Dalmatia: coast and dog?

What really made me think about etymology was the funny hat on two street musicians in the city of Zadar: they were wearing hats which had a pattern similar to the one of a Dalmatian dog.

The question is: is there a connection between the Dalmatian dog and the part of Croatia called Dalmatia?

The answer is a big YES. Here we go.
Dalmatia (Croatian: Dalmacija, pronounced [dǎlmaːt͡sija]; see names in other languages) is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south. Dalmatia lies in Croatia.^[1] The Dalmatian dog received its name from Dalmatia, as does the dalmatic, a Roman Catholic liturgical vestment worn by deacons and bishops.

The Dalmatian (Croatian: Dalmatinac, Dalmatiner) is a breed of dog whose roots are often said to trace back to Dalmatia, a region of Croatia where the first illustrations of the dog have been found.^[1] The Dalmatian is noted for its unique black- or brown-spotted coat and was mainly used as a carriage dog in its early days. Today, this dog remains a well loved family pet and many dog enthusiasts enter their pets into the competitions of many kennel clubs.

(source: Wikipedia, mypetla.com, old-picture.com)