The Dalmatian is a
friendly, loving and intelligent dog. Upon seeing a Dalmatian, you
have probably heard children call, "Look, it's a fire dog!" Indeed,
Dalmatians were used to run alongside the horse-driven fire carts while
guarding the horses.
This breed is fast and loves
to run. Many have been used successfully in agility training and
flyball. A bit stubborn when they want to be, it is best to begin
training your Dalmatian as a puppy. This breed will not do well in a
small apartment with nowhere to run. The Dalmatian was bred to run,
and needs plenty of room to exercise.
There is an old wives tale
that says Dalmatians are "hyper" dogs. Just as any pup, a Dalmatian is
very active up to about 2 years old. However, if your Dallie is given
the opportunity to exercise daily, she will be happy, sweet and a wonderful
family dog.
As owners of Dalmatians, we
at StrongPets cannot quite explain what it is about this breed. But
once you have one, you will never want to go back. They are clowns
with big personalities. They are active, they are couch potatoes.
They think they are human and are surprised when you don't want them sitting
at the table at dinnertime. This dog will love and protect your family
- but be careful if a thief comes in with a big steak - the steak might
temporarily win out!
Loveable, sweet, cuddly and
playful. This is a fun, happy dog with a big heart - always enjoying a
belly rub and always wiggling their hind quarters. You may have heard
of the Dalmatian smile? Some Dals actually smile, which will send you
into hysterics when you own one. A few smile when they are nervous,
feeling silly or have done something they know they should not have done.
However, some pounds who are not familiar with this breed will see a
Dalmatian smile and think it is angry or bad, when in fact the dog is just
nervous.
The popular Disney movie
"101 Dalmatians" brought great interest to the Dalmatian, who was overbred
and sold to many as cute "puppies." There are many wonderful adult
Dallies that need a home. If you love an active dog and love the
outdoors, but also enjoy having a dog snuggled up next to you on the couch,
consider a Dal. If you can't find a local Dalmatian Rescue, these
organizations can help. DOTS, or Dalmatian Overland Transport Service,
can arrange to have your Dallie delivered to your home as well. Here
are some wonderful Dalmatian rescue organizations:
TheDalmatian is an intelligent dog and can be
trained for agility and flyball. Some Dals may try to trick
you into thinking they are NOT intelligent, but believe us, they
are!
Exercise
The Dalmatian will not do
well in a small apartment with nowhere to run. Your Dalmatian
needs daily run time in a nice backyard, and loves to go on walks
with the family.
Google Square Ad
Grooming
This breed sheds a
great deal. The small hairs are like little needles that weave
into your furniture, clothes and car seats. If you do not
enjoy wearing part of your dog to work, the Dalmatian is not for
you.
Health
The
Dalmatian is prone to urinary stones. They should be given
plenty of water at all times, and be monitored for their urination.
Some Dalmatians are born deaf, but can be trained with sign language
and live a normal and wonderful life with your family. The
Dalmatian is prone to environmental, flea and food allergies as well
as skin problems due to allergies. If your Dalmatian starts to
lose fur or has bumps under the fur, seek your veterinarian's advice
on how to discover a possible
environmental or food allergy.
