attractive for the pet, you can add honey, fruit or glucose there. Cottage cheese not only strengthens the bones of the animal, but also positively affects the skin, improves the functioning of the nervous system, and also counteracts allergic processes.

Dalmatians can not be called finicky in the care or maintenance of dogs. They are cleanliness, do not like dirt and water. Unlike other dogs, Dalmatians do not molt at any particular period of the year, but literally constantly. That is why, despite a thin coat of hair, most of the time will be spent on hair care. The only thing that can save you in this situation is regular combing or keeping your pet outside the apartment (in the case of a private house). Combing will not only remove the extra layer of wool, but also bring it to a well-groomed appearance. For thorough hair care you will need a brush with frequent but soft teeth, or a round soft comb.

Some inexperienced breeders out of habit wash Dalmatians to get rid of the characteristic dog smell. However, the fact is that these dogs do not have this smell at all. The first bath should be carried out not earlier than the pet turns six months old. Until this age, there is too great a chance to damage the natural fat cover of the skin. Like other breeds of dogs, Dalmatians should not be washed too often - once a couple of months will be enough.If the dog just got dirty while walking or training, use plain water without detergents to wash it.

Considerable attention when caring for Dalmatians should be given to the condition of their ears. Due to their location, they are able to contaminate very quickly, which leads to inflammation and allergies. The condition of the ears is determined by the smell, as well as by the intensity of sulfur emissions. If there is no unpleasant odor, like dirt, the condition of your pet’s ears is satisfactory. You need to clean your ears with cotton swabs slightly dipped in boiled water.

Unlike other dogs, Dalmatians often have delayed development of the dentition. The problem here is that baby teeth can inhibit the appearance of a number of permanent molars. If you notice that the dog’s gums are bleeding and the molars begin to erupt under the milk teeth, immediately lead the pet to the canine dentist and remove the upper teeth. If the upper tooth is loose or loose, you can try to remove it yourself - wrap the upper tooth with clean gauze and swing it until it falls off.

Another problem in dental care is the formation of tartar and plaque on them. Besides the fact that plaque leads to inflammatory processes on the gums, it gives the dog an unattractive appearance and can interfere with the process of eating food. You can remove a thin layer of plaque at home - special powders and ointments are sold for brushing your teeth, which remove plaque. A good budget option for cleaning teeth from plaque will be lemon peel. It contains acids that destructively affect the accumulation of matter. Tartar itself is easily cleaned with a special spatula (metal or wooden) - they are sold in every pet store. To prevent tartar from appearing so quickly in the future, tomatoes or tomato juice should be added to the dog's diet.

In this breed of dogs, deformed claws are often observed, which not only prevent dogs from fully moving, but also injure the paws of animals. It’s worth starting brushing your claws from childhood, and it is useful for both exhibition and domestic animals. Long claws prevent the paw from gathering in one lump, which prevents the dog from moving and leads to inflammatory processes on the pads.

White claws are cut much easier, they usually show where the pink level ends inside - this reduces the chance of injuring the dog's paws. If the dog’s claws are black, then cut the claws just below the curve.

Dalmatians, in spite of their restless temper, should always have their place. The pet will come there when it gets tired or when it needs to sleep. The place should be close to the owners - the dog should see that he is not alone. You can also make him booths and houses in the open air - Dalmatians adore the street in summer and spring. As soon as the cold comes, the animal should be taken to the house - the Dalmatians do not have enough coat to survive the winter painlessly.

Dalmatians are constantly in need of physical activity. They need to be walked at least 2 times a day, while driving to special sites for training dogs. If your pet cannot realize all its energy on the street, be prepared for the consequences in the walls of the apartment.The pet will express its energy through aggression, moodiness and destructive behavior - damage to furniture, minor dirty tricks, aggression towards other pets.

Dalmatians need special education, for training these dogs standard training models will not work. It is also undesirable to use the services of dog handlers to train their dogs. The fact is that a lot of the success of training this breed depends on the authority that you must form with your pet. If this authority will be formed in relation to the coach - it is likely that the dog will not listen to you.

Despite their high intelligence, the effective training of Dalmatians is greatly hindered by their indefatigable energy and a constant desire to explore all that is around. In addition, this breed is unusually freedom-loving and will act in its own way if it feels the owner’s weakness.

The faster you pick a suitable nickname for your pet, the faster he will get used to it and begin to respond to it. In the future, using nicknames in front of teams will help you focus your pet's attention on a specific task. The nickname must be short and sonorous - the pet must remember it and distinguish it among other sounds.

Try to suppress in yourself attempts to loudly condemn or even physical abuse of the dog. Beatings will only lead to aggression, disobedience, whims and fears. Express your dissatisfaction through the tone of the voice, without increasing the tone. Do not worry, the Dalmatian will very soon understand when you are angry and when you are happy.

Try to drive your pet to crowded places more often. This can be either a normal walk on the street or an active pastime in the city surrounded by a large number of people. A Dalmatian must learn to behave calmly within a large group of strangers. In this case, you must act as a defender who will come to the rescue in case of danger. If you are going to take your dog to the playground (especially for dogs), make sure that your pet is vaccinated against all infections and viruses.

The first step to learning is getting used to completing simple commands. The list of such teams includes: “sit”, “paw”, “voice”, “up”, “to me”. Until six months, it would be nice to teach the pet to respond and respond to its own nickname. As soon as this base of commands is mastered, begin to study more complex teams that require a long-lasting action: “near”, “lay”, “aport”, “take” and others.

Gradually move from teams to physical activity. Try to visit more often on platforms for games, develop a command system just for your platform with certain exercise machines and obstacles.

One of the main conditions for training is regularity and systematicity. Try to conduct classes at a specific time every day. If initially training will take you no more than 20 minutes due to the restless nature of the dog, then by the age of one year they should increase to one hour.The time for training should be chosen before breakfast or before dinner, so that the pet has the motivation to carry out commands for the treat.

Owners, choosing a name for the Dalmatian, quite often prefer nicknames that reflect the unusual color of the breed. Such names are used here: Figaro, Blot, Zebra, Bim (by the association of the story "White Bim the Black Ear"), Harlequin, Marble, Jade, Star, Africa, Dune, Flora, Snow White.

Choosing nicknames for your pet, you can focus on a number of associations. Below are examples of successful nicknames for Dalmatian boys and Dalmatian girls.

• association with natural phenomena: Rain, Grad, Cloud, Cold
• expression of pedigree: Earl, Ideal, Lord, Countess, Prince, Lady, Lady;
• associations with flowers: Chamomile, Buttercup, Burdock, Peony, Astra, Hyacinth;
• associations with celestial bodies: Star, Moon, Neptune, Mars, Uranus, Jupiter;
• expression of activity and speed: Whirlwind, Storm, Mig, Lightning, Tikhon;
• you can also name a pet in honor of a famous person: Napoleon, Caesar, Julius, Cicero, Tiffany, Rose, Berta, Sofia;
• associations with mythological personalities: Loki, Zeus, Athena, Venus, Perseus, Neptune, Nick, Juno;
• nicknames for the names of a certain territory or geographical object: Vienna, Nile, Paris, World.

Absolutely all owners speak of Dalmatians as kind, intelligent and extremely talented animals that can support in difficult times. All celebrate Dalmatians' love of mischief, as well as their affection for children and other dogs.

As for the negative moments, some complain about problems with pet grooming - it seems that not all breeders expected that there would be so much rubbish and dirt from such a seemingly short hair coat.

About the history of origin and features of the Dalmatian breed, see the next video.