Dalmatians - Puppies - Pictures

Thousands of dog pictures, such as Dalmatians; other pets and dogs for sale.

www.gotpetsonline.comAdvertise here

Dalmatians - Puppies - Their Original Functions

Dalmatians are dogs with a long history. Even though many countries would gladly enjoy the honor of being called the motherland of the breed, their official place of origin is Croatia.

Drawings of similar dogs were "spotted" on ancient pieces of art, making it evident that Dalmatians were known in Egypt, and India. In the middle of the 17th century the dog was popularized greatly in Europe. Numerous art works depicting Dalmatians confirm the fact that the breed was valued highly by the nobility.

One of the most famous Dalmatian functions is a coach dog. It guarded travelers and their belongings during trips and stops. Unlike other breeds the Dalmatian was not afraid of horses, and could easily endure long distances. The British adjusted the size of the Dalmatian to fit well with the axle. From that time on the dog used to run under the carriage, and maneuver between horses.

Actually, Great Britain enjoys a right of the Dalmatian's second homeland. It is in this country where selective breeding took place. The British not only developed new features in the breed by crossing it with other dogs, but also spared no pains in preserving its natural qualities.

To raise better coach dogs they used to start training rather early. Puppies at the age of 4-6 months were fastened to a carriage and had to catch up with older and experienced dogs. A few journeys were enough for a Dalmatian puppy to acquire strong liking for this activity, and develop sufficient strength.

Dalmatians - Puppies - Present Day Dogs

Dalmatians make wonderful pets, and can also be involved in a variety of activities. The AKC regarded the Dalmatian as a Non-sporting dog for a long time. These dogs usually do not take part in hunting, weight pulling, and some other activities.

Nevertheless, the Dalmatian is a very old breed of dog. Its qualities were improved by adding blood of different dogs, such as the Bull Terrier, and English Pointer. These kin relations played a vital role for the Dalmatian. Among other qualities, it has a good sense of smell, a soft mouth, and high endurance. This allows the dog to be used as a hunting companion, a search dog, and a rescuer.

Nowadays, Dalmatians perform various functions. German owners, for instance, use Dalmatians as guard dogs. French Dalmatians are trained to be good hunting and retriever dogs. In Mexico, Dalmatians help to rescue people after natural disasters.

Click thumbnail to see image.
Pages: 1 2