General Information

The Dalmatian is a medium-sized, smooth coated breed of working and sporting heritage, suitable as a family pet or performance animal. He is an intelligent dog, devoted to his owner(s). He is moderately territorial, though not aggressive, and pleasant to live with. His most unique feature, his spots are either black or chocolate brown, which is properly termed "liver." He is clean by nature and has little , if any "doggy odor." His short coat does shed almost year round; regular brushing outdoors helps to minimize shedding.

Dalmatians are a hardy breed and their day-to-day upkeep does not involve a lot of fussing. They do best in a household situation, and indeed will pine if left outside on a chain or otherwise ignored. They are a people-oriented breed and they bask in the love and attention of their owners, i.e. if your idea of owning a dog consists of leaving the dog outside all the time and patting it once a day when you feed it, do not get a Dalmatian! Also, although they enjoy a romp in the snow, they get cold and wet quickly and must not be left outside during the winter months in a cold climate. Common sense should dictate when your Dalmatian has "had enough" and should come in.

Dalmatians thrive in almost any type of residence. The Dalmatian's first concern is that he be with "his" people, whether in an apartment, a townhouse, a single-family home or on a farm, the object being that he get proper exercise and attention. Possibly the ideal situation would be a single-family home with a large fenced yard from which he cannot escape. Dalmatians are moderately active dogs and if left to their own devices are capable of wandering far from home. Do not assume that he can find his way back! The dog should always be under some kind of control, either on a leash or behind a fence. The off-leash or unfenced dog is always in danger of stepping into the road at precisely the wrong time, or in the case of a farm residence, getting caught in barbed wire or hurt by farm machinery or livestock. Again, common sense should prevail regarding your own particular circumstances.

Choosing Your Dalmatian: Where To Look And What To Look For

If you have decided to purchase a Dalmatian puppy, we advise you to look at as many pups as many litters as possible, to observe the differences in both appearance and temperament found in the breed. Show potential puppies cost more than pet quality. A show puppy will be your pet too, but pet quality will not be suitable for showing and breeding. Different breeders have different opinions as to what they judge to be a pet versus a show pup, and even the most promising put a eight weeks of age may not evolve into the adult that the breeder predicted. Therefore, if you think you might be interested in showing or breeding Dalmatians, carefully study the Dalmatian Standard of excellence (included in this packet) to understand the technical point, faults and disqualifications by show ring standards. Try to go to several dog shows to see Dalmatians in competition and talk to breeders and owners at the show who have the dogs which appeal to you.

In reading the Dalmatian Standard, you will note that a so-called "patch" is a disqualifying fault. The standards describes a patch rather well. Patches are usually found on the head, perhaps including one or both ears, or covering an eye. If you plan to use your Dalmatian for breeding purposes, buy the best quality you possibly can, without any disqualifying faults.

Temperament in Dalmatians varies quite widely throughout the breed, and the type of temperament your particular Dalmatian exhibits is a result of both his genetic background and his subsequent environment and handling. When looking at a litter of Dalmatian pups for prospective purchase, it is advisable to observe them in a group if possible. Watch how they play with each other and if they have been removed from their normal play area, how they go about exploring the are they are in. The pup who tends to be a "bully" may be tougher to handle as an adult than what you want. Conversely, the pup who avoids joining in play or who shrinks away from being handled, may be too timid to make a good pet. The best temperament is shown by the middle of the road pup who shows natural curiosity, can hold its own in a crowd without bullying the others or being bullied and who doesn't struggle and claw when it is picked up.

While the Dalmatian is a highly adaptable dog, the new owner should carefully consider the kind of environment the dog will experience in his or her home and the kinds of reactions to that environment expected from the dog in a given situation. If you have an aged parent in your home, or very small children, you will want a quiet, calm, tolerant dog. If you live alone you will want more alert, keen Dalmatian. Of course, training has a lot to do with how your dog acts around people, but the basic temperament and attitude of the dog will be little modified by formal training if at all. Do not choose either a very timid dog or a very aggressive one, as both require special handling which makes them unsuitable for the average person. An objective analysis on your part, of your particular wants and needs will guide you in choosing the Dalmatian which will suit you best and which will be, with proper care, a long-time companion.

In view of the foregone, it should be fairly obvious that you are not likely to find a well-bred pup of good temperament in a pet store. Most pet store pups come from "puppy mills' which are huge breeding kennels where the females are bred nearly every season and the puppies are sold in litter lots to the pet shops. These animals are not bred carefully for temperament and correct type as area a breeder's; they are bred strictly for profit. The pups receive minimal veterinary care and no real socialization, and are often shipped to the pet shops in packing crates of 8 to 10 puppies per crate. These pups are then divided up among the pet shops in the area and are subsequently housed as you see them in the stores: in metal cages where, among other things, they learn to urinate and defecate right where they eat and sleep. This habit can make the extremely difficult, if not impossible, to housebreak once they go to their new homes. These pups, being of dubious pedigree to begin with, do not get affectionate human contact in their early weeks of life. Due to being handled like inert merchandise, they often have both physiological and psychological problems which time cannot cure. All in all, you are best advised to get you pup from a breeder. You will have a well-adjusted, properly vetted pup of indisputable pedigree; a pet you can be proud of.

