Ratings

Breed Introduction

　　The Dalmatian is a special dog with spots, named for the spots on its body, originating from Yugoslavia. In the 19th century, British and French nobility used it as a guard dog for horse-drawn carriages, which is why it is also referred to as a carriage dog.

　　Dalmatians are calm yet alert; they are strong, muscular, and lively; they show no shyness; their expressions are intelligent; and their proportions are harmonious, with no exaggerations or roughness. Dalmatians have great endurance and can run at considerable speed. They have long heads with flat foreheads; the distance between their eyes is appropriate; their ears are of medium size and placed high; they have a thick chest; and a long tail that curves upwards. The neck is beautifully arched, quite long, with no excess flesh, smoothly merging into the shoulders.

　　The development of the spots traces back to the Dalmatian’s origins in Yugoslavia. In the 18th century, they were commonly used as draft dogs, sharing many similarities in appearance and traits with the well-known local Bengal pointer. A wealth of geographic ties and historical evidence support the view that this dog originated in Yugoslavia.

　　In the 19th century, the breed spread to Britain, gradually losing its hunting skills and becoming a companion dog. After World War II, due to their outstanding coat, they became increasingly popular in other European countries. The 1959 Walt Disney film ‘101 Dalmatians’ transformed these dogs from a draft animal to beloved companion dogs, capturing hearts worldwide.