Spotted Dogs
History of the Dalmation
Quite frankly, being a dog, I'm not too interested in the history of the dalmation. I AM however very interested in the future; such as, "how soon until my next treat?"
However, a lot of humans are interested so here's what I know:
There seems to be bit of controversy about where my breed originally came from. Even though there appears to be no real evidence that dalmatians started as a breed in the area of Dalmatia, in Yugoslavia, many people claim it to be a fact and not speculation. They base this claim on the fact that dalmatians can be traced to this area all the way back to the mid-18th century where they were often used as guard and war dogs along the borders of Dalmatia and Croatia.
Truthfully, spotted dogs like the dalmation (or dalmatian if you prefer) can be traced back to Europe, Asia and even Africa. Egyptologists have found artwork of dogs with spots running behind chariots on the walls of several tombs which definately predates the link to the Dalmatia claim. Wow, we've been running for a long time!
Here's more history of the dalmation that you may not know.
There is a painting from the 14th century in the Chapel of Santa Maria Novella (which is in Florence, Italy) which shows a dog which looks like a dalmatian. People who have spent a lot of time studying the history of the dalmatian believe that our image was used to symbolize the friars of this church during the Spanish Inquisition. These Dominican friars were known to have worn white habits with black capes.
Centuries ago, gypsies who traveled from India and throughout Europe were often accompanied by spotted dogs which were used for hunting, protection, and for entertainment. (Until poodles got so popular, dalmations were primarily used in circus acts!) Anyway, you can see how easy it was for this breed to wind up in so many different countries as it accompanied its human companions on their journeys. (Maybe that's why we like to get out and roam the neighborhood every chance we get!)
The Original Carriage Dog
When you look at the history of the dalmation, you see it is rich with references, stories and paintings pertaining to its role as a carriage or coach dog. Especially in England. This breed's natural love for running, its ability to endure long distances along with its agility, its instinct to protect, and its in-born affinity for being around horses made it the number one choice for this type of duty.
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It is these same natural traits which also made the dalmatian the perfect choice for the role of firehouse dog. When the alarm sounded, we were right there, eager to take off with the wagon! History shows the firehouse dalmation originally lived in the stables with the horses; however, as firehouses evolved and horse drawn wagons gave way to motorized vehicles, we went from running alongside the wagon's horses to riding in the truck. (Modern horsepower! Gotta love it!)
Even though most modern firestations today do not have a dalmatian living on site, they are still considered the mascot of choice and are included in photos, paintings and sculptures. Ask any kid what kind of dog rides on a firetruck and the answer will be, "A dalmation!"
The history of the dalmation is a proud one!
If you are interested in learning more about the history of the dalmation (or dalmatian), you can search the web for more information using the search box below!
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