Australian Breed Standard and Extension, Part I

By: Ozzispot Dalmatians

General Appearance

 

THE DALMATIAN SHOULD BE A BALANCED, STRONG, MUSCULAR, ACTIVE DOG OF GOOD DEMEANOUR. SYMMETRICAL IN OUTLINE, FREE FROM COARSENESS AND LUMBER, CAPABLE OF GREAT ENDURANCE WITH A FAIR AMOUNT OF SPEED.

 

The Dalmatian is a distinctively spotted dog, however, no dog is more normal in its make up than the Dalmatian. It is free from abnormalities and exaggeration. Other than its spotting, which will be discussed in detail later, no features are peculiar to this breed. Balanced in all proportions, it is an active, medium sized dog, displaying the stamina, strength and musculation needed to keep up with horses for long periods of time. In addition, the Dalmatian is elegant and graceful enough to enhance the appearance of any horse and carriage. BALANCE and proportions should satisfy the eye and give a sense of perfect harmony both in repose and action. STRONG, MUSCULAR, ACTIVE. The Dalmatian conveys the impression of substance combined with elegance and perfect balance, never overdone. CAPABLE OF GREAT ENDURANCE. With its purpose as a carriage dog so important, the Dalmatian should have the ability to trot long distances alongside a coach. FAIR AMOUNT OF SPEED. This is interpreted as meaning an ability to accelerate with a quick burst of speed when necessary. While it must have the stamina to go all day, it must also have an action that is economical in order to conserve energy, Although the Dalmatians purpose as a carriage dog is obsolete, the standard is written with this in mind. Stamina is a must for this breed is achieved only with a combination of soundness, firm topline, correct rib cage, correct boning, good feet, correct angulation and sufficient exercise to produce good hard muscles.

 

Temperament

 

OF GOOD DEMEANOUR

 

Outgoing and friendly, not shy or hesitant, free from nervousness and aggression. The Dalmatian is easy to get along with and loves people. It is intelligent, alert and always friendly. An extrovert, and well known for its characteristic grin.

 

Head and Skull

 

THE HEAD SHOULD BE OF FAIR LENGTH, THE SKULL FLAT, REASONABLY BROAD BETWEEN THE EARS BUT REFINED, MODERATELY WELL DEFINED AT THE TEMPLES i.e. EXHIBITING A MODERATE AMOUNT OF STOP, NOT IN ONE STRAIGHT LINE FROM NOSE TO OCCIPUT BONE. ENTIRELY FREE FROM WRINKLE. THE MUZZLE SHOULD BE LONG AND POWERFUL, NEVER SNIPY, THE LIPS CLEAN, FITTING THE JAW MODERATELY CLOSE. THE NOSE IN THE BLACK SPOTTED VARIETY SHOULD ALWAYS BE BLACK IN THE LIVER SPOTTED VARIETY ALWAYS BROWN.

 

The Dalmatian is not a head breed, but the head must be in proportion to the rest of the dog, clean looking smooth and free of wrinkle. The topskull and muzzle should be about the same length. The topskull is nearly as broad as it is long and it is almost flat with a slight. centre groove starting at the occiput, coming down the stop between the eyes and extending onto the muzzle to the nose leather. The stop is not pronounced but a subtle rise where the muzzle blends into the upper head. From the side, toplines of the skull and the muzzle appear approximately parallel. The muzzle is never weak nor pointed. The lips are clean and dry. There are no flews or dewlaps.

 

Eyes

 

THE EYES, SET MODERATELY WELL APART, SHOULD BE OF MEDIUM SIZE, ROUND, BRIGHT AND SPARKLING, WITH AN INTELLIGENT EXPRESSION, THEIR COLOUR, DEPENDING ON THE MARKINGS OF THE DOG, DARK IN THE BLACK SPOTTED, AMBER IN THE LIVER SPOTTED. THE RIM ROUND THE EYES SHOULD BE COMPLETE, BLACK IN THE BLACK SPOTTED AND LIVER BROWN IN THE LIVER SPOTTED.

