Dalmatian

Appearance

This popular breed of dog is a well-muscled, mid-sized, elegant dog with excellent endurance. The Dalmatian is slightly longer than tall when bred under the European (FCI) Standard and Dowdy Standards. The American Kennel Club standard states that the dog should be more square, as long as it is tall at the withers. Shoulder should be well laid back with the elbow falling directly under the tip of the shoulder blade. Rear angulation should match the front with the stifle "well" bent indicating good angulation in the rear. The feet are round and compact with well-arched toes. The nails are either white and/or the same color as the spots. The ears are thin, tapering toward the tip, set fairly high and carried close to the head.

The ideal Dalmatian should stand between 54 and 61.5 cm (20 and 24 inches) at the withers and weigh from 23 to 35 kgs (50-77 pounds) fully grown. Breed standard -- a description of the ideal specimen of each type of purebred dogs—may vary slightly among different nations' kennel clubs. Males are generally slightly larger than females. As with all dogs, the Dalmatian's gestation is about two months, or between 60 to 64 days.

The most common colors for Dalmatians are black or liver spotted on a white background. Other spotting colors, though not permitted for showing, and rare, are blue (a blue-grayish color), orange or lemon (dark to pale yellow), brindle, mosaic, tri-colored (may appear on any other coloured spots), and two-toned. Dalmatians exhibiting the highest ratio of white to black fur are more likely to be deaf and more difficult to train than other Dalmatians.

Patches often occur in the breed and are a disqualification in the show ring. Patches are present at birth, and consist of a solid colour. Patches can appear anywhere on the body, but are most common on the head and ears. Patches are not to be confused with heavily spotted areas on a dog, however.


Health

Dalmatians are a very old breed, often thought to be the very first type of dog for which man made deliberate attempts to selectively breed for specific characteristics. These characteristics were at first appearance, then other attributes such as stamina, endurance, and health. The result is a very prolific and long-lived breed of striking appearance, generally free from ailments common to other dogs such as hip dysplasia (almost unknown in purebred Dalmatians). Most of their health problems result from the onset of old age; the average Dalmatian lives between 11 and 13 years, although some can live as long as 17 to 18 years. In their late teens, both males and females may suffer bone spurs and arthritic conditions.


Popularity

The Dalmatian breed experienced a massive surge in popularity as a result of the 1956 novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians written by British author Dodie Smith, and later due to the two Walt Disney films based on the book. The Disney animated classic released in 1961, later spawned a 1996 live-action remake 101 Dalmatians. In the years following the release of the second movie, the Dalmatian breed suffered greatly at the hands of irresponsible breeders and inexperienced owners. Many irreputable breeders and puppy mills cashed in on the breed's rising popularity, and began breeding high numbers of Dalmatians without first ensuring the health, quality, and temperament of the dogs being bred.