Dalmatian Picture Gallery

Dalmatian Breeders

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The Full Dalmatian Description

The Dalmatian is a well-behaved gentleman, but needs plenty of exercise. He loves to jog for miles alongside his owner. He is reliably polite with strangers, but also a good watchdog. His love and devotion to his owners are boundless.

Did you know?

The Dalmatian is believed to have come from Dalmatia, a region of Croatia located along the Adriatic Sea.
Dalmatian puppies are born solid white in colour and develop their spots later.
Dalmatians' activities have varied from a dog of war to a bird dog and a retriever. However, Dalmatians are mostly known for coaching.

So you want to own a Dalmatian?

The Dalmatian is a naturally clean dog who is easy to bath and groom. Daily brushing minimizes shedding.
The Dalmatian may appear snobbish with strangers, but loves his family.
The have a great sense of humour and many of them smile when happy.

Indicative Breed Standard

General Appearance

A distinctively spotted dog, balanced, strong, muscular and active. Symmetrical in outline, free from coarseness and lumber.

Characteristics

A carriage dog of good demeanour, capable of great endurance and a fair turn of speed.

Temperament

Outgoing and friendly, not shy or hesitant, free from nervousness and aggression.

Head and Skull

Of fair length, skull flat, reasonably broad between ears, moderately well defined in front of ears. Moderate amount of stop. Entirely free from wrinkle. Muzzle long, powerful, never snipy; lips clean, fitting jaw moderately closely. Nose in black spotted variety always black, in liver spotted variety always brown.

Eyes

Set moderately well apart, medium size, round, bright and sparkling, with intelligent expression. Colour, dark in black spotted, amber in liver spotted. Eye rims preferably completely black in black spotted, and liver brown in liver spotted.

Ears

Set on rather high, moderate size, rather wide at base, gradually tapering to rounded point. Fine in texture, carried close to head. Marking well broken up, preferably spotted.

Mouth

Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Fairly long, nicely arched, light and tapering. Entirely free from throatiness.

Forequarters

Shoulders moderately oblique, clean and muscular. Elbows close to body. Forelegs perfectly straight with strong round bone down to feet, with slight spring at pastern joint.

Body

Chest not too wide but deep and capacious with plenty of lung and heart room. Ribs well sprung, well defined withers, powerful level back, loin strong, clean, muscular and slightly arched.

Hindquarters

Rounded, muscles clean with well developed second thigh, good turn of stifle, hocks well defined.

Feet

Round, compact, with well arched toes, cat-like, round, tough, elastic pads. Nails black or white in black spotted variety, in liver spotted, brown or white.

Tail

Length reaching approximately to hock. Strong at insertion gradually tapering towards end, never inserted too low or too high, free from coarseness and carried with a slight upward curve, never curled. Preferably spotted.

Gait/Movement

Great freedom of movement. Smooth, powerful, rhythmic action with long stride. Viewed from behind, legs move in parallel, hindlegs tracking the fore. A short stride and paddling action incorrect.

Coat

Short, hard, dense; sleek and glossy in appearance.

Colour

Ground colour pure white. Black spotted, dense black spots, and liver spotted, liver brown spots; not running together but round and well defined. In size one-penny to fifty-pence piece. Spots as well distributed as possible. Spots on extremities smaller than those on body. Patches, tricolours and lemon spots highly undesirable. Bronzing on spots undesirable in adults.

Size

Overall balance of prime importance. Ideal height: dogs: 58-61 cms (23-24 ins); bitches: 56-58 cms (22-23 ins).