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Dalmatian
This is a favorite companion
dog which is intelligent and loves children. Popularized by
101 Dalmatians, the 1959 Walt Disney film, this breed has a
long history of popularity from the 1700s, both with royalty
and as a hunter. The Dalmatian has at various times been a
sled dog, herd dog, and guard dog.
History:
The Dalmatian's history is
difficult to trace; it was possibly taken to the Dalmatia
region of Yugoslavia by gypsies from India or the Middle East.
Early pictorial depictions, in prints of the 1600s, show
Dalmatians as guard dogs for coaches. They are shown either
perched on top of the carriages or running alongside or
between the horses, skilfully avoiding the hooves and without
disturbing the horse.
The
Dalmatian was seen as the height of carriage accessory fashion
in Britain and France in the nineteenth century. More recently
in Britain and America, the Dalmatian has been a firefighter's
helper to seek out trapped and injured people. The Dalmatian
is strong enough to carry an injured person, and has a keen
intelligence to seek out a safe route through a burning
building.
Physical
characteristics:
A good-sized dog. Height: 22 -
24 in (56 - 61 cm) for the dog and 21 - 23 in (53.3 - 58.4 cm)
for the bitch. Weight: 49 - 55 lb (22 - 25 kg). The body is
strong and muscular, with shoulders laid back and chest not
too broad, but deep and ample. Ribs are well-sprung and the
loin is lean, strong, muscular, and slightly arched. The tail
is thick, tapering at the tip and slightly curved.
The
coat is dense, short, hard and fine. It is also smooth and
shiny. The color is white with well-defined black or liver
markings. Pups are born all white and develop pigmentation and
spots from two weeks old; their coat markings are fully
developed by about one year old.
Behavior:
The Dalmatian seems to gain
its confidence from its size. This large dog usually has a
gentle nature, and therefore gets along exceedingly well with
children. Care should be taken that the young and boisterous
Dalmatian does not accidentally bowl over small children
during play. Otherwise, Dalmatians make great family
companions.
The
Dalmatian is an intelligent and alert dog, and makes a good
watch-dog. Its deep purposeful bark provides a good deterrent
to would be intruders. Normally, Dalmatians do not become too
bossy with people, but it is still wise to be assertive
towards them, particularly when they are young. These
energetic dogs must be given plenty of physical exercise and
mental stimulation. Bored dogs can become destructive. If the
family are working in the garden on the weekend the young dog
may continue with its own ideas of digging when they have gone
to work the next day. Once they are over their very energetic
"adolescence," Dalmatians mature into excellent family dogs.
They become very loyal and delight in protecting their family.
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