Online Guide to the Dalmatian Dog Breed

Common Misspellings: Dalmation, Dlamatian, Dalmasion, Dalmashun

Seeing spots? They don't come any more "spotted" than this! Many have stopped to stare in awe of this gorgeous breed and it's famous spots!

Made famous by Walt Disney through the favorite children's classic "101 Dalmatians", the Dalmatian dog breed is a favorite among young and elderly alike, and will no doubt continue his reign as one of our most beloved dog breeds for eternity.

Dalmatian Dog Breed

Dalmatian Size Variations:
Dalmatian Colors: colors
Dalmatian Exercise Needs: Demanding
Dalmatian Grooming Needs: Minimal
Dalmatian Life Expectancy (Lifespan) :11 to 13 years
Are Dalmatian Dogs Good With Children?: Yes
Dalmatian Training: Medium Difficult

Dalmatian History

Well known for it's fire hall duties, and made very famous by Disney's 101 Dalmatians, this breed has been around for centuries. Of Croatian descent, the Dalmatian is thought to have originated in Northern India, where the breed was used as a sentry to warn against invasion by neighboring Turkey. The breed travelled to Dalmatia, a region of Croatia located along the Adriatic Sea during the 16th Century, and has since become popular throughout Europe for herding livestock, guarding home and hearth, controlling vermin populations and even performing in circus acts! The breed has since found it's way into the hearts and homes of North Americans.

Dalmatian Appearance

Dalmatians puppies are born white, and develop their trademark black spots as they mature.

Dalmatians are among the most widely recognized of all dog breeds, with their signature white coats and black or brown spots. Their short, sleek hair sheds profusely and should be brushed on a regular basis. Many people don't realize that Dalmatians are completely white when they are born, with their spots forming as they mature. In addition to the spots on their coats, these dogs also have spotted tongues. Some Dalmatians have blue eyes, some have brown, and some even have one eye of each color.


When full grown, Dalmatians can stand up to two feet tall and usually weigh between 45 and 65 pounds. They are very muscular, but do not tend to become bulky or overweight. Most Dalmatians eat a lot, but don�t tend gain excess weight because of their high energy and activity levels.

Dalmatian Temperament & Personality

Naturally intelligent, energetic, athleticism, agile and graceful, the Dalmatian excels in agility, flyball, obedience, conformation, search and rescue and pet therapy, as well as making a loyal, affectionate and lively family companion.

Dalmatian Exercise Needs

Dalmations are happy and well-behaved, provided they are given plenty of exercise and attention. They tend to be strong-willed and require obedience training and a firm hand from an early age. Dalmatians make great companions for those who like to run!

If your Dalmatian doesn't get enough exercise, he or she is likely to become very destructive. Dog owners who leave their Dalmatians locked in the house all day are very likely to come home and discover that the stuffing has been removed from every pillow in the house and that there are teeth marks embedded in each piece of wooden furniture. This destructive nature is tied to both the high energy levels and issues with separation anxiety that characterize this rather high strung breed of dog.

Dalmatians can actually adapt to being house dogs, as long as they have access to the outdoors and their owners devote time and energy to seeing to it that they get the exercise they need. If you bring home a Dalmatian, one of the first things you should do is install a doggie door so that your pet always has the ability to go outside. Your floors and your furniture will be much better off once you take this precaution.

Dalmatian Grooming Requirements

With it's nice, smooth, shiny coat, the Dalmatian does not require a lot in the way of grooming. A good weekly brushing and rub-down will get rid of any stray hairs. Like any breed with dropped down ears, the Dalmation should have his ears cleaned regularly using cotton balls and an acidifying ear cleansing solution that can be obtained at your local pet store, Walmart or your vet's office.

Dalmatian Training

The Dalmation is a very intelligent, very energetic breed that can be a challenge during puppyhood. It's a good idea to start obedience training from a very early age and get your Dalmation's respect from the get-go. This will go a long way towards enjoying your Dalmation's puppyhood - rather than waiting with baited breath for him to become a more mature dog. Dalmatians excel in all dog activities and sports such as flyball, frisbee, agility, etc., and can be a great way for your puppy to burn off that excess energy, while your family gets some exercise too.

Dalmatian Health Information

Like any purebred breed of dog, the Dalmatian is not without genetic health conditions which can crop up from time to time. Always take careful measures to choose a responsible, reputable breeder from which to purchase a Dalmation puppy. A responsible breeder will be extremely knowledgeable about the breed and the health disorders that can occur, and will be diligent in screening her breeding dogs for these conditions prior to breeding to help ensure happy, healthy and long-lived puppies. This screening should include CERF (eye), OFA or PENN Hip (hips), and BAER (hearing) screening and certification. There is no 100% sure way to prevent health conditions from occurring, but carefully planning breedings from healthy, disease-free parents will dramatically increase the chances of a healthy litter of Dalmatian puppies.

Health conditions which can occur in Dalmatians include:

Deafness
Urinary Tract/Bladder Stones
Iris Sphincter Dysplasia (ISD)
Hip Dysplasia
Elbow Dysplasia
Allergies
Skin Conditions
Thyroid Conditions
Epilepsy

Finding A Responsible Dalmatian Breeder

Now that you have decided that the Dalmatian is the right breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a responsible Dalmatian breeder from which to buy a healthy, well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first Dalmatian puppy you find at the cheapest price available! To buy a puppy from a responsible Dalmatian breeder, you may need to pay more and wait longer. The additional money and waiting time will be well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste from a newspaper ad, pet store or "backyard breeder", and you'll likely also purchase a great deal of additional expense and heartache, since you will likely end up falling in love with a puppy with health and behavioral problems that will likely need special care, plenty of veterinary visits, regular medication - or even euthanasia. But do your homework and find a responsible, caring Dalmatian breeder who home-raises their puppies with love, screens their breeding dogs for health problems, offers a health guarantee and post sale support, and who genuinely loves the Dalmatian breed and is in it for the love of the breed, rather than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of getting a healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family companion that will provide you and your family with many years of joy, laughter and companionship.

Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...

Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised Dalmatian puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many sites now online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for puppy mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear of these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the breeders whom they allow to advertise.

Additional Dalmatian Information Resources

There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn more about the Dalmatian dog breed. We've compiled a list of Dalmatian information sites to assist you in quickly locating quality information about the Dalmatian dog breed, while avoiding the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than poor attempts to capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in general. If you know of an Dalmatian information site that offers unique, quality information and photos of the Dalmatian breed, please contact us with the URL and a brief description so that our editors can consider it for inclusion in our list below.