CHILDREN'S WORLD – PETS, DOGS 3 - Dalmatian

Dalmatian The name of this beautiful breed speaks of its origin. The origins of the Dalmatian dog can be traced back to present-day Croatia and its historical region of Dalmatia. They are one of the oldest breeds; there are 4,000-year-old paintings on which a dog similar to today's Dalmatian can be seen. In history, they were also called the Dubrovnik hound and later the Dalmatian gun dog. They served as war dogs and as escorts to the Uskoks of Senj. They were used in hunting as bird hunters and retrievers, and they also knew how to guard flocks and hunt pests. They were often the forerunners and escorts of fire trucks. The International Kennel Club admitted this breed and prescribed a standard for it in 1955. There is no other breed similar in appearance to the Dalmatian. Their hair is short, thick and shiny, and they shed a lot, so they get cold in winter. Their white coat is marked with black-colored spots and dots that must not be touched – the more evenly spaced they are, the more valuable the dog is. In the last couple of decades, dogs with brown dots have also made an appearance. They are medium-sized, strong and very muscular, and they grow up to 50–60 cm and weigh 25–30 kg. Their ears are glued to their head and can be both black and white. The eyes are round and shiny, usually brown, but can also be amber or blue. They are attached to their family, cheerful and playful and require company and a lot of movement. After the animated movie 101 Dalmatians was released, the popularity of this breed increased rapidly all over the world, even more when a feature film about their shenanigans was made. This led to them starting to be mass-bred without paying attention to genetics which resulted in certain health issues and shortcomings. These problems have been resolved and if you want to get a Dalmatian, you should inquire about a kennel that has a good reputation and admirable results at dog shows, which is a guarantee that you will get a healthy and stable friend.