How is it spelled ?
DalmatiAn
Do Dalmatians shed ?
Yes. They shed year round. Their short hairs cling to most surfaces and weave their way into fabrics, making them difficult to remove. Shedding can be reduced dramatically by giving your dog one (1) tablespoon of cod liver oil or halibut liver oil once a day.
How much grooming is required ?
Dalmatians require little grooming compared to other breeds. A good brisk brush once a week is sufficient. I find a cheap and effective grooming tool is a new pair of rubber dish washing gloves. Make sure to rinse them well after a bath as a soapy residue will irritate their skin. Nails should be trimmed regularly.
How much exercise is required ?
I find that a Dal will get adaquate exercise in a fenced in yard but make sure that the fence is high enough that they can't jump or climb over it. Another canine playmate does wonders too. And do keep in mind, MOST Dalmatians that are labelled *hyper* can usually be traced back to inadequate exercise.
What kind of food should
I feed my Dalmatian ?
There are as many brand preferences as there are Dalmatian breeders, but there are some generalizations that can be made. Many breeders I know have had good success with premium dry type foods (Purina, Pro Plan, Nutro, Eagle, Natures Recipe, etc.) because they contain high quality ingredients like real meats instead of meat meal and because they minimize the amount of purines, corn meal, soy meal, meat by-products and preservatives. The dog seems to make better use of the premium brand foods, therefore generating less fecal waste. I personally recommend Nutro Maintenance Formula. Dalmatians do not generally require canned dog food, however, it is sometimes useful in encouraging the finicky eater. Do not feed ever feed your Dalmatian puppy food. As a Breeder I do not feed my pups any kind of Puppy Food. They are on Adult Dry from the age of three weeks on. AND the Protein level for all of my dogs is kept around . The reason for this is explained under Medical Problems.
What is the average life span ?
With proper care, your Dalmatian could live as long as 16 years. The average life span is between 11 and 13 years.
Are Dalmatians good with children and other pets ?
Normally yes, but children must be taught to treat a dog with respect and kindness at all times. The average Dal is very tolerant of and affectionate with young chidren. If you have young chidren I would highly recommend you get a puppy as opposed to an adult. Most Dals are good with other dogs but I have found over the years that some of them are not very tolerant of cats.
Do Dalmatians make good apartment dogs ?
Don't be put off, you can still have a Dal in your life if you're willing (and able) to walk your Dal during the week and have access to an open area where he can be set loose (provided he is off-lead trained) to let off steam on weekends. Make friends with dog owners who have fenced yards. A Dalmatian looks great trotting alongside a bicycle and just think of the attention you'll attract while you both stay fit. Your Dal will enjoy and benefit from long daily walks.
Are Dalmatians hyper ?
Most Dals are very active and if they are ignored or not excercised enough they can become high strung and *hyper*. Obedience training is extremely important in order that your Dal learn boundaries and do what is expected of him. Poorly bred Dalmatians may be genetically predisposed to having excessive hyperactive or even neurotic behavrior ( one more reason to buy your pup from a reputable breeder).
Should my Dalmatian be crate trained ?
Many people think it is cruel to keep a dog in a crate even for reasonable amounts of time. However, when properly trained, a Dal sees his crate as his space, his own room. Due to the highly active and easily bored nature of the typical Dalmatian, it is not a good idea to give your Dal free run of the house in your absence until he/she is an adult. Most breeders recommend that your Dal be crate trained in order to protect your valuables and to protect your dog. Crate training is also an excellent beginning to house training. Fresh water should be supplied to Dalmatians at all times, even when they are crated. They should not be crated over too long a period of time, since concentration of the urine could lead to stone formation. For more information on bladder and kidney stones please read on.
Should I consider breeding my Dalmatian ?
In addition to the information found within there is the unique Dalmatian problem of deafness, discussed in detail later on. Breeding Dalmatians brings the added responsibility of dealing with deaf puppies. The Dalmatian Club Of Canada’s position, supported by most breeders, is that all deaf pups be humanely euthanized, not placed in homes. In all my years of breeding, I have had six deaf pups and placed five of them. The one I had to euthanize showed signs of aggression at an early age. All responded well to training except one and she was eventually put down. If you decide to breed your Dalmatian, you must be prepared and able to deal with the consequences of whelping a deaf puppy and having it euthanized or finding a responsible home for it. In addition, should you decide to breed, make sure that you know the hearing status of both the sire, dam, grandsire, granddam and siblings. Too many Dals are born deaf and end up placed in unsuspecting homes with tragic results. Since genetic defects are passed on to the offspring, both parents should be excellent breed specimens, reasonably free of genetic defects such as deafness, thyroid problems, epilepsy as well as cosmetic flaws such as incomplete eyerims and noses and patches. If you’re considering breeding, makes sure your dogs are of good enough quality, physically and mentally. And last but not least discuss the prospect of breeding with the breeder when you initially purchase your pup. Many breeders will not give breeding rights with their pups unless certain standards are met and be prepared to pay a higher price.
