Did you know this recognizable spotted breed comes from Croatia’s Dalmatian region? The spots that seem to imitate the 1246 Croatian Islands make for a great theme or souvenir idea. In fact when the famous book 101 Dalmatians came out in 1956, it caused an upsurge in popularity of Dalmatians, that many people started taking them as pets. Historically though this breed is known for its versatility and a multi-purpose role. It gets along well with horses so it was used to run alongside carriages to ward off other stray dogs.