Once you have chosen your puppy, paid for it and received the papers form the breeder, the rest of its education is up to you. Training in the elementary niceties can begin right away, but remember that you have a baby in the house and his or her attention span is short. Housebreaking is the first order of business and you can help tremendously by taking your pup outside immediately after he eats and after he wakes up from a nap. As soon as he eliminates outside, lavish praise on him. It is smart not to let him go off to play afterwards because then he will forget the reason he went outside in the first place; instead, bring him back in and play with him inside. Take him for an outside play a bit later as a separate event from going out to eliminate. Most pups catch on very quickly and you will be able to tell, if you keep an eye on him, that he wants to go out. Most puppies circle on the floor in an ever-decreasing radius; when they hit the center of the circle, it's "bombs away," so its your job to anticipate and get the pup outside when he needs to go "out." Remember, lots of praise when he performs outside, even if he also sprinkled the rug before you got to him. Praise for doing the right thing will get your Dalmatian on tract faster than punishment for doing the wrong thing.

We recommend that you purchase a crate for your Dalmatian. This is a welded wire or molded plastic "house" for your dog in which he can stay, in the house, during those times you are not around to supervise. All dogs have a "denning instinct" and your dog's crate will become, in his mind, his own "den" or "cave." He should never be punished when in his crate; it is his little home. Crating will help immeasurably in housebreaking, since a normally clean dog will not want to soil his bed and will "hold it" while he is crated (This is where pet shop dogs don't work out well because they are used to messing in their own beds.). The crate is also handy for when you have company and want the dog confined. It is also a comfortable and safe place for your dog to ride when traveling in the car; and when you must leave the house for an hour or two, you dog is where he is secure and can't get into any trouble. A crate is the dog's cozy den where he is comfortable, and we think you will find it is very convenient for you, too. Be sure to get a crate which will accommodate your Dalmatian easily when he is full grown.

Do not eliminate the idea of obtaining an adult Dalmatian rather than a puppy. some breeders have adult Dalmatians available for placement in suitable homes at any given time, and in many ways an adult dog is less work than a new puppy. Most Dalmatians adjust readily to a new household and are completely settled in in two to four weeks. Adult dogs don't give you the trouble of housebreaking and chewing that a puppy does; and, depending upon the individual dog, it may also have been crate trained, trained not to bark, not to get on furniture, not to jump up on people and other nice things which, with a puppy, you would have to do yourself. Adult Dalmatians usually do very well in situations where the owner is at work all day or with elderly people who don't feel they can "keep up" with a puppy effectively.

Daily Care

Day to day care of the Dalmatian is quick and easy, but should be done very regularly in order to keep him feeling and looking his best. The Dalmatian is basically odor free and bathing is usually unnecessary more than 3 or 4 times a year unless the dog gets dirty or stained frequently, or unless he needs a medicated bath due to fleas or ticks. Use a mild shampoo made for dogs and be sure to rinse all the soap completely out of the coat or it can dry and cause itching. If your Dalmatian has been exposed to fleas and ticks, use a shampoo made for repelling them; start at the dog's head and work back toward the tail. Be careful to work the lather into the dog's legs and feet as fleas often hide between the toes until your inundation is over. Be sure not to get the suds in the dog's eyes and ears.

A good brushing with a moderately firm bristle brush once every day or two will put a ;nice gloss on your Dalmatian's coat and help to alleviate shedding. Trim his toenails back (just the hooked tip, please!) once a week so they don't grow too long and cause him discomfort in walking. Check his ears once a week and clean the ear canal with a Q-tip dipped in baby oil If the odor persists or the dog is shaking his head and digging at his ears, have your vet check them for infection or mites. Keep an eye on your Dalmatian's teeth, too, so that he doesn't suffer an inordinate built up of tartar.

Aside from the above, you should keep a general eye on your dog to make sure he is acting bright and happy, is neither too fat nor too thin, and that he hasn't eaten anything that isn't good for him. Puppies especially are curious and much like human babies, everything goes into the mouth. With moderate attention and awareness on your part, your Dalmatian will be an easy dog to care for.

