Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Background
The Dalmatian is an ancient breed whose origins can be traced through European and Middle Eastern sources. It is most closely associated with the region of Dalmatia, where spotted dogs accompanied travelers, guarded wagons, and served as watch dogs and companions. In the 18th–19th centuries, Dalmatians became popular as carriage dogs among the English nobility: they accompanied coaches, guarded horses, and maintained order on the roads. Their endurance, speed, and striking appearance made the breed a symbol of carriage service. Later, the Dalmatian became widely used in fire brigades, where it ran alongside fire wagons and guarded equipment. Today, the breed is valued as an active companion with a unique coat pattern, stable temperament, and high energy level.
General Appearance
The Dalmatian is a harmoniously built, active medium-sized dog with a distinctive spotted coat that enhances its breed expression. The outline is slightly elongated, the musculature is dry and well developed, giving an impression of endurance and agility. The topline is straight and firm, the chest is deep, and the elbows reach the proper level. The head is elongated and proportionate, with clean lines and an alert expression. The ears are drop-shaped, thin, lying close to the head. The limbs are straight and strong, with correct angulation, ensuring light, economical movement. The tail is of medium length, tapering toward the tip, carried naturally. The overall appearance of the Dalmatian reflects energy, strength, elegance, and the ability for sustained movement.
Important Proportions
The Dalmatian has a slightly elongated outline: the body length slightly exceeds the height at the withers while maintaining harmony and lightness. The depth of chest is approximately half of the dog's height, providing room for prolonged physical work. The length of the head is roughly equal to the length of the neck, creating correct balance. The limbs are long, dry, expressing agility and the ability to maintain speed over distance. The topline is straight, the loin short and strong. The tail reaches the hock joints. All proportions aim at efficient, economical movement—an essential quality of a breed historically accompanying carriages over long distances.
Behaviour and Temperament
The Dalmatian is an active, intelligent, energetic dog with a balanced, friendly temperament. It is lively, curious, highly responsive, quick to learn, and enjoys varied activities. With people, the Dalmatian is affectionate and loyal, requiring close contact and regular activity. It may show alertness toward strangers but is not naturally aggressive. The breed has a strong need for physical movement and mental stimulation, reflecting its history as a carriage and fire-brigade dog. The Dalmatian is social, adapts well to family life, but requires proper training, discipline, and an adequate level of daily activity.
Head
The head of the Dalmatian is elongated, proportionate, with clean, dry lines and expressive anatomy. The skull is flat, moderately broad, with a smooth but distinct transition to the muzzle. The muzzle is long and straight, narrowing evenly toward the nose without becoming pointed. The lips are dry and close-fitting, without flews. The jaws are strong, with a scissor bite; the teeth are large and even. The cheeks are moderately developed and do not interrupt the smooth contour of the head. The nose is well pigmented: black in black-spotted dogs, dark liver in liver-spotted dogs. The expression is lively and attentive, showing intelligence, friendliness, and activity. The head must be harmonious, without coarseness or excessive lightness.
Facial Region
The facial region is dry, neat, with a straight nasal bridge and tight-fitting tissues. The muzzle is sufficiently long to provide good grip and functionality. The lips are thin and free of excess tissue, with full pigmentation. The nose has large, well-opened nostrils and corresponds to the color of the spots. The chin is moderately developed, not protruding but clearly defined. The cheeks are flat and dry, emphasizing the clean head profile. The facial region must maintain the breed’s expression—open, friendly, yet attentive. Coarseness, a short muzzle, or weak pigmentation are unacceptable as they detract from the Dalmatian’s type and expression.
Eyes
The eyes are medium-sized, round-oval, with a lively, intelligent, and friendly expression. The set is moderately deep, giving natural protection during active movement. Eye color varies: in black-spotted dogs it is dark brown; in liver-spotted dogs it is amber. Lighter shades are undesirable. The eyelids are tight, well-fitting, and fully pigmented—black for black-spotted dogs, liver for liver-spotted dogs. Entropion and ectropion are not allowed. The Dalmatian's gaze must be clear, energetic, confident, but not aggressive. Correct eyes emphasize the breed’s elegance and refined expression.
