188 THE DOGS OF THE BKITISH ISLANDS. 



THE DALMATIAN DOG. 



Without doubt, the Dalmatian is a pointer when at home ; but in this country 

 he has never been used, so far as I know, except to accompany a carriage, in which 

 capacity he is unrivalled. Our English pointers will follow a dogcart quite as 

 closely, and I have had more than one which would occupy the place generally 

 selected by the Dalmatian, close behind the horse's heels ; but then they were 

 accustomed to be taken out in the same dogcart to a distance from home, for the 

 purpose of hunting their game ; and, associating the idea of hunting with the 

 presence of the dogcart, they clung closely to it, if not allowed to ride. Now, when 

 I have treated greyhounds exactly in the same way, they have not shown the same 

 tendency, but have lagged behind at a distance of at least 100 yards, although in 

 better condition as to wind and feet than the pointers. This peculiarity serves to 

 show that there is a mental capacity common to both the English pointer and the 

 Dalmatian, and confirms the opinion that the latter is a true pointer, differing only 

 in colour from the English breeds of that dog. So long as it was the fashion to 

 crop the ears of the Dalmatian, the above resemblance was not so close in the eyes 

 of the casual observer, as it was usually thought that the bull-terrier was the 

 nearest approach to him in shape ; but now that cropping is never practised the 

 pointer type stands out clearly and prominently, and, saving the peculiar distribution 

 of the black and white on the skin, the external differences are nil. But, whether 

 or not this dog is by nature a game dog, in this country he has so long been 

 confined to the stable that he is now pre-eminently a carriage dog, and he seems to 

 care for no other occupation. Whether quietly resting in a stall or a loose box, or 

 accompanying a carriage, he is equally content, and in the latter capacity he is 

 jubilant, though, unlike the colley, he does not display his joy in barking at the 

 horses' heads, but quietly and closely follows their heels between the fore-wheels. 

 Most other varieties of the species soon tire of going long journeys on the road at 

 a fast pace ; but the Dalmatian perseveres year after year, and never seems to lose 

 the zest which he originally displayed. 



In spite, however, of the authority of Youatt, who states that " this dog is said 

 to be used in his native country for the chase," the Dalmatian has always been 

 included in our shows among the "dogs not used in field sports," and for this 

 reason I have classed him among the watch dogs. In the time of Youatt, as would 

 appear from the illustration given by him, the peculiar marking now insisted on was 

 not so imperative ; and it would be easy to find an English pointer almost exactly 

 resembling his engraving in this respect. The colour of the Devonshire pointer 

 bitch Eomp, well known at recent field trials, very nearly approaches this standard, 

 and, no doubt by a judicious selection from her puppies, a moderately good 

 Dalmatian might soon be produced. 



From the prevalence of the breed at the institution of shows, it is not surprising 

 that a class was soon formed for it, the first being at the Birmingham exhibition of 

 1860 ; but on that occasion the dogs were so bad that, acting as judge, I withheld 



