A dog that often appears at the top of people’s canine wish lists is the Dalmatian, a breed with a variety of positive attributes that make them a great family pet.
+ Hilarious video: with its tail, the Dalmatian dog doesn’t leave the kitten in peace
+ Cute Video: Dog reunites with owner after three years and ‘goes crazy’ with happiness
+ Cute Video: Proud Cat Introduces Her Kitten to Dog Friend
+ Video: Husband and wife dance with their dog during wedding ceremony
Here are some interesting facts about the breed:
1. Origin of the name
The Dalmatian gets its name from the historical region of Dalmatia, in today’s Croatia, where the breed originated.
2. A furry fingerprint
No two Dalmatians have the same number or size of spots, which means they create a unique pattern for the dog, much like a human fingerprint.
3. Spotless puppies
Dalmatian puppies don’t have the breed’s unique spots when they are born. They start life completely white, developing the trademark spots around four weeks of age. They then continue to develop spots throughout their life.
4. Coat of many colors
While the popular image of the Dalmatian is of a white dog with black spots (which was made famous in Disney’s 101 Dalmatians movie series), the breed’s spots can also be brown, orange, yellow, blue, brindle, or mixed.
5. Singular purpose
In Regency England, the Dalmatian was bred to be a carriage dog, tasked with running alongside carriages and protecting the horses and passengers from threats, including thieves. This earned them the nickname “coach dog”.
6. Problematic genes
Dalmatians are genetically predisposed to suffering from deafness: about 8% of the breed is affected by the issue. It is believed that the deafness gene is linked to the blue eyes gene. Because of this, only brown-eyed Dalmatians are bred in some parts of the world.
7. A dog of many names
Other nicknames given to the Dalmatian over the years include the Firehouse Dog, the Carriage Dog, and the Plum Pudding Dog.
8. Spots everywhere
The Dalmatian’s spots cover their entire body. They even have spots inside their mouth.
9. Firefighters
Dalmatians are also strongly associated with firefighting, especially in the USA, where they used to guard the horses that pulled the fire engines, preventing them from fleeing from the flames.
10. Famous fans
Famous owners of Dalmatians include US president George Washington, founder Benjamin Franklin, actor Glen Ford, singer Gloria Estefan, and playwright Eugene O’Neil.