Ears
The ears are drop-shaped, of medium length, thin, with rounded tips, set high and lying close to the head. Their distinctive feature is a regular spotted pattern matching the distribution of spots on the body. The ears must not be heavy, thick, or coarse. In motion, they remain lightly mobile, reflecting the dog’s lively nature. Pure white ears without spots, excessive length, or incorrect shape are unacceptable. The ears should enhance the head’s expression and fit the overall harmony of the Dalmatian.
Neck
The Dalmatian’s neck is long, dry, elegantly arched, without dewlap, flowing smoothly into the withers. The musculature is well developed yet not coarse, allowing freedom and reach of movement. The skin is tight and smooth, without folds. The length of the neck contributes to proper body balance and expresses the breed’s elegance. A neck that is too short, thick, or overly long disrupts proportions and is undesirable. The neck should emphasize the Dalmatian’s activity, lightness, and endurance—qualities essential for a dog historically accompanying carriages.
Body
The Dalmatian’s body is slightly elongated, strong, and dry, with well-developed musculature. The topline is straight and stable, without dips or arches. The chest is deep, reaching the elbows, with long, moderately arched ribs providing excellent lung capacity. The back is straight and strong; the loin is short, firm, and slightly arched. The croup is moderately sloping and muscular. The belly is tucked up, emphasizing agility and lightness. The body should reflect endurance, capacity for prolonged motion, and harmonious lines. Excessive heaviness, narrowness, or weak musculature are faults.
Tail
The Dalmatian’s tail is of medium length, continuing the body line and emphasizing its elegance. It is strong at the base and tapers toward the tip, carried naturally without excessive lift or curl. At rest, the tail is lowered; in movement it rises slightly above the topline but must not form a ring or sharp curve. Even spotting is permitted, matching the overall coat pattern; the spots must be clear and not form large patches. The tail must be straight, flexible, and mobile, but not overly active. A thick, short, high-set, or overly thin tail is considered incorrect. A properly shaped tail enhances balance, lightness, and the working type of the Dalmatian.
Forequarters
The forequarters of the Dalmatian are straight and strong, with dry, well-developed musculature reflecting the working nature of the breed. The shoulder blades are long, well laid back, and close to the ribcage, forming the correct angle with the upper arm and allowing wide, free reach and efficient movement. The upper arm should be strong and proportional to the length of the shoulder blade. The elbows are directed straight back, not turning in or out, lying close to the body without disturbing straight lines. The forearms are long and straight, with strong but moderate bone, providing stability over long distances. The pasterns are elastic, slightly sloping, supporting various types of ground. The feet are round, compact, with tight elastic pads and strong nails. Incorrect angulation, weak joints, or soft pasterns are faults.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters of the Dalmatian are powerful and well developed, with pronounced angulation providing strong propulsion and endurance. The thighs are long, muscular, and broad, forming a strong rear assembly. The lower thighs are also long and strong, harmonizing with the thighs and providing good swing. The hock joints are strong, low-set, and should work parallel and steadily without closeness or cow-hocks. The metatarsi are short, vertical, and stable under load. The feet are compact, round, with tight pads and strong nails. Incorrect angulation, weak musculature, unstable joints, or poor parallelism are serious faults affecting movement.
Gait and Movement
The Dalmatian’s movement must be free, rhythmic, elastic, reflecting its natural endurance and ability to accompany carriages for long distances. At the trot, the dog shows excellent reach in the forequarters and strong drive from the hindquarters; the topline remains straight and steady. The limbs move parallel with correct amplitude, without crossing, stiffness, or side action. The movement must be economical—the Dalmatian must easily maintain pace over long periods. Any deviation such as short stride, weak drive, lack of straightness, or excessive looseness is considered faulty. The gait highlights the breed’s functionality and historical purpose.
