Group
7: Non Sporting |
Energy
Level: High |
Original
Function: bird dog, hound, circus dog, court
dog, draft dog, shepherd
Temperament:
Outgoing, friendly dogs, free from nervousness and aggression
Characteristics:
Dals are dedicated and loyal and always want to please but because
of their determined natures will easily form bad habits. They are
mild-mannered, affectionate dogs who enjoy company and clowning
about, an extrovert, and well known for its characteristic grin
Recommended
for: Active people & families.
Be Aware:
Newborn pups have no spots.
Lifespan:
10 - 14 yrs
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Height: Overall
balance of prime importance, but the ideal height to be aimed
at is:
Dogs 58.4-61 cm (23-24 ins.)
Bitches 56-58.4 cm (22-23 ins.).
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Colour:
The ground colour should be pure white. Black spotted
dogs have dense black spots and liver spotted dogs liver-brown
spots. They should not run together but be round and well
defined, the size of a 5 to a 20 cent COIN, as well distributed
as possible. Spots on the extremities should be smaller than
those on the body. |
Coat:
Short, hard and dense, sleek and glossy in appearance.
General
Appearance: The breed stands out for their unique spotted
coats; black or liver spots on a white background. They should be
a balanced, strong, muscular, active dog of good demeanour. They
have wonderful freedom of movement taking long strides, showing
smooth, powerful and rhythmic action, capable of great endurance
with a fair amount of speed.
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The Dalmatian is an ancient breed,
dating back to 2000BC, where it was shown them working with the
chariots of ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt. Over the years Dalmatians
have been used as dogs of war, border patrols, cart pullers, sheep
herders, dogs of the hunt, circus performers and, of course, coaching
dogs. Whatever the origin, Dalmatians have worked with horses since
at least the Middle Ages. With the breed's introduction to Britain
in the 18th century, the Dalmatian became very popular with the
aristocracy as an additive to their ornate carriages, especially
because of their ability to work horses under the rear or front
carriage axles. The dogs were adopted in the 1800's by fire departments
and it was not an unusual sight to see Dals running through the
streets of London to clear the way for the horse-drawn water-wagons.
The breed remains friendly with horses and modern day field trials
still test the abilities of the Dal to perform these duties.
They are a spirited and playful
dog; they like children and can be trusted around them. They make
excellent pets and are a great companion to take jogging or walking
with you. They like to spend their time with you; they can be sensitive
so training takes patience. However, their strength and stamina
can sometimes be too much of a challenge for some owners. Dals take
at least 2 years to settle down.
Grooming-
their short coat is easy to look after, once a week run a grooming
mitt over their coats to remove dead hairs, finishing off with a
soft cloth to promote shine.
Exercise-
do not over-exercise as puppies. Dals are a breed of incredible
endurance and are able to travel at a moderate pace almost indefinitely.
When it comes to exercise they should be given sufficient running
time and roadwork to build up and maintain the muscled outline.
Because of their hunting instincts they love to run, jump and climb
so caution should be taken at all times to ensure their safety.
Health-
This breed can be prone to skin allergies, urinary bladder stones
and also deafness.
For Diet and other general dog health information Health/Nutrition
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