| Dalmatians: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about Dalmatian personality and behavior. |
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My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the Dalmatian, including these excerpts:
"When well-bred, the Dalmatian is a dependable, dignified gentleman, yet high-spirited and playful.
This athletic, vigorous dog has great endurance and a working heritage and should be taken jogging, hiking, or biking on a regular basis, or otherwise allowed to romp in a safe, enclosed area.
Canine activities such as advanced obedience and agility (obstacle course) are highly recommended.
Too much confinement (especially without the companionship of his family) and too little mental stimulation lead to boredom, hyperactivity, and destructive behaviors.
Some Dalmatians greet strangers with enthusiastic jumping, while others are politely reserved. Some have protective instincts.
However, skittishness and/or aggression are seen in some lines, and socialization is required to promote a stable temperament.
Usually good with other pets, the Dalmatian is especially fond of horses.
He is an independent thinker, but in the right hands is capable of learning and doing anything. Owners who don't understand the necessity of leadership or training will find him an impossible handful."
History
Throughout his history, "The Carriage Dog" has been a versatile working dog: cart puller, sheepherder, vermin hunter, bird dog, circus performer, stable guardian, coach and carriage follower, and firehouse mascot.
Size
19-24 inches and 40-70 lbs |
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Dalmatians
What's good about 'em
What's bad about 'em
- Is medium to large and built like a sleek athlete
- Has a short easy-to-brush coat
- Thrives on vigorous exercise and interactive family activities
- Is usually polite with everyone
A Dalmatian may be right for you.
| If you don't want to deal with... |
- An extra careful search to avoid all the neurotic Dalmatians
- Vigorous exercise requirements
- Rowdiness and exuberant jumping, especially when young or not exercised enough
- "Separation anxiety" (destructiveness and barking) when left alone too much
- Aggression or fearfulness in some lines, or when not socialized enough
- Strong-willed mind of his own, requiring a confident owner who can take charge
- Constant heavy shedding
- Serious health problems
A Dalmatian may not be right for you.
| If I were considering a Dalmatian... |
My major concerns would be:
- Unstable temperaments. Because of the movie "101 Dalmatians," Dalmatians became a fad breed in the 1990s. Unknowledgeable people tried to cash in on the breed's popularity by breeding every Dalmatian they could get their hands on, including individuals with bad temperaments. The result is LOTS of Dalmatians with neurotic temperaments, including biting, wild hyperactivity, and extreme stubbornness.
- Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. Dalmatians MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy and do interesting things. Otherwise they will become rambunctious and bored -- which they usually express by barking and destructive chewing. Bored Dalmatians can make a shambles of your house and yard.
| If you simply want a pet for your family, and don't have the time or inclination to take your dog running or hiking or biking or swimming, or to get involved in tracking, or pulling carts, or agility (obstacle course), or advanced obedience, or a similar canine activity, I do not recommend this breed. |
- Bounciness. Young Dalmatians (up to about two years old) romp and jump with great vigor, and things can go flying, including people.
| If you have small children, or if you or anyone who lives with you is elderly or infirm, I do not recommend Dalmatian puppies. The temptation to play roughly is too strong in many young Dalmatians. In addition, there are just so many unstable Dalmatians around that I wouldn't take the risk. |
- Separation anxiety. More than most other breeds, Dalmatians need a great deal of companionship and do not like being left alone for more than a few hours. They tend to express their unhappiness through destructive chewing and barking. If you work all day, this is not the breed for you.
- Stubbornness. Dalmatians are not Golden Retrievers. The best Dalmatians are versatile working dogs, capable of learning a great deal, but they have an independent mind of their own and are not pushovers to raise and train. They can be manipulative, and some are willful, obstinate, and dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say
| To teach your Dalmatian to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My Dalmatian Training Page discusses the program you need. |
- Constant heavy shedding. Dalmatians shed only once a year -- for 365 days. In other words, they shed constantly. Their coarse white hairs cling tenaciously to your clothing, upholstery, and carpeting. Frequent vaccuming will become a way of life. Make sure you're REALLY up for this.
- Serious health problems. Because Dalmatians are prone to forming dangerous urinary stones, they require lifelong monitoring of their diet and urination habits. One-third of all Dalmatians cannot hear, or can hear in only one ear. Other health problems are also common.
| To keep this breed healthy, I strongly recommend following all of the advice on my Dalmatian Health Page. |
| Not all Dalmatians are alike! |
- There are energetic Dalmatians, and placid Dalmatians.
- Hard-headed Dalmatians, and sweet-natured Dalmatians.
- Serious Dalmatians, and good-natured goofballs.
- Introverted Dalmatians, and Dalmatians who love everyone.
| If you acquire a Dalmatian puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." |
| If you're considering an adult Dalmatian... |
There are plenty of adult Dalmatians who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you.
When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS.
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