We all know what a Dalmatian dog is, but no one really know much about the breed. The Dalmatian is a beautiful breed of dog with an interesting origin. In this essay I will be discussing information about the Dalmatian, and try and give you an in depth look at the Dalmatian. The Dalmatian is a mid-sized muscular dog with excellent endurance and stamina. When a Dalmatian is full grown, its weight is normally ranging from 35-70 pounds. Its height is 19 to 24 inches tall, with males usually slightly larger than females. The Dalmatian's feet are round with arched toes. Nails are usually white or the same color as the dog's spots. The thin ears taper towards the tip and are set fairly high and close to the head. Typical eye colors include the following: brown, amber, or blue, with some dogs having one blue eye and one brown eye, which is very interesting to see. The Republic of Croatia was recognized by the FCI as the country of origin of the Dalmatian. The breed was developed and cultivated in England. When the dog was first shown in England in 1862, it was said to have been used as a guard dog and companion to the nomads of Dalmatia. However, nothing is definitely known about its origin. The breed's unusual coat became popular and widely used over the continent of Europe beginning in 1920.
In the United States, the use of Dalmatians as carriage dogs was transferred to horse-drawn fire engines. Today the Dalmatian serves as a firehouse mascot, but back during the horse and carriage days they provided a valuable service. What the Dalmatians would do is they would nip and the back of the horses heal and try to make the horse go faster. By this time the horses are gone but the tradition of the Dalmatian lives on as it stands as an icon. Dalmatians are still chosen by many firefighters as pets, in honor of their heroic efforts.
The Dalmatian breed experienced a massive surge in popularity as a result of the 1956 book The Hundred and One Dalmatians.