Characteristics Unique to Dalmatians

As with any breed of dog, there are a few things you should be aware of when choosing a Dalmatian, as regards faults of health. One is congenital deafness. This occurs in Dalmatians at a minimal rate and whole litters are born with no deaf pups. However, ethical breeders test their litters for hearing impairment and any puppies proven deaf are put to sleep at the vet's. Occasionally a deaf one may sneak by (they seem to be particularly adept at interpreting the movements of their littermates and of light and shadow, and can act absolutely normal), unbeknownst to the breeder. Do not get a deaf dog or even if one is given to you, as you will be letting yourself in for a lot of work and probably heartbreak: work, because the dog cannot hear you and for all but the most experienced handlers is rendered untrainable; probably heartbreak, because if the dog ever gets away from you, he cannot hear traffic. You can conclude the ending. The deaf dog leads a sadly neurotic life, as every hand on his fur or step on the floor startles him because he cannot hear. Many deaf dogs become so fearful and timid, they must be put to sleep anyway; better to do so right from the start before a family is attached to the dog. Should you inadvertently procure a deaf Dalmatian, the breeder is obliged, by any code of ethics, to either replace the puppy with a hearing one or to refund your money.

Some Dalmatians experience skin and coat problems which are usually worse during the summer months. Usually, the redness, scratching and loss of hair can be traced to an obvious source such as fleas and ticks, or an allergy to flea bites. Other Dalmatians may have allergies to grasses or dust, and some just seem to have a chronic dermatitis. These types of sensitivities tend to be hereditary, so when looking for a pup it is wise to get a look at the parents of the litter if possible and to ask about possible skin reactions in the bloodline(s) of the dog.

Another peculiarity intrinsic to the Dalmatian is the direct excretion of uric acid by the kidneys, without conversion into water soluble urea. This is due to metabolic differences inherent in the breed and should not be confused with the renal failure and/or incontinence which occurs in many breeds during old age. The most dramatic consequences of uric acid excretion (kidney/bladder stone formation, urethral blockage, toxemia)is the formation of urinary stones. Urinary stone-forming seems to be much more prevalent in male Dalmatians than females and even then, infrequently encountered. Various corrective diets and medications have been developed to combat its effects. Research is ongoing and the feeding of certain proteins known as 'purine-yielding foods' like liver has been confirmed to be one important factor in Dalmatians forming purine urinary stones.  

The Dalmatian Backcross Project

In 1974, Dr. Robert Schaible, a medical geneticist and Dalmatian breeder, began what became known as the Backcross Project.  Dr. Schaible bred a Dalmatian bitch to a Champion Pointer to re-introduce the gene for normal/low uric acid formation to the Dalmatian breed.  This project was successful, in that in successive generations, Dr. Schaible was able to produce dogs who had Dalmatian breed type but carried the gene for low/normal uric acid production. A full description of the Backcross Project has been written by James Seltzer, Ph.D. More information about the ongoing status of the Backcross Project can be found at The Dalmatian Heritage Project web site.

Aside from the above, Dalmatians do not have any appreciable problems with the kinds of things one hears of in some other breeds, such as hip dysplasia, PRA or luxated patellas. They are not, as a rule, finicky eaters and do not require expensive supplements to their normal diet in order to keep them fit and looking well.

Training and Socialization

Training your Dalmatian to behave as a good citizen and good neighbor is extremely important, whether you tackle the job yourself or enroll in a formal obedience class. We recommend that you find a good obedience class in your area so that you can learn to handle your dog properly and so he can learn what is expected of him. Dogs which have no direction or guidance become a nuisance just as undisciplined children do. Your pup's breeder can probably recommend a good obedience class for you and your Dalmatian, and some organizations even offer "kindergarten" classes for very young puppies. Do train your Dalmatian: you will appreciate the cooperation you get from your dog and your neighbors will appreciate the cooperation from you!

Equally important to your dog's well being and happiness is what breeders call "socialization." This means getting your youngster out to see new things, meet new people and experience new situations. The dog who pines in the kennel and won't eat when the family goes out of town, or the dog who snarls and backs away from strangers is often the dog which is poorly socialized. Take your dog with you whenever possible, especially as a young puppy. Walk him on a leash through a shopping mall and have strangers pet him. Take him to the train station or airport and let him hear the clatter and screech of the train or the whine of the jet engines. Expose him to as many unusual situations as possible to assure that he doesn't cower or hang back under stressful circumstances, and that he is confident and trustful that you won't let anything hurt him. This is especially critical for a show dog because a self confident "heads up" king of dogs will carry the day every time over the skittish, frightened one.

If you are interested in showing your Dalmatian, you should attend a show handling class. Here you will learn not only how to pose your dogs properly and how to present him in motion to the judge, but also the correct etiquette for the ring, what to wear, and how to prepare your dog. Handling classes are often given by all-breed clubs or by professional handlers; your dog's breeder or your local breed club can point you toward good classes in which to enroll.

Back to the top