The Dalmatian belongs to the sixth group in this classification: Hounds – Blood search dogs and related breeds. These dogs are specialized in different hunting disciplines using different working techniques depending on the section. Our main interested party refers to section 3: related breeds. Generally speaking, they are all dogs that are very focused on smell, which allows them to follow trails. However, a consequence of this is that they can also easily get lost because of this sense of smell. These are dogs that have a voice, an organ they use to notify their master when they have retrieved game.

Most likely originating from the Mediterranean region, the Dalmatian owes its name to the fact of having been born more precisely in Dalmatia, or at least of having been used in this region during the Balkan War. Coming from the Bengal Pointer, now extinct, the Bull Terrier and the Pointer, we find traces of it in the 17th century in Italy where it was apparently very fashionable in the Vatican. In the following century, he became a luxury dog in England where he accompanied the teams, which earned him the nickname “coach dog”. Since then, this breed has become the mascot of firefighters in the United States and was widely popularized by the Walt Disney film “101 Dalmatians” in 1961.

The male Dalmatian measures between 56 and 61 cm and weighs around 27 kg. Significantly smaller, the female measures between 54 and 59 cm and weighs around 24 kg. It is an athletic, elegant, Pointer type dog. It is well proportioned, harmonious and its gait is very clear. The body of the Dalmatian can be written in a square. Its neck is of medium length, curved and without dewlap. His chest is high and ample. Its ribs are well sprung. His withers are well defined. Its back is powerful and straight, ending in a muscular and slightly arched area of the kidneys. Its limbs are made of solid bones. Its feet are round and firm with hard pads. Its tail is strong at the attachment and gradually diminishes towards the tip. It is carried with a slight upward curve but is never rolled up. Its head is long and its skull is very flat. Its muzzle is long, powerful and not tapered. His jaws are powerful and his lips naturally adjust to them without floating. Its eyes are of medium size, set apart and round. They are dark in individuals with brown spots and light in those with liver spots. Its ears are set high, medium sized, and held close to its head. The end is rounded. Generally speaking, they are thin, fine in texture and most often have numerous nummular spots (shaped like small coins). The Dalmatian's coat is known to everyone! And for good reason, it is rather recognizable with its pure white background color spotted with black all over its body. In dogs of the black variety, the spots are a particularly dark black. In those of the brown variety, the spots are liver-brown in color. These famous spots cannot be confused and must be very round, clearly defined, well distributed and with a diameter of 2 to 3 cm. The spots on the head, tail and extremities should be more discreet. Note that puppies are born completely white; the spots only appear gradually and are permanently in place only from the age of one year. The Dalmatian's hair is short, hard, dense and smooth.

The Dalmatian is prone to kidney and urinary pathologies. Unlike the vast majority of dogs, it does not break down purines, molecules present in living beings and in food, into smaller molecules that are easy to eliminate, but into uric acid, which is very difficult to eliminate in urine. The dog can then be subject to hyperuricemia, an abnormally high level of uric acid in the blood leading to attacks of gout (inflammation in the joints) and especially kidney stones. The diagnosis is established on the basis of a urine analysis (tests for blood, crystals, pH and possible bacteria) but also using an x-ray or an ultrasound to detect the presence of kidney stones. Regarding treatments, a medication or a change in diet can modify the urinary pH and thus facilitate the dissolution of kidney stones. When these stones are too large and cannot be evacuated through the urethra or if they risk obstructing the urinary tract, surgery is then necessary. This breed is also susceptible to neurological pathologies, mainly deafness of congenital perception common in dogs with white coats and light eyes. And it is in the Dalmatian that the prevalence is the highest: more than one dog in five has unilateral deafness (one ear) and almost one dog in ten has bilateral deafness (two ears). This type of deafness does not appear at birth but after a few weeks of life; It is therefore unfortunately not possible to carry out a prenatal diagnosis. It is strongly recommended to use the tracing of auditory evoked potentials (AEP), a method which makes it possible to evaluate the diffusion of sound in the outer and middle ears and the neurological properties in the inner ear, the auditory nerve and the brainstem . In addition to the medical diagnosis, an observation of the dog can help detect deafness. Indeed, a Dalmatian who is deaf in both ears will display atypical behavior: deep sleep, response only to tactile stimuli and aggression towards other dogs. That said, a Dalmatian who is deaf in only one ear will lead his life completely normally, without showing any particular symptoms. Unfortunately, there is currently no treatment to restore hearing in dogs. Regular brushing is sufficient for its maintenance.

In line with its initial functions as a draft dog and team companion, the Dalmatian is a robust, enduring and rather sporty dog. But above all today he is a pleasant companion thanks to his calm, docile, affectionate temperament and his gentleness with children. Although he can be somewhat distant with strangers, which makes him a good guardian, the Dalmatian is not a barker and even less aggressive. His education must be firm and early. The Dalmatian adapts very well to apartment life if he has enough opportunity to exercise.