Dalmatians are usually good swimmers who love the water. If
your Dal swims a lot, pay attention to his ears. Wet ears
can trigger a painful ear infection.
Which sex to buy is a matter of personal preference and
circumstance. If you are interested in breeding, you
would have to buy a female. However, if you are not
interested in having a litter, you either have to put
up with the inconvenience of your female coming into
season every six months or the expense of having her
spayed (which is usually more expensive than having a
male neutered). Any female not designated by the breeder
as suitable for breeding should be spayed. Male dogs lift
their legs to urinate and if you have prize-winning
flowers in your yard, you may not appreciate that.
An un-neutered male will also become a screaming
lunatic when neighborhood females are in season. However,
as with females, if your male is not to be used for
breeding, he should be neutered and that will solve
that problem. As far as personality differences between
the sexes, the Dalmatian as a breed has all different
kinds of temperament, and each dog is an individual.
There are no hard and fast correlations between one sex
or the other as regards affection, aggression or
docility. Contrary to popular myth, many breeders find
that males are more affection ate than females and
females are more aloof, as well as more protective and
territorial than males. Much of your dog's personality
will depend upon how you raise him or her, what you
expect, encourage or discourage in terms of behavior,
and the kind of environment the dog experiences.
So, in many ways, it is a toss-up. You should purchase
whichever sex you want, as both have advantages and
disadvantages. Again, if you purchase a pet quality
Dalmatian, please have it spayed or neutered. It will
not make the dog fat and it will not change its
personality. It will simply save you a lot of worry
about the possibility of an unwanted litter, as well
as the whining and carrying-on that goes with seasonal
behavior.
From the standpoint of pet ownership or showing, there
is no difference; it is all a matter of your own color
preference. Many people who think they have their hearts
set on buying a black-spotted Dalmatian fall in love
with a liver one when they see it; the deep brown spots
and hazel or green eyes are very attractive.
For breeding purposes, the two colors are interbreedable.
Black is the dominant color and liver the recessive
color. This means that a black-spotted dog can carry
the liver gene and produce liver puppies bred to a
liver or to another "liver-factored" black dog. Two
livers bred together do not guarantee a whole liver
litter. Two blacks which do not carry the liver gene
will always produce only black puppies. Due to the
genetic mechanics involved between dominant and
recessive, litters that are mixed for color (some
black-spotted pups, some liver-spotted pups) are very
common. Other unusual colors, i.e., lemon and tricolor,
do occur, although rarely, and while these dogs can
serve handsomely as pets, they cannot be shown or bred.
Dalmatians eyes are quite varied. They can be black, brown,
hazel, green, blue or a combination of any of the above.
One blue eye is quite common. Blue eyes are not a sign
of weakness as many think. It is just a color and nothing
more. I have found over the years that the blue eyed
pups are usually the first to sell. They are quite
attractive.
Most breeders start with training almost as soon as the
puppy can stand up. The puppy is handled a lot and
taught to stand right from the start. He is given lots
of praise for holding still. At this early age, of
course, training is kept very short and undemanding but
it does teach the puppy to stand still and allow
itself to be handled. More rigorous training can begin
in a handling class when the pup is 4 or 5 months old.
Formal obedience training normally does not begin in
earnest until the youngster is 5 or 6 months old. At
that age, the puppy can start learning and retaining
basic lessons. Some organizations have "kindergarten"
classes for very young (2-4 months old) puppies, which
make use of the puppy's natural curiosity and retrieving
instinct to prepare for more advanced obedience work.
These classes are informal, fun, and kept short so the
puppies do not become bored or frustrated. They are
wonderful for socializing your puppy, too. Any kind of
training should be geared to the individual dog's
ability and attention span.
Bring your Dalmatian along slowly and gently and never
ask him to do something of which he is incapable, or
which he does not understand. Do not lose your temper !
Be firm and consistent in your training methods and
lavish praise on your dog when he does it right. The
result will be an eager, happy dog who looks forward
to his work and wants to please you.
Do Dalmatians like to swim ?
Should I buy a male or female Dalmatian ?
Is there a difference between black and liver spotted ?
What eye color is preffered ?
At what age can I begin training my Dalmatian ?
