| The Dalmatian is one of the most widely | | | | for his stepfather Bozo Banac. Bozo Banac had |
| recognized dog breeds in the world so it comes | | | | previously expressed an interest in breeding the |
| as a bit of a surprise that the origins of this most | | | | dogs there. |
| distinctive of dogs is still shrouded in mystery up | | | | There is actually good reason to believe that the |
| to this day. One theory has it that the name | | | | name Dalmatian is in all likelihood a corruption of |
| Dalmatian was given to the dog breed by one | | | | the term "Damachien"; a term by which the dogs |
| Thomas Bewick in 1791. According to excerpts | | | | were known at the time and which in English |
| from "Anecdotes of Dogs" compiled by Edward | | | | translated as Deer Hound (a mix of the Latin and |
| Jesse, Thomas Bewick adamantly insists that the | | | | French words "Dama" and "Chien" which |
| Dalmatian Dog hailed from a region called Dalmatia | | | | respectively mean Deer and Dog). |
| which today is to be found in Croatia. Adding | | | | The preeminent French Naturalist Buffon also |
| weight to his claims is the fact that the Dalmatian | | | | dipped his toes in the fray and referred to the |
| Dog used to be called Dalmatinac. | | | | Dalmatian dog in his writings circa 1749-1767 as |
| However there appears to be evidence to refute | | | | "Le Braque Bengale" (hound of Bengal) which he |
| Bewick’s claims. As far back as 3,700 BC, | | | | later modified to the Harrier of Bengal in 1790. |
| king Cheops (or Khufu) was known to have | | | | Strangely enough though there is no compelling |
| owned a spotted pet dog; the first spotted dog | | | | evidence to associate the Dalmatian with India. |
| on record. More compelling evidence perhaps is a | | | | Thus as is abundantly evident, despite its distinct |
| 1700 BC fresco from Tiryns that illustrates a boar | | | | appearance the Dalmatian is a dog breed whose |
| hunt with black and liver spotted hounds which | | | | precise origins have eluded historians the world |
| today can still be found in the National | | | | over to this very day. And when all is said and |
| Archeological Museum s. In Greece, Crete and | | | | done it does not seem unreasonable to conclude |
| Egypt are to be found numerous ancient friezes | | | | that the Dalmatian is one dog breed with a highly |
| and murals depicting spotted white hounds (with | | | | spotted past indeed! |
| liver or black spots sometimes both). Around 400 | | | | The Multi-Purpose Dalmatian Dog |
| BC a spotted Cretan Hound was commonly | | | | Over the course of its history, the Dalmatian dog |
| employed in hunting antelope. That hound was | | | | has adorned many hats of occupation which |
| later crossed with the White Antelope Dog from | | | | include the following: retriever, birddog, ratter, war |
| ancient Egypt creating a distinctly colored hound | | | | dog, shepherd etc. But it was as a coach dog in |
| that loved running alongside horses. | | | | Victorian England that the Dalmatian found its true |
| How The Dalmatian Dog Got Its Name | | | | calling. As a coach dog the Dalmatian served both |
| As to how the Dalmatian Dog came to be named | | | | a practical and aesthetic function. |
| as such is a whole new twist altogether in an | | | | The practical purpose of the Dalmatian as coach |
| already highly convoluted and controversial history. | | | | dog was to ward off marauding dogs and any |
| Strangely enough the origins of the Dalmatian | | | | other animals from harming or disturbing the |
| name in many respects resembles the | | | | coach horses. As for the aesthetic aspect, well |
| controversial manner with which the Labrador | | | | let’s just say it looked cool to have those |
| Retriever, a Canadian dog breed that originated | | | | spotted dogs trotting by the carriage and quite |
| from Newfoundland, came to be associated with | | | | likely it was probably a mark of affluence to have |
| England and subsequently called the "Labrador" by | | | | such dogs accompanying one’s carriage. |
| an Englishman. | | | | From the 1880s the Dalmatian was selectively |
| As things stand today the Dalmatian dog is widely | | | | bred for its fondness and affinity to run beneath |
| associated with England and in fact got its name | | | | horse drawn carriages, the ideal dogs being those |
| from Thomas Beswick, yet another Englishman. | | | | that ran close to the hooves of the rear horses. |
| Apparent association of the Dalmatian with the | | | | However with the rise in popularity of the |
| region that bears the same name did not occur | | | | automobile the Dalmatian lost its prominence in |
| until around 1930 when the Consul General of | | | | society though it continued as a coach dog for |
| Monaco to Great Britain who also happened to be | | | | horse-drawn fire engines, a tradition that |
| a member of the British Dalmatian Club, took a | | | | transitioned into the Dalmatian being adopted as |
| pair of Dalmatian dogs to Dalmatia as a present | | | | the contemporary mascot for firehouses. |