HEAD AND SKULL

HEAD AND 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 AND POWERFUL, NEVER SNIPY, THE LIPS CLEAN, FITTING THE JAW MODERATELY CLOSE. THE NOSE IN THE BLACK SPOTTED VARIETY SHOULD ALWAYS BE BLACK IN THE LIVER SPOTTED VARIETY ALWAYS BROWN.

The Dalmatian is not a head breed, but the head must be in proportion to the rest of the dog, clean looking smooth and free of wrinkle. The topskull and muzzle should be about the same length. The topskull is nearly as broad as it is long and it is almost flat with a slight. centre groove starting at the occiput, coming down the stop between the eyes and extending onto the muzzle to the nose leather. The stop is not pronounced but a subtle rise where the muzzle blends into the upper head. From the side, toplines of the skull and the muzzle appear approximately parallel. The muzzle is never weak nor pointed. The lips are clean and dry. There are no flews or dewlaps.