 

Please remember that a Dalmatians eyes are "round, bright and sparkling" A dog with a blue eye should not be shown.

 

Ears

 

THE EARS SHOULD BE SET ON RATHER HIGH, OF MODERATE SIZE, WIDE AT THE BASE, GRADUALLY TAPERING TO A ROUNDED POINT. FINE IN TEXTURE. CARRIED CLOSE TO HEAD. THE MARKINGS SHOULD BE WELL BROKEN UP, PREFERABLY SPOTTED.

 

The ears should be set on rather high. When alert the base of the ear is level with the top of the skull. They should be of moderate size, rather wide at the base gradually tapering to a rounded point. The ears should be fine to touch, carried close to the head. There should be white breaking up the colour on the ears, sometimes seen as marbling, though spotted ears are preferred.

 

Mouth

 

THE TEETH SHOULD MEET. THE UPPER SLIGHTLY OVERLAPPING THE LOWER (SCISSOR BITE).

 

Any bite other than scissor bite incorrect.

 

Neck

 

THE NECK SHOULD BE FAIRLY LONG, NICELY ARCHED, LIGHT AND TAPERING. ENTIRELY FREE FROM THROATINESS.

 

A Dalmatian requires fairly long cervical vertebrae to give it that graceful arched neck which is desirable. It should have a good flow of neck into the shoulder to assist in forming the symmetrical outline. While many Dalmatians have been trained to hold the head high in the ring, when trotting freely the head is thrust forward to achieve kinetic balance and is only slightly higher than the topline.

 

Forequarters

 

THE SHOULDERS SHOULD BE MODERATELY OBLIQUE CLEAN AND MUSCULAR. ELBOWS CLOSE TO THE BODY. THE FORELEGS PERFECTLY STRAIGHT WITH STRONG ROUND BONE DOWN TO THE FEET, WITH A SLIGHT SPRING AT THE PASTERN JOINT.

 

The standard requires a moderately oblique shoulder. The angle between the scapula and humerus is slightly more than 90 degrees. shoulders should be well laid back and also of good length for muscles and tendons to function properly. With correct angulation the scapula, together with the humerus act as shock absorbers. the two combined lift the leg, giving the rhythmic stride called for in the standard. Length of scapula and humerus should be equal. Front legs should be perfectly straight right down to the foot, with a slight spring of pastern. They should be about the width of two legs apart and should be evenly boned the entire length.

 

Body

 

THE CHEST SHOULD NOT BE T00 WIDE BUT DEEP AND CAPACIOUS WITH PLENTY OF LUNG AND HEART ROOM. THE RIBS WELL SPRUNG, WELL DEFINED WITHER, POWERFUL LEVEL BACK, LOINS STRONG, CLEAN AND MUSCULAR, AND SLIGHTLY ARCHED.

 

The chest should be viewed from three angles. From the front, it is deeper than it is wide and it is well filled. From above, it is wider at the shoulder than at the loin. From the side the pro-sternum is only slightly visible in front of the forelegs, but the lower portion of the chest extends to the dog’s elbow. A chest with a long rib cage is described as "well ribbed back" which give plenty of room for the lungs to expand, which is necessary for endurance. The underline of the chest gradually slopes upward from midway along the rib cage to the end of the ribs. The Dalmatian has only a moderate tuck up. The back should be level in motion and in natural stance. In a properly constructed dog with good muscle development the topline from the withers to the onset of tail remains level whether the dog is standing or moving. There should be well defined withers, but with no interruption to the flow of neck into the shoulders and back. The loin should neither be excessively long nor short. If anything, the Dalmatian is slightly longer than high from point of shoulder to point of buttock, withers to ground. The extra length of rib cage, not loin. The arching of the loins should not be exaggerated and comes from strong musculation.