DALMATIAN FACTS

DALMATIAN FACTS

BELOW WE HAVE LISTED A FEW COMMON FACTS ABOUT THIS BREED

MORE CAN BE LEARNED BY VISITING OUR LINKS PAGE.

ORIGIN

ALTHOUGH THE EXACT ORIGINS OF THE BREED ARE A LITTLE OBSCURE MANY HISTORIANS AND AUTHORS HAVE AGREED THAT - 'THE DALMATIAN IS AN ANCIENT BREED AND A PURE ONE AT THAT'.

SOME TRACINGS HAVE BEEN FOUND AS FAR BACK AS ANCIENT EGYPT WHERE SPOTTED HUNTING DOGS WERE DEPICTED ON THE WALLS OF TOMBS OF THE PHARAOHS. BY FAR THE MOST POPULAR THEORY IS THAT THE DALMATIAN ORIGINATED FROM THE SEACOAST NATION OF 'DALMATIA' FROM WHICH THE BREED HAS GOT ITS NAME. BECAUSE OF ALL THIS MYSTERY IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE BIRTH PLACE OF THE DALMATIAN WOULD BE KNOWN AS 'BRITAIN'. NEVERTHELESS, THIS BREED HAS BEEN WITH US FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND WILL HOPEFULLY BE WITH US FOR A VERY LONG TIME TO COME.

PUPPIES

ALL PUPS ARE BORN WHITE. SOME PIGMENTATION AROUND THE EYES, EARS AND NOSE ARE SOMETIMES PRESENT AT BIRTH. WHEN THE PUPS ARE STILL WET FROM THE BIRTH PROCESS SPOTS CAN BE SEEN ON THE SKIN. PATCHES ARE SEEN AT BIRTH. THIS CAN BE A SOLID BLACK OR LIVER EAR, A PATCH OVER ONE OR BOTH OF THE EYES OR A SOLID PATCH SOMEWHERE ELSE ON THE BODY. THIS IS ONLY A COSMETIC FAULT AND IS NO WAY A DETRIMENT TO THE DOG.

DEAFNESS

DEAFNESS - APPROX. 8% ARE BORN TOTALLY DEAF. A REPUTABLE BREEDER WILL GENERALLY PICK OUT A DEAF PUP BY THE TIME IT REACHES 4 WEEKS OLD. IN RECENT YEARS THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A SPECIFIC TEST CALLED 'BAER' . THIS FORM OF TESTING IS DONE BY A MACHINE WHILST THE PUP OR DOG IS ANAESTHETIZED. IT MEASURES THE BRAIN-STEM AUDITORY RESPONSES. THIS TEST IS FULLY AVAILABLE IN NSW AND QLD BUT NOT IN VICTORIA AT PRESENT. THIS TEST IS TO MAINLY TELL IF THE ANIMAL CAN HEAR IN BOTH EARS AND IS AIMED AT BREEDING STOCK. DEAF PUPPIES ARE HUMANLY DESTROYED. THEY CAN NOT BE SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKFULLY THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IN EVERY LITTER OF PUPPIES BORN. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS CLICK HERE

DIET

DALMATIANS HAVE AN AFFLICTION KNOWN AS URIC ACID CALCULI (BLADDER STONES). THIS DISEASE IS NOT OBVIOUS UNTIL ADULTHOOD. IT MAINLY AFFECTS MALE DOGS BUT SOME FEMALES CAN ALSO BE EFFECTED. IT IS CONTROLLABLE THROUGH DIET. A DIET THAT IS LOW IN PROTEIN (GENERALLY UNDER 22%) IS WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR GOOD HEALTH. WE FEED OUR DOGS ON A MIXTURE OF DRY FOOD (COBBER), VEGETABLES, FRUIT AND RAW MEATY BONES. THE FEEDING OF RAW MEATY BONES ETC. IS CALLED THE BARF DIET. MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS DIET BY VISITING - www.drianbillinghurst.com. HE HAS WRITTEN SEVERAL BOOKS ON THIS SUBJECT.

TRAINING

DALMATIANS ARE A VERY INTELLIGENT BREED OF DOG. THEY ARE EASILY TRAINED AND ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO PLEASE. ALTHOUGH THEY CAN NOT BE TRAINED IN THE CONVENTIONAL MANNER, WHICH IS REPETITION, THEY WILL LEARN VERY EASILY IF THE TRAINING IS KEPT VARIED. DALMATIANS ARE CAPABLE OF ALL ASPECTS OF OBEDIENCE LEVELS AND OTHER LEVELS OF TRAINING SUCH AS TRACKING AND ENDURANCE.