HISTORY

The true origin of the Dalmatian is unknown, although it is believed to have originated in India. Paintings and figures of spotted dogs have been found in ruins as old as 5,000 years. Numerous written references to spotted dogs occur throughout history. The modern Dalmatian, not withstanding his name however, was developed in Great Britain. While some Dalmatians were used for hunting, the breed's primary purpose was as a coach dog. Coach dogs were by no means ornamental -- they were there to guard the passengers and property in the coach. Because of their affinity for horses, it was natural for the Dalmatian to follow horse-drawn fire engines. Many fire departments are still graced by a Dalmatian mascot who guards the firehouse and helps educate children about fire safety. Dalmatians have been in this country since its founding, with George Washington being the most well-known early breeder.

The Dalmatian was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1914.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

The Dalmatian is a medium-sized, well-balanced, muscular and square dog, with a distinctively spotted short coat; high-set drop ears; and a natural tail carried with a slight upward curve. The correct relationship of height to length of body is 1:1. The Dalmatian should be free of exaggeration or coarseness. Deviations from the described ideal should be penalized in direct proportion to the degree of the deviation.

CHARACTERISTICS

The most readily identifiable characteristic is a short white coat with black or liver colored spots. The Dalmatian is a muscular, active dog, capable of great endurance combined with a fair amount of speed. Research has actually shown that the Dalmatian's affinity for horses and running with vehicles is inherited. The Dalmatian has a stable temperament, aloof with strangers but eager and friendly with people he knows. While not normally aggressive, Dalmatians have strong guarding instincts. They are intelligent but respond best to gentle training methods.

HEAD

The head is proportionate to the size of the dog and is free of loose skin. Viewed from above, the Dalmatian's head appears pear-shaped. When viewed from the side, the skull and muzzle are parallel to one another and joined by a moderate stop.

SKULL -- The skull is almost flat, with a slight center groove running from the occiput down through the stop and extending down the top of the muzzle. The skull is nearly as broad as it is long. The bony arches over the eyes should be well developed.

Serious fault: Flat or slight stop.

MUZZLE -- The cheeks blend smoothly into a powerful muzzle which is about equal in length to the skull. Lips are clean and close-fitting.

Fault: Snipey muzzle.

TEETH -- The Dalmatian has a complete set of evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors bite.

Disqualification: Overshot or undershot bite.

NOSE -- The nose leather is completely pigmented, black in black-spotted dogs and brown in liver-spotted dogs.

Serious fault: Incomplete nose pigmentation.

EYES -- The eyes are set well into the skull and moderately wide apart. They are medium sized and somewhat round in appearance. Eye color is brown or blue, or any combination thereof. Darker eyes are preferred.

Serious faults: Functional abnormality of eyelids or eyelashes; incomplete pigmentation of the eye rims.

EARS -- The ears are drop, of moderate size, proportionately wide at the base and gradually tapering to a rounded tip. They are set rather high, are carried close to the head, and are thin and fine in texture. When the Dalmatian is alert, the top line of the ear is level with the top of the skull and the tip of the ear reaches to the bottom line of the cheek.

NECK

The neck is fairly long, nicely arched, and blends smoothly into the shoulders. The neck is entirely free of throatiness.

FOREQUARTERS

The shoulders are smoothly muscled and well laid back. The upper arm is approximately equal in length to the shoulder blade and joins it at an angle sufficient to insure that the foot falls under the center of the shoulder blade. The elbows are close to the body. The legs are straight, strong and sturdy in bone. The forelegs are straight, with strong, short, slightly sloping pasterns.

BODY

The Dalmatian is about as long, measured from prosternum to point of buttocks, as tall, measured from the withers to the ground. The line of the back inclines very slightly downward from the withers and then becomes level. The loin is short, muscular and slightly arched but narrower than the rib cage and with a moderate tuck-up. The croup is nearly level with the back. Viewed from the front, the chest is deep, moderately wide, and well filled. The ribs are well sprung without being barrel shaped. Viewed from the side, the chest extends only slightly in front of the forelegs but the brisket extends to or below the elbow.

HINDQUARTERS

The hindquarters are powerful with smooth, well-defined muscles. The stifles are well-bent and the hocks are well let down and perpendicular to the ground. Viewed from the rear, the hocks are parallel to one another.

Serious fault: Cow hocks.

FEET

Good feet are an essential feature of this breed. The feet are round and compact with well-arched toes and thick, elastic pads. Toenails may be black or white in black-spotted dogs and brown or white in liver-spotted dogs. Dewclaws may be removed.

TAIL

The tail is a natural extension of the topline. It is thicker at the base and tapers to the tip. It is carried with a slight upward curve but should never curl over the back. A tail of the correct length reaches to the hock.

Faults: Tail set well below the topline; ring tail; vertical tail.

COAT

The coat is short, dense, fine and close-fitting. A correct Dalmatian coat is glossy and sleek.

Severe faults: Woolly or silky coat.

COLOR

Color and markings and their overall appearance are very important points to be evaluated. The ground color is pure white. In black-spotted dogs the spots are dense black. In liver-spotted dogs the spots are liver brown. Spots are round and well-defined, the more distinct the better. Spots vary from the size of a dime to the size of a half-dollar. They are pleasingly and evenly distributed. The less the spots intermingle the better. Spots are usually smaller on the head, legs and tail than on the body. Ears are preferably spotted.

Tri-color (which occurs rarely in this breed) is a disqualification. It consists of tan markings found on the head, neck, chest, leg or tail of a black- or liver-spotted dog.

Bronzing of black spots, and fading or darkening of liver spots due to environmental conditions or normal processes of coat change are not tri-coloration. Patches are a disqualification. A patch is a solid mass of black or liver hair containing no white hair. It is appreciably larger than a normal sized spot. Patches are a dense, brilliant color with sharply defined, smooth edges. Patches are present at birth. Large color masses formed by intermingled or overlapping spots are not patches. Such masses should indicate individual spots by uneven edges and/or white hairs scattered throughout the mass.

Serious faults: Spots lighter than the desired colors should be faulted according to the extent of deviation from the ideal, with lemon-colored spots being a disqualification.

Disqualifications: Any color markings other than black or liver; tri-color; patches; lemon-colored spots; albinism.

HEIGHT & WEIGHT

The Dalmatian has good substance and is strong and sturdy in bone, but never coarse. Desirable height is between 19 and 23 inches measured at the withers.

Faults: Undersize or oversize.

Serious fault: Over 24 inches at the withers.

GAIT

In light of the Dalmatian's historical use as a coach dog, correct movement and endurance are essential. Powerful drive from the rear combined with extended reach in front results in a steady, effortless trot. Elbows, hocks and feet turn neither in nor out. The topline remains level when gaiting. As the speed of the trot increases, there is a tendency to single track. Poor movement should be penalized to the degree to which it reduces the Dalmatian's ability to perform the task it was bred to do.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Overshot or undershot bite. Any color markings other than black or liver. Tri-color. Patches. Lemon-colored spots. Albinism.