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Dalmatian History
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The Dalmatian is one of the older dog breeds, and its origins have been rather obscured by the mists of time. There are many theories to attach the origin of the breed to either Europe, Asia, or Africa. The breed gets its name from Dalmatia, a region in Yugoslavia where the dog is thought to have first become popular with humans. Since then, the dog has been employed in more ways than perhaps any other breed of dog: military dog, watch dog, shepherd, trailer, ratter, retriever, draft dog and circus dog, just to name a few. In England, the dog was even trained to run alongside the carriages of fire brigades and wealthy aristocrats, protecting them from robbers and dangerous animals. It was in this capacity that the Dalmatian received the nicknames English Coach Dog, Carriage Dog, and Fire House Dog.
The Dalmatian was transported wherever horses were carrying carriages, which eventually brought the dog to America. The American Kennel Club recognized the Dalmatian in 1888. The release of the highly popular film 101 Dalmatians, as well as subsequent re-releases and sequels, caused wild swings in the breed’s popularity during the 20th century. Today, the Dalmatian is neither at a peak nor trough in popularity, and remains a revered dog with devoted followers all over the world.
