Page 288 - (DK) The Dog Encyclopedia

CATALOG OF BREEDS | COMPANION DOGS

Dalmatian

HEIGHT WEIGHT LIFE SPAN White with liver spots
22–24in 40–60lb Over 10 years
(56–61cm) (18–27kg)

This playful and easy-going dog makes a good family pet,
but needs plenty of exercise and persistent training Black spots
are round and
The Dalmatian is the only spotted dog still keep Dalmatians as mascots. The clearly defined
in existence today. Its ancestry is unclear, breed is also an emblem of the American
although spotted dogs have been known Anheuser-Busch beer company, often seen
since ancient times in Europe, Africa, and running beside the wagons pulled by the
Asia. The FCI has defined the breed’s area famous Clydesdale horses.
of origin as Dalmatia, a region of Croatia The Dalmatian is intelligent, friendly,
on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. and outgoing. It loves human company and
The breed has had many uses, including still has an affinity with horses. However,
as a hunting dog, a dog of war, and a guard it does have a great deal of energy and can
for livestock. The Dalmatian was especially be stubborn and aggressive with other
popular in the UK during the early 19th dogs, so an owner needs to give
century, when it was known as the “carriage it an active lifestyle and dedicate
dog” because it was trained to run under time to training.
or beside horse-drawn carriages, often The puppies are born pure
traveling very long distances. As well as white, and the black or
looking elegant, it protected the horses liver spots only start to
and carriage from marauding stray dogs. appear from about
In the US the Dalmatian was used four weeks of
as a “fire-house dog,” running with the age. The white
horse-drawn fire engines and barking to coat sheds a
clear the way for them. Some fire stations great deal.
Tail tapers
from base
to tip
101 DALMATIANS

The 1956 children’s book The Hundred and One
Dalmatians by Dodie Smith tells the story of a
litter of Dalmatians that is kidnapped by the evil
Cruella De Vil, to be skinned and turned into
coats. They are, fortunately, rescued by their
parents, Pongo and Perdita. Dalmatians became
hugely popular thanks to the two Walt Disney
films that followed. However, many new owners
lacked the experience to cope with this energetic
breed, and countless Dalmatians were Round, catlike feet
abandoned and ended up in rescue shelters. with well arched
toes

PUPPY

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