The Dalmatian is a breed of medium-sized dog, noted for its unique black, liver spotted coat and mainly used as a carriage dog in its early days. Its roots trace back to Croatia and its historical region of Dalmatia. The first illustrations of the dog have been found in Croatia: an altar painting in Veli Lošinj dating to 1600–1630.

Today, it is a popular family pet and many dog enthusiasts enter Dalmatians into kennel club competitions. The Dalmatian is a medium-sized, well-defined, muscular dog with excellent endurance and stamina.

When fully grown, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC) breed standard, it stands from 19 to 23 inches (48 to 58 cm) tall, with males usually slightly larger than females.

Dalmatian puppies are born with plain white coats and their first spots usually appear within 3 to 4 weeks after birth; however, spots are visible on their skin. After about a month, they have most of their spots, although they continue to develop throughout life at a much slower rate.

Like other breeds, Dalmatians display a genetic predisposition for deafness is a serious health problem for Dalmatians; only about 70% have normal hearing.

Deafness was not recognized by early breeders, so the breed was thought to be unintelligent.

Dalmatians are often considered to make good watchdogs, and they may have been useful to fire brigades as guard dogs to protect a firehouse and its equipment.

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