You’ve probably heard of Dalmatians – in fact, you’ve probably heard of 101 of them! But how much do you know about these spotty furry friends? Check out these 10 fun facts and find out all about them, including how they get their spots, why they’re famous, and why they’re associated with firefighting! And if you liked this, why not check out these delightful dog facts? Or how about these fun fish facts? And we’ve got heaps more amazing animal facts here!

1. They are a very old dog breed

No one knows exactly how old they are, but they’ve definitely been around for hundreds of years! In fact, there are paintings in ancient Egyptian buildings depicting spotted dogs!

2.They don’t have any spots when they’re born

Dalmatians are FAMOUS for their spots, but they aren’t born with any spots at all! Instead, they’re pure white, and as they develop, their spots start to appear. They continue to develop throughout their lives!

3. They are named after a place

Dalmatians are named after Dalmatia, a region in Eastern Europe that covers modern day Croatia and Montenegro. That means they may have originated there too, but we don’t know for sure!

4. Each coat is unique

A leopard can’t change his spots, and neither can a Dalmatian! Dalmatians are all unique, and no two coats are the same, so it should be easy to tell them apart! Well, easier. Think of it like a furry fingerprint!

5. They can have hearing problems

Sadly, one of the common features that occurs in Dalmatians is a high risk of deafness. This is because the gene linked with giving them their unique coat is also linked to hearing problems, and so purebred Dalmatians are at higher risk.

6. They’ve had lots of different names over the years

Dalmatians haven’t always been called dalmatians – in fact, they’ve had lots of names! These include the Pudding Dog, the Fire House Dog, the Carriage Dog, and the Spotted Dick – presumably because their coats look a bit like a current pudding!

7. They’ve been popular for a long time

They became popular as coach dogs because of their size and speed – dogs that would run along beside horses and coaches as they travelled, protecting the horses and passengers.

8. They star in a famous book and film

You probably know all about Dalmatians from one famous Disney film – 101 Dalmatians! But did you know it was based on a book? ‘The 101 Dalmatians’ came in 1956, and was written by Dodie Smith. It’s made the Dalmatian famous all over the world, as well as their arch nemesis, the evil Cruella de Vil!

9. They are associated with Firefighting

Dalmatians have a historic association with firefighting, especially in the USA, where they are often the mascot for firefighters. This is because they would run out with the fire engines and help clear the way.

10. They make great pets!

Dalmatians are friendly, loyal, energetic and loving, which means they make great pets! They’re especially good if you too love running around, so make sure you’ve got the amount of time and stamina needed to care for one!