The History of Dalmatians in Britain

The past century has seen growth of a strong bond between British dog lovers and the Dalmatian. Dog lovers have propounded a theory that the Dalmatians descended from the early English hunting hounds. The similarity between Dalmatians and Talbot breed in type, character and hunting ability has led to claims that the Dalmatians actually descended from the Talbot breed. Such is the desire of the British dog lovers to claim the breed as their own.

The theory is not as incredible as it sounds. There always is the possibility that some Talbot dogs may have bred with European dogs a few centuries ago and one resulting breed was the Dalmatian. Dalmatians are very intelligent and are good guard dogs. This may have caught the eye of British tourists and the breed returned back home with them. It is beyond doubt that Dalmatians existed in the ancient period as well as the breed has undergone numerous evolutions.

In 1860, Dalmatians made its official debut in a dog show competition. It was one of the five breeds to participate in the second dog show held in Britain in the year 1860.During the First World War, from the beginning of the was in 1914 to the Armistice in 1918, the Dalmatians were in danger of being wiped out from Britain due to the war. Mr. Fred Kemp, who was the President of the British Dalmatian Club and, more importantly, a third generation owner of Dalmatians kept the dogs alive through the difficult times and ensured that the Dalmatians did not become a casualty of the war.

The dogs saved by Mr. Fred Kemp were used as breeding stock after the war and the population of Dalmatians grew. In 1918, there were just two Dalmatians registered with the Kennel Club. The two Dalmatians participated in the dog show which resumed after World War I. This number grew to 125 by 1925 and further to 889 by 1932. In 1934, there were 199 Dalmatian entries for the dog show. This was proof enough of the consistent rise in the popularity of the breed.

Some More Guidelines on the Diet of Your Adult Dalmatian

Researches over the years have given us the following guidelines about the diet of adult Dalmatians.

One must never feed red meat, either in cooked form or raw form or as an ingredient in any pet snack or pet food. One must avoid those pet snacks and pet food which lists red meat as one of its first three ingredients.

One must never feed poultry meat, either in cooked form or raw form or as an ingredient in any pet snack or pet food. One must avoid those pet snacks and pet food which lists poultry meat as one of its first two ingredients.

Snacks for adult Dalmatians must consist of lots of fruits, vegetables and grains. However, avoid high purine vegetables like mushroom, asparagus, legumes, oatmeal, spinach and cauliflower.

Adult Dalmatians must be fed dog foods like corn, which is most preferred, wheat, second in preference and rice, which should be last preferred of the three. These contain about 22% low purine protein and only 10% fats.

A Short History of the Popular Dog Breed - Dalmatians

First references to Dalmatians as a breed of dogs are found in history since mid 18th century. However, the breed was well known throughout the world long before the 18th century. Spotted dogs of the same size and type have been found in paintings, engravings, models and early writings. These dogs were commonly found in Africa, Asia and Europe. These dogs probably accompanied ancient gypsies, which can explain their vast spread and popularity. The term Dalmatians is derived from the place of origin of the dogs, a region known as Dalmatia. Dalmatia is located in the Adriatic region in Western Yugoslavia.

Although a favorite pet of man since ancient times, Dalmatians became truly famous after the elite class of Great Britain brought them home. The upper class of the British society used to tour Europe in the 18th century. They often brought back these spotted dogs. The breed attracted attention of the masses due to its striking looks. The English aristocracy used the Dalmatians to accompany their horse drawn carriages. They were placed below the rear axle of the coach. They also trotted below the pole separate the two horses. Many a times, they led the procession by trotting ahead the horse up front. Such impressive sights and feats drew the attention of the public and made the breed even more popular.

Another reason why Dalmatians are very popular is that they are firehouse dogs. Dalmatians were used in 18th century England as ratters. They were experts in locating and killing the rats that infested the stables and firehouses of London. The Dalmatians loved horses and fire engines and their role expanded to include racing along with or ahead of the fire engines when the alarm was sounded. The dogs became associated with fire engines and firemen. Even today, you can find many Dalmatians ride on fire trucks. They are still considered as mascots of firemen and are found in the firehouses in Great Britain, United States and other countries as well.

Dalmatians captured the hearts of the public by performing their duties with diligence and dedication during the war times. Dalmatians were preferred for sentinel duty during the wars. They also served as draft dogs and dogs for the shepherds.

Dalmatians are very commonly used in circus shows. Dalmatians are intelligent animals and have the aptitude for learning tricks. Their showy appearance also makes them very popular. They are used as assistants for the clowns. Needless to say, they are a hit with children.

Some tips for feeding your adult Dalmatian dog

Given below are some tips and guidelines related to the diet of adult Dalmatians. These tips and guidelines are the result of various researches conducted over the years.

One should not feed any organ meat such as liver, sweetbreads, brains, kidneys or any such organ in any form to the adult Dalmatian. Organ meat should not be given raw or cooked or as an ingredient in any food or snack.

One should not feed any game meat such as venison or elk meat in any form.