The Dalmatian is in the non-sporting group with the Bichon Frise, Miniature and Standard Poodles, and Xoloitzcuintli - we will be bringing you the Bichon Frise and Xoloitzcunintli in future videos, but you can check out the standard and miniature Poodle video here.  It's good that the Dalmatian is in the non-sporting group since they are not a hunting dog, even though they have the characteristics (size and shape) of a retriever - I think.  You may be thinking that the Dalmatian is a new breed like I did, but they are ancient.  And when I say ancient, I'm telling you that caves have drawings of a spotted dog, and while you may think a spotted dog is not a big deal, no other breeds have spots like the Dalmatian.  Which makes it really challenging for an archeologist to pin point where the spots originate.  The closest mixes could be the Harlequin Great Dane, which has black and white patterns, but not spots.  Along with the shape of a retriever.  It seems like it would be so easy to find where the Dalmatian originates because of its unique spots, but here we are with inconclusive evidence.  With that said, we know - or at least we think we know the "spot" - where the Dalmatian originates, and that is along the coastline - opposite of the Italian boot shape, along the Asiatic sea - which is not in Asia - in Croatia, a region called Dalmatia.  Very little grey area there so chalk it up to good old common sense.  But we don't know with 100% certainty, but the signs are pretty obvious.  Also, there are clues that the Dalmatian was part of a European Nomad civilization and being in a circus and being a war dog - from centuries ago.  They were also in a few paintings from the 17th century.