The Standard of Excellence
Breed Standard & Health
At HatTrick Dalmatians, every breeding decision is guided by the AKC breed standard and the OFA CHIC health testing protocol. We believe a beautiful Dalmatian must also be a healthy one.
AKC Dalmatian Breed Standard
The official AKC breed standard defines the ideal Dalmatian — structure, coat, color, temperament, and gait. Every HatTrick litter is evaluated against this standard.
OFA CHIC Program
The Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) is a centralized health database. Dogs earning a CHIC number have completed all health tests recommended by their parent club — including BAER hearing and hip/elbow evaluations.
Dalmatian Club of America
The DCA is the AKC parent club for the Dalmatian breed. They maintain health testing recommendations, breeder referrals, and educational resources for owners and breeders.
Our Commitment
Health Testing at HatTrick
100% of our breeding dogs are health tested before any litter is planned. We follow the Dalmatian Club of America's recommended testing protocol and register all results with the OFA.
BAER Hearing Test
Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response — screens for unilateral and bilateral deafness, a known concern in the Dalmatian breed. All HatTrick puppies are BAER tested before going to their new homes.
OFA Hip Evaluation
Radiographic evaluation of hip joint conformation submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Results are publicly searchable in the OFA database.
Thyroid Evaluation
OFA thyroid evaluation to screen for autoimmune thyroiditis, which can affect coat quality, energy, and overall health.
Eye Certification (CAER)
Companion Animal Eye Registry examination performed by a board-certified ophthalmologist to screen for hereditary eye conditions.
AKC Standard
The Dalmatian Breed Standard
The following is a summary of the official AKC Dalmatian breed standard. For the complete standard, visit the AKC website .
General Appearance
The Dalmatian is a distinctively spotted dog, poised and alert, strong, muscular, and active. Free of shyness, the Dalmatian is intelligent in expression, symmetrical in outline, and without exaggeration or coarseness. The Dalmatian is capable of great endurance, combined with a fair amount of speed.
Size, Proportion & Substance
Dalmatians should be 19–24 inches at the withers. Dogs are ideally 23–24 inches; bitches 22–23 inches. The overall length of the body from the forechest to the buttocks is approximately equal to the height at the withers. The Dalmatian is strong, muscular, and substantial — never coarse or overdone.
Head
The head is of fair length, the skull flat, reasonably broad between the ears, and slightly rounded at the stop. The muzzle is long and powerful — never snipey. The nose is completely pigmented on the leather: black-spotted dogs carry a black nose; liver-spotted dogs carry a brown nose. Eyes are set moderately well apart, medium size, somewhat rounded, and bright and sparkling with an intelligent expression.
Coat & Color
The coat is short, dense, fine, and close-fitting. It is neither woolly nor silky. The ground color is pure white. In black-spotted dogs, the spots are dense black. In liver-spotted dogs, the spots are liver brown. Spots are round and well-defined, the more distinct the better. Spots on the extremities are smaller than those on the body. Tri-color (black and liver spots on the same dog) is a disqualification.
Gait
In keeping with the Dalmatian's historical use as a coach dog, gait and endurance are of great importance. Movement is steady and effortless. Balanced angulation fore and aft combined with powerful muscles and good condition produce smooth, efficient movement with a long stride and good reach and drive.
Temperament
The Dalmatian's demeanor is stable and outgoing, yet dignified. Shyness is a major fault. Extreme shyness or viciousness is a disqualification. The breed is known for its affectionate nature with family and its historical role as a loyal companion and working dog.
Ready to Learn More?
Meet a HatTrick Dalmatian
Our dogs are bred to the standard — in structure, temperament, and health. Reach out to learn about upcoming litters or our available adults.