Since there is no other breed in the United States with such a distinctive spotted coat, the Dalmatian is an easily recognized dog. They were always popular in association with fire departments but then they exploded in popularity after the 1961 release of Walt Disney’s movie “101 Dalmatians.”

The origin of the breed isn’t completely known, but archeologists have uncovered engravings of spotted dogs running alongside Egyptian chariots and historians have references of spotted dogs that date all the way back to 3000 BC. Despite their name it is difficult to prove this breed of dog started in the Yugoslavian province of Dalmatia and today the only Dalmatians in this province are imported dogs or those that have been bred from imported dogs.

No matter what the origin of the breed it has been clear throughout history that the Dalmatian is a working dog. Throughout history it has been used as a hunting dog, a coach follower, a shepherd and a war dog. Over the course of time they have performed every job that has been asked of it.

Typically they are nineteen to twenty-four inches tall with a short coat and well muscled. They need lots of activity otherwise there is the chance they will become neurotic and destructive. The standard official breed should be white with black spots evenly distributed around the body.

Despite the short coat and friendly nature of these dogs they are not as easy to care for as one might think. They will shed constantly and leave hairs behind unless you use a rough towel or grooming glove daily to keep the shedding to a minimum.

This breed is prone to hip dysphasia which is common in medium to large breed dogs. In addition, they have a high rate of skin problems, deafness and bladder stones. Among most dogs the formation of bladder stones is unusual except for the Dalmatians which have a urinary system similar to that of humans.

They can have a wide variety of temperaments. Some can be shy while others are aggressive. There are even some that become sensitive to smell or sound and will lose concentration with over bombarded.

However, a strong point is that they are a very intelligent dog breed and can be trained to do practically anything as long as the owner puts form a persistent, consistent and firm effort. When you correct a Dalmatians misbehavior they will often shut down, but rather than give up you must continue training.

Despite their high amounts of energy, they can be a highly lovable dog that is a lot of fun once the owner builds a bond with the dog. Undesirable behavior patterns will result if they are not walked or worked daily. They are probably not the ideal dog for a sedate family, very young children or elderly couples. If you decide to get a Dalmatian then obedience training is a must. Since they require much more attention than other breeds it is advised that only experienced dog families get a Dalmatian.