Coat
The Dalmatian’s coat is short, dense, exceptionally smooth, and close-fitting, forming a clean, sleek outline. The hair should be firm and resilient to the touch, providing protection and a neat appearance. The undercoat is minimal, consistent with the breed’s origins in warm climates. The coat must be even in length, without coarse areas, waves, or thin patches. Long hair, curls, excessive softness, or dullness are not allowed. The coat should emphasize the body lines, musculature, and elegance. Shedding is moderate and even. Any deviation in structure or density is considered a fault.
Permitted Colours
The primary color of the Dalmatian is white with clear, round spots of appropriate size. The spots must be evenly distributed, not merging or forming patches, and must have sharp outlines. Two color varieties exist: black-spotted, with deep black spots, and liver-spotted, with dark chocolate-colored spots. Nose and eyelid pigmentation correspond to the spot color. Spots on the body should be larger than those on the head and limbs. Lack of spots, blurred areas, greyish or unclear spots, as well as any sign of merle or brindling, are unacceptable. Correct coloring highlights the breed’s uniqueness and type.
Size
The Dalmatian is a medium-sized dog with a proportionate, dry constitution. Males typically stand 56–61 cm at the withers, females 54–59 cm. Weight ranges from 22 to 32 kg depending on sex, age, and fitness. Proportions must remain harmonious and reflect the ability for prolonged physical activity. Excessive heaviness or lightness disrupting breed balance is undesirable. The Dalmatian must remain agile, lightweight, and enduring, with adequate bone and musculature. Size and weight are evaluated together with anatomy, outline, and movement quality.
Faults
Faults include any deviations that disturb exterior harmony, functionality, or breed type. Minor faults include weak musculature, insufficient chest depth, poor shoulder angulation, insufficient hind angulation, soft pasterns, or lack of compact feet. Rare spotting, blurred outlines, irregular distribution of spots, or weak pigmentation on eyelids and nose are also faults. Behavioural faults include shyness, excessive excitability, or lack of manageability. Movement faults—short stride, weak drive, toeing in or out—lower the evaluation. Faults are assessed according to their severity and impact on function.
Disqualifying Faults
Disqualifying faults include severe anatomical, behavioural, or color deviations. Complete lack of nose pigmentation, blue or heterochromatic eyes, alopecia, completely white ears, large merged patches, merle or any other unacceptable coloration exclude the dog from breeding. Aggression toward humans or pronounced fearfulness are absolute grounds for disqualification. Severe bite defects, multiple missing teeth, significant limb deformities, and gait abnormalities preventing normal movement are disqualifying. Any congenital defects, hereditary diseases, orthopedic disorders, or insufficient cold tolerance also exclude the dog from breeding.
Important Notes
When evaluating the Dalmatian, the judge must consider its historical purpose—accompanying carriages and maintaining steady movement over long distances. The breed requires harmonious proportions, stable temperament, correct spotting, and clean body lines. Excessive heaviness, decorative exaggerations, or signs of looseness are unacceptable. The coat must remain natural, without artificial texturing. Spots must be clear and even, as the pattern is a key breed feature. Movement deserves special attention: it must be free, elastic, and economical. Behavioural defects—fearfulness, nervousness, or aggression—are considered serious faults.
Conclusion
The Dalmatian is an elegant, energetic breed that combines a unique appearance with working qualities and a stable character. Built for movement, it has high endurance and natural liveliness while maintaining balance and friendliness. The Dalmatian suits active owners who value a dynamic lifestyle and can provide mental and physical exercise. The breed is loyal, social, and expressive. Proper breeding preserves its key traits—spotted coat, harmonious body, and stable temperament—making the Dalmatian recognizable and highly valued worldwide.
