Dalmatian Standard: Short Version

General Appearance:
The Dalmatian should be a balanced, strong, muscular, active dog of good demeanour. Symmetrical in outline, free from coarseness & lumber, capable of great endurance with a fair amount of speed.
Temperament:
Of good demeanour.
Head & Skull:
The head should be of fair length, the skull flat, reasonably broad between the ears but refined, moderately well defined at the temples, i.e. exhibiting a moderate amount of stop; not in one straight line from nose to occiput bone. Entirely free from wrinkle. The muzzle should be long & powerful, never snippy. The lips clean, fitting the jaw moderately close. The nose in black spotted variety should always be black, in the liver spotted variety, always brown.
Eyes:
The eyes, set moderately well apart, should be of medium size, round, bright & sparkling, with an intelligent expression, their colour, depending on the markings of the dog; dark in the black spotted, amber in the liver spotted. The rim round the eyes should be complete; black in the black spotted variety, liver in the liver spotted variety.
Ears:
The ears should be set on rather high, of moderate size, rather wide at the base, gradually tapering to a rounded point. Fine in texture, carried close to the head. The markings should be well broken up, preferably spotted.
Mouth:
The teeth should meet. The upper slightly overlapping the lower (scissor bite).
Neck:
The neck should be fairly long, nicely arched, light & tapering. Entirely free from throatiness.
Forequarters:
The shoulders should be moderately oblique, clean & muscular. Elbows close to the body. The forelegs perfectly straight with strong round bone down to the feet, with a slight spring at the pastern joint.
Body:
The chest should not be too wide but deep & capacious with plenty of lung & heart room. The ribs well sprung, well defined wither, powerful level back, Loins strong, clean & muscular, & slightly arched.
Hindquarters:
Rounded, muscles clean with well developed second thigh & good turn of stifle & hocks well defined.
Tail:
In length reaching approximately to the hocks. Strong at the insertion gradually tapering towards the end, it should not be inserted too low or too high, be free from coarseness & carried with a slight upward curve, never curled. Preferably spotted.
Feet:
Round, compact, with well arched toes (cat-feet) & round tough elastic pads. Nails black or white in the black spotted variety, in the liver spotted-brown or white.
Gait/Movement:
The dalmatian should have great freedom of movement. A smooth, powerful rhythmic action with a long stride. Viewed from behind the legs should move in parallel, the hind legs traking the fore. A short stride & paddling action is incorrect.
Coat:
The coat should be short, hard & dense, sleek & glossy in appearence.
Colour:
The ground colour should be pure white. Black spotted dogs have dense black spots & liver spotted dogs liver-brown spots. They should not run together but be round & well defined, the size of a five to a twenty cent coin, as well distributed as possible. Spots on the extremities should be smaller than those on the body.
Size:
Overall balance of prime importance but the ideal height to be aimed at is:
Dogs: 58.4-61cm (23-24 ins.), Bitches: 56-58.4cm (22-23 ins.) Weighing 25-30 kilos approx.
Faults:
Blue eyes.
Patches.
Black & liver on the same dog (tricolour).
Lemon spots.
Bronzing & other faults of pigmentation.

Note:
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles, fully descended into the scrotum.