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DALMATIANS |
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There is indeed a place
called Dalmatia on the Adriatic Sea and these popular spotted dogs first came
into focus in that area. It is said
they have been known for centuries and because of a close association with
the nomad Romanites (gypsies) the travels provided
the dogs with many jobs and names before Dalmatian became fixed. They had been known as Plum Pudding Dog
(!), the English Coach Dog, the Fire House Dog and the Carriage Dog. The breed has been
associated with various jobs including guard and sentry dogs and even
pointers. They were outclassed in
England by the various sporting breeds there and ultimately found themselves
the dog we think of today – the Fire House Dog and the Carriage Dog. Obviously that makes it very clear that this
is a breed with a LOT of energy! They
need a heavy diet of exercise to prevent formation of bad habits such as
barking and digging. Because of their
high energy this is not a breed for a family with toddlers. Careless breeding may result in hyperactivity. Walt Disney’s film has caused a lot of
heartache both in the physical health of the breed and the poor placement in
homes not suitable. The breed comes in two
color patterns (black and liver) but in each case the breed standard requires
that the white be the whitest possible and that the spots should range from
dime to half dollar sized. Spots on
face, head, ears, legs and tail are smaller than those on the body. Spots should not intermingle! There are Dalmatians with lemon, dark blue,
tri colored and sable spots. These are
not part of the breed standard. The
dogs range in height from 19 to 23 inches and average about 55 pounds. There is high incidence of
aggression in the breed, especially male to male dog but aggression towards
people is also an issue. In the breed
uric acid levels are higher than in other breeds and this can lead to
blockage. It is recommended to feed a
low purine diet:
no beef, poultry, lamb or organ meats.
Responsible breeders will not breed dogs with an indication of this
problem. Some sources suggest not neutering the males until at least one year
of age to permit maximum development of the penis and its opening so that if
crystals do form they may pass more easily.
Other health issues include
canine hip dysplasia and breeding stock should be free of the problem. While there is little concern for eye and
thyroid problems it is wise to test for them. 10 to 12% of the breed is
deaf! Use great care when selecting a
puppy. As is true for all breeds
positive reinforcement based training is of great importance. This is a very
smart breed that may well take exception to any force based methods and some one could get hurt.
And that beautiful spotted
coat belongs to a breed that sheds profusely. The hair seems to penetrate
whatever it touches. It is said that
while it does only shed twice a year the shedding is 6 months in the Spring
and 6 months in the Fall! M |