The History of Dalmatian Dogs

The Dalmatian is a very recognizable dog breed. These dogs have a white coat with round spots that can be black or a variety of other colors. Dalmatians can weigh more than 50 lb. as adults and they are very energetic, especially during their youth. Dalmatians are better off when they are walked often by their owners and when they receive plenty of exercise. You might want to gain an understanding of the history of Dalmatian dogs before considering this breed as a pet.

  1. Origin

    • Investigators dispute the origin of the Dalmatian. Claims that the Dalmatian originated in certain places -- such as the former Yugoslavia -- have been questioned. Dog breed organizations denied attempts to give the Dalmatian a Croatian origin up until the early 1990s. In 1993, the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) agreed that the Dalmatian did indeed have roots leading back to Croatia. The FCI, however, refused to go as far as giving Croatia patronage rights over the Dalmatian Breed.

    Early References

    • References to the Dalmatian breed date far back into history. For example, in the 1500s, a poem written to a duchess made mention of the Dalmatian. Paintings from Florence, Italy, dating back to the 1300s show images of a type of spotted Dalmatian. Evidence of Dalmatian existence have shown up in Europe, Asia and Africa. Dalmatian images have even been discovered on the walls of underground tombs.

    Firehouse Dog

    • One of the traditional roles that the Dalmatian had may have begun in Great Britain. Firehouses in London often had a problem keeping a handle on various types of vermin. Dalmatians did an excellent job of ridding the firehouses of these pest as they didn't hesitate to kill any that they caught. Great Britain, the United States and other countries still have Dalmatians as proud members of their fire stations. It's not rare to see a Dalmatian riding inside a passing fire truck even to this day.

    Horse Dog

    • Dalmatians and horses seem to naturally get along. In the past when horses were used as a primary means of transportation, Dalmatians received training so that they could run along side of horse and carriages. They eventually earned the name "coach dogs" or "ladies dogs" because they often ran with carriages carrying women. During the 17th century, Dalmatians had a job of protecting the horses that were pulling the carriages. Dalmatians were also allowed to sleep with the horses at night. This helped protect against horse theft.