THE DALMATIAN DOG. 



BY T. J. WOODCOCK. 



Dalmatian, or Coach Dog, came from the Province 

 of Dalmatia, in the southern part of Austria, border- 

 ing on the northeast shore of the Adriatic Sea, and 

 from this province it derives its name. It is known in 

 France as the " Braque de Bengale," and is there supposed 

 to be an Indian variety. 



It is impossible to speak with any degree of certainty 

 regarding the origin of this remarkably handsome breed, 

 but it is apparently the result of a cross between the 

 Hound and the Pointer. Some English breeders have 

 believed it to be a cross between a Bull Terrier and a 

 Pointer, but neither its form nor its markings appear to 

 justify this claim. The breed to-day in America certainly 

 does not resemble the Bull Terrier, although it has a 

 striking resemblance to the Pointer, and possesses at least 

 one of his most prominent characteristics. In fact, the 

 writer, in strolling across the country near one of Chicago's 

 suburbs, accompanied by a favorite (untrained) Dalmatian, 

 has frequently seen him point game in a manner that 

 would do credit to a well-trained Pointer. It is certain 

 that the Dalmatian was used in his native country in the 

 field, although the breed, from lack of practice on game, 

 has, generally speaking, lost its keenness of scent. 



The type of the breed has changed but little in several 

 centuries, the oldest pictures extant showing him in sub- 

 stantially the same form as he is seen at our modern 

 -bench shows. 



Formerly, the barbarous custom of clipping the ears 

 prevailed among fanciers of this breed, as among those of 

 the Bulldog and the Bull Terrier, some breeders taking off 



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