The Dogs

A Dalmatian is a breed of dog known for its black spots which cover its white coat. In the United States, Dalmatians are often portrayed as firehouse dogs.

A popular breed, Dalmatians are midsized, muscular and have great endurance. Dalmatians’ coats are dense, short and very fine. The base color of this breed is white, with round spots in black or brown. A Dalmatians feet are small and round and their nails are either the same color of their spots or white. The color of their nose also depends on the color of the spots that they have. The eyes of a Dalmatian share an intelligent expression and are either brown or blue. The ears are high and thin and are close to the dog’s head. Spots on Dalmatians come later, as Dalmatian puppies are born fully white.

The Dalmatian breed was named after Dalmatia, an area in the Venetia Republic, in the 18th century. The breed’s origin is not known for sure, but it is believed to be either Yugoslavia, Egypt, Greece, or Rome.

At 22 to 24 inches tall and about 55 pounds, the dog breed is known for being a working dog. Although not specialized in one area, often Dalmatians herded and hunted. It was also used as a carriage dog - a type of dog who used to run next to a carriage and clear the way, help control horses and to guard the carriage. With training, Dalmatians can gain a high level of obedience.

As past history of being a carriage dog shows, the Dalmatian breed is active and needs exercise. Though they may be too rough and big for younger kids, they are good companions for teens with their playful attitude. They need companionship and affection too, as they can become depressed. Dalmatians are known as having good memories and being loyal and kind.

Unfortunately, some Dalmatians (about 10%) tend to have hereditary deafness, which is somewhat common in all-white breeds. There is a strong relationship between blue eyes and deafness, too. The average lifespan of a Dalmatian is 10 to 12 years. Dalmatians also suffer from a lack of uricase, an enzyme which breaks down uric acid. Without this enzyme, uric acid can cause bladder stones or gout, as it builds up in joints. To reduce the likelihood of stones, owners should not feed Dalmatians organ meats.

The Dalmatian breed got very popular after the 1956 novel “The Hundred and One Dalmatians” and the Disney animated film with the same name. Sadly, some owners bought Dalmatians because of the film but were unaware of the high amount of exercise that Dalmatians need. Dalmatians even like to swim, but owners must be careful as wet ears can cause an ear infection.

Although they are easy to keep breed, Dalmatians need to be frequently brushed to deal with the constant shedding. Their nails also need to be kept trimmed as they tend to grow quickly. However, they only needs baths when necessary as they have no doggy odor and like to stay clean.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Dogs

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Training your dog to sit is one of the most basic skills, and also sets the foundation for many others. Here is exactly what should happen: the moment the guide stops, the dog should sit close to his left side. And here is exactly how to go about training your dog:

Hold the leash tightly in both hands, with the right hand at the side, and with a loose grip in the left hand at the left side. But do not slip the hand through the loop at the leash end.

Walk forward and stop suddenly, at the same time giving in a sharp voice the command SIT. Drop the leash from the left hand. Still holding the leash in a tight grip raise the right hand, and at that moment press the lower part of the dog’s back to the ground with the left hand while repeating the command SIT.

The guide should then assume a standing position, once more with the command SIT. Throughout this procedure, avoid changing the position of your feet. The dog should still be at your left side.

What is the dog’s reaction? He will attempt to get up on his feet, to jump to one side, possibly to lie down or sit sidewise.

Here are the corrections: This exercise offers little difficulty when executed correctly, though failure may be traced to various inconsistencies on the part of the guide. Very likely the guide loosened his hold on the leash with his right hand and did not hold the dog up on his front feet as he pressed him into the sitting position, or possibly he changed the position of his feet and therefore found himself facing the dog. Also, he may have confused the dog with too many commands.

The command ought not to be used more than three times: first, at the instant of stopping; second, while the dog is being pushed into a sitting position; and third, when the dog has assumed the desired sitting position. Of importance is it for the guide to watch the action of his hands so as to be sure he holds them exactly as described.

The dog is now in a sitting position at the left side of the guide, and so long as the guide remains quiet, the dog will not move. Give him now a few words of praise and a pat with the left hand, while you still hold the same position with ease.

Should the dog try to sit sidewise and removed from you, place your left hand against his left side when pressing him into the sitting position and in that way nudge him closer to you.

Repeat this exercise several times while in standing position. Then walk again and suddenly stop with the command SIT. By now, the dog will probably assume the correct sitting position without further influence and aided only by the single command.

When the dog executes this lesson correctly — and of course it must be repeated over and over again — don’t forget those words of praise. If for a few times he responds readily and then fails, be patient and help him again by pulling him up with the right hand, and pushing him down with the left.

It requires several days and repetitious practise before a dog becomes a competent “sitter.” But always remain patient and loving, and sooner than you think, your dog will sit on command and desire to move on to new commands.

FREE step-by-step instructions on every aspect of training your dog. From absolute basics including sitting, heeling and fetching, to advanced commands! It’s FREE! Click here: http://www.DogTrainingInstructions.com

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1. Using tranquilizers.

This is illegal in many states but other groomers
still use them. It may be that the groomer is
afraid of aggressive dogs but it’s more likely
to be that the groomer is running a production
line and has no time to calm nervous dogs.

I never recommend tranquilizers - no matter how
mild - for small dogs. Ask your groomer if she
or he does this.

2. Leaving dogs unattended.

You might be surprised at how many dogs are
harmed and even killed at salons. The problem
is many groomers use a grooming noose (not as
bad as it sounds!) or collar to attach the dog
to the grooming table.

If the groomer leaves the dog alone, it’s easy
for a dog to try to free himself and wind up
choking or damaging his neck.

3. Taking shortcuts that violate breed standards.

It’s more time consuming and requires more skill
to scissor rather than clip dogs. However, if your
breed standard or style requires a scissor cut,
you should tell the groomer you want this.

If you don’t speak up, they’ll most likely use a
clipper. And if you expect hand stripping,
you better call ahead to make certain there’s
a groomer in the shop that even knows how to do that.

4. Not having facilities for dogs left all day.

This is only partly the groomers fault as many
shops are not set up to provide day care
for dogs, but owners use them that way. Some
shops do not have sufficient cages, fresh water
supplies, or staff to walk dogs.

If you want to drop your dog off on the way
to work, visit the salon in advance and ask
to be shown where the dog will be housed while
he’s waiting for you and what care he will given.

5. Using dog dryers improperly.

Many dogs every year are injured or killed by
groomers not watching closely enough while the pet
is in an enclosed dryer.

As a result of poor airflow and high temperatures,
pets get overheated in enclosed cages. The heat
simply builds up and the dog is overcome or in
extreme cases the dog may be burned by the pans
and the cages themselves as they get hotter and
hotter.

I think enclosed dryers should be illegal but if
your groomer is going to use one, ensure s/he
watches the dog, uses a timer, avoids high heat
and has another fan at the front of the cage to
encourage proper airflow.

Also a groomer should not use a hand-held hot
dryer on a dog drying in a stainless steel cage.
There is not enough ventilation for the air
to flow properly and the bottom of the stainless
cages get hot quickly.

These dryers are best used with wire cages that
have plastic bottoms or grates to keep the pet off
the hot floor of the cage. The grooming room should
be open and airy when using heated dryers
to prevent the room from overheating.

All the fans in the U.S., however, are no substitute
for watching the dog while he is being dried and
the mechanical devices are in use!

Louise Louis is a long-time dog person and
operates http://www.ToyBreeds.com

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