The Dalmatian was developed in England, but their origin is unknown. They are one of the most widely recognized of all dog breeds due to their distinctive spotted coat.

Dalmatians are large, muscular dogs with a deep chest that stand at 19-24 inches and weighs in at 50-55 pounds. Their ears are set high, hanging down and rounded at the tip and their tail is left long. They have a short fine coat with dense hair. Although the most common and well known Dalmatian coat is white with black spots, liver spots are also seen.
In contrast to the Dalmatian’s notoriety they have one of the murkiest ancestries. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) lists its country of origin as Croatia (containing most of modern day Dalmatia), but one should not be confused by this breed’s name. Spotted dogs such as theses have existed since antiquity in Europe, Asia, and Africa. They can be found on Egyptian bas-reliefs running behind chariots, on Greek friezes of hunting dogs that are over 4,000 years old, and a fresco in an Italian chapel dating back to 1360 also contains a dog of this type. The French naturalist Buffon called these dogs ‘le Braque de Bengale’ in the mid-1700s and the Harrier Bengal in 1790. This has led some to suggest the breed originated from India, but no explanation was given for either name. Their present name was given in 1791 by Thomas Bewick, although most sources state that they were not present in Dalmatia at that time. Some have even suggested that the name may refer to a connection with the Roman church, as a dalmatic is a vestment worn by deacons and bishops. A probable theory is that the first dogs were a result of a mutation in any one of the European scenthound lines (they do have a ‘pointer’ look) and spread from there, certainly their coat would have made for a high demand, even in the earliest of times.

What is clear is that the breed was developed and refined into today’s breed in England. In the Middle Ages they hunted in packs for boar and stag; later they were also used as bird dogs and retrievers, but it is not for any hunt that they are well known. They are the English Coach Dog or Carriage Dog, the only breed that was traditionally used alongside horse drawn vehicles. Their affinity for horses and instinct for this task is so engrained that an adolescent will fall in behind a carriage without any training. Early dogs had their ears entirely cropped away and were fitted with studded collars, giving them a fierce look as their main duty was protection of its people and their goods. Later, their presence became more a status symbol as they remained trotting alongside their charges. When the breed was taken to the United States it became intertwined with horse-drawn fire engines and to this day they are often kept at stations as mascots even though the horses were long ago replaced by engines.

The Dalmatian is a breed with high stamina and a lot of energy. They need positive outlets for this energy and if left alone or allowed to fall into boredom they can turn destructive. This is a breed that prefers being with their family and get along well with children and the other household pets. Some Dalmatians can be aggressive towards strange dogs and early socialization and training is recommended.

The life expectancy of a Dalmatian is around 12 years. They are prone to skin allergies, hyperuicemia (which can lead to kidney and bladder stones), a high number of Dalmatians are born deaf. It is estimated that only 70% of the population has normal hearing.

The Dalmatian can adjust to apartment life (although it is not ideal) provided they have long brisk walks (or preferably a run) daily. They are active both in and outdoors.

The short coat of a Dalmatian needs very little care. They are a naturally clean breed and only need occasional bathing.