Description

Originally bred to run alongside carriages, the Dalmatian is a large, muscular dog with an athletic build. They have a flat-topped skull and high-set, floppy ears with rounded tips. The chest is deep and the shoulders are laid back. The Dalmatian’s feet are round, with well arched toes.

Origin: Croatia

Look

Cruella de Vil, the villainess of Disney’s “101 Dalmatians” craved a spotted Dalmatian coat. Indeed, the Dalmatian’s unique spotted coat is beautiful – certainly more beautiful on a happy, lively dog! The Dalmatian starts its life with a plain white coat, but as it grows up it begins to develop spots. By three to four weeks of age, Dalmatian pups have already gotten their first spots, and by the time they are a month old, they already have most of their spots. Common spot colours are black and liver (brown), but blue, brindle, orange and other colours occasionally occur. Dalmatians also sometimes have patches of colour. Tricolour and patched Dalmatians aren’t accepted in the show ring, but are wonderful dogs regardless.

The fur is fine and sleek, and seems to repel dirt, making this breed easy to keep clean. They are also relatively odourless. Unfortunately, they shed all year round. You will probably need to brush your Dalmatian daily to remove loose hair and reduce shedding.

Health

The Dalmatian is generally a very healthy breed; however they are prone to a few health conditions:

• Skin allergies
• Hereditary deafness
• Urolithiasis (urinary tract stones)
• Hip Dysplasia
• Iris Sphincter Dysplasia

At Newdoggy.com we promote reputable breeders, who use genetic testing and good breeding practices to remove genetic conditions from their breeding lines. Newdoggy.com’s Health Guarantee certifies that all promoted puppies are in good health.

Learning

Dalmatians have a strong desire to please, and are usually very food motivated, so with a little patience, this breed should be quite easy to train. They are energetic, but you can try to focus that energy into training. Dalmatians often excel in canine sports due to their energy, intelligence, and eagerness to please. During the first year of owning a Dalmatian pup, you will need to work hard, as young Dalmatians are incredibly energetic. If you have time, and a firm, consistent approach, you should be able to make the best of your dog’s intelligence and to train your Dalmatian to be a model canine citizen.

Temperament

Dalmatians generally are playful and easy going dogs, happy to run around with you in the morning, and relax with you in the evening. They are very friendly and get along well with children and other pets, though a very energetic Dalmatian may be a little too excitable for a small child. A young Dalmatian will need lots of exercise to use up all that energy. You will want to socialise your young Dalmatian from an early age, which will help instil confidence and get him/her used to a wide variety of situations.

Living with

Dalmatians were originally bred to run alongside horse drawn carriages, so they have plenty of energy and stamina. This breed needs lots of exercise, otherwise they may become overexcitable and destructive. They thrive on human companionship, and hate being left alone for long periods of time. A lonely Dalmatian may trash your house or bark incessantly. This breed is ideal for someone who wants a walking or jogging companion, and who has the time and patience to train such an energetic yet intelligent dog.