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The Dalmatian breed experienced a massive surge in popularity as a result of the novels and films called 101 Dalmatians, this was also the case with donkeys and Shrek and rats and Ratatouille and of course this resulted in impulse buys. Many irresponsible breeders and puppy farms then cashed in on the breeds rising popularity and large numbers of Dalmatians appeared some of whom had health and temperament problems. These were bought by families often for their children who had no idea of the responsibilities that come with owning such an energetic dog breed. You see Dalmatians were originally bred to run alongside horses, and so they require frequent exercise to keep them out of mischief. Many owners then found themselves unable to cope and Dalmatians were abandoned in large numbers and left in animal shelters. One of the problems which is common in the breed is deafness and quite a high percentage of puppies are affected by it, this form of deafness which occurs in albino and piebald animals is related to the absence of mature melanocytes in the inner ear. Nowadays the hype about the breed has largely passed and the few clients that I have that own this breed are very knowledgeable and look after their dogs well.

The Dalmatian is a breed whose exact origin is unknown but it is fairly certain that it did not come from the region called Dalmatia which nowadays is a part of Croatia, the dog was described in around 1600 by a poet called Dalmatin and this may be the origin of the name. The breed by all accounts is very ancient and probably unchanged from its present form over the last thousand years. In the past the breed has frequently been associated with traveling Gypsies in eastern Europe, it has been used as a dog of war, as a sporting dog, a retriever, or in packs for boar or stag hunting. His flashy colouring and intelligence have even made him a successful circus dog throughout the years. In Europe the Dalmatian’s most well known task has been his role as a carriage dog, to this day Dalmatians retain a strong affinity for horses, and in days gone by fashionable gentlemen liked to have a couple of Dalmatians running alongside their coaches for show. The modern Dalmatian is an energetic dog, with unlimited energy and stamina who could still easily keep up with a coach all day long if required.

In the United States Dalmatians as were trained to run in front of horse drawn fire appliances to help clear a path and quickly help guide the horses and firefighters to the fires. The dogs were sometimes also used as rescue dogs to locate victims in burning structures and they were useful to fire brigades as guard dogs to protect a firehouse and its equipment. The horses have long since gone, but the Dalmatians have stayed, as a result in The States the breed are known as Firehouse Dogs and are still kept as pets by firefighters.

So there we have it, The Dalmatian, showy with a long history suitable for people who can provide their pets with lots and lots of exercise and attention.