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.
Breed Brief -
History - Appearance -
Temperament - Exercise -
Grooming
Training - Health
- Is Breed Right For Me? -
Breeders/Puppies For Sale
Dog Names -
Pictures - Further Info -
Clubs/Rescues
Dalmatian Size
Variations:
Dalmatian
Colors:
White coat with spots of black or liver
Dalmatian Height: 19 to 23 inches at the withers
Dalmatian Weight:
About 55 pounds
Dalmatian
Exercise Needs: Demanding
Dalmatian
Grooming Needs: Minimal
Dalmatian Life Expectancy (Lifespan):
11 to 13 years
Are Dalmatians Child-Friendly? Yes
Dalmatian Training:
Medium Difficult
Breed Group:
Non-Sporting
Breed Brief -
History - Appearance -
Temperament - Exercise -
Grooming
Training - Health
- Is Breed Right For Me? -
Breeders/Puppies For Sale
Dog Names -
Pictures - Further Info -
Clubs/Rescues
The Dalmatian dog breed originated in United States of
America. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Breed Brief -
History - Appearance -
Temperament - Exercise -
Grooming
Training - Health
- Is Breed Right For Me? -
Breeders/Puppies For Sale
Dog Names -
Pictures - Further Info -
Clubs/Rescues
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.
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.
Breed Brief -
History - Appearance -
Temperament - Exercise -
Grooming
Training - Health
- Is Breed Right For Me? -
Breeders/Puppies For Sale
Dog Names -
Pictures - Further Info -
Clubs/Rescues
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
If you're looking for a quiet puppy that will blend smoothly into your household with a minimal amount of disruption, a Dalmatian is not a good choice for you. Before you bring home a Dalmatian, remind yourself about all of the images that you have seen depicting these dogs running alongside fire trucks. Dalmatians actually enjoy that type of activity. They like being active, and they need a lot of exercise to burn of what many people describe as excess energy.
The Dalmatian is NOT the dog for everyone! Be sure to research the breed using the links below before making a decision to add this very special dog to your family. Ownership requires a strong commitment to training and exercising this very active and energetic breed. With the right training and exercise, the Dalmatian makes a wonderful all-round family dog and a great conversation piece!
These high energy dogs are definitely not a good choice for people hoping to bring home a pet that will sit calmly and quietly by his or her feet for hours on end. However, if you enjoy running and would love to have a dog that can keep up with you on your daily runs, you may not be able to find a better companion than a Dalmatian.
While Dalmatians can be ideal pets for the right people, it's important to realize that this type of dog will not be a low maintenance addition to your household. You'll need to plan to spend a significant amount of time with your dog, a large portion of which must be dedicated to allowing him or her to get plenty of exercise. It's also a good idea to participate in formal obedience training with your Dalmatian. Dog obedience classes can help Dalmatians learn to control their naturally high anxiety levels, and they can help you firmly establish yourself as the master in the relationship.
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.
We Highly Recommend:
Breed Brief -
History - Appearance -
Temperament - Exercise -
Grooming
Training - Health
- Is Breed Right For Me? -
Breeders/Puppies For Sale
Dog Names -
Pictures - Further Info -
Clubs/Rescues
Choosing a name for your Dalmatian puppy can be a daunting
task! There are so many names to choose from that it can take a lot
of thought and research to find just the right name for your
Dalmatian. Usually, it's best to get to know your puppy for a
few days or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will help you
decide on just the right name to choose. Does he have a sense of
humor? A serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to one side?
A strange love of cantaloupe? By observing your new Dalmatian
puppy over the first days or weeks, you should at least have a clue
about what type of name you want to give. There are a ton of dog
names and pet names web sites on the internet. Some are wonderful
information resources, while others, unfortunately, are just
"garbage" sites set up with the sole purpose of cashing in on
visitor hits for this popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new Dalmatian puppy. These sites offer inventive,
unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that have helped
thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the right name for
their new baby!
Dalmatian Dog Names
Breed Brief -
History - Appearance -
Temperament - Exercise -
Grooming
Training - Health
- Is Breed Right For Me? -
Breeders/Puppies For Sale
Dog Names -
Pictures - Further Info -
Clubs/Rescues
Dalmatians are a very photogenic dog breed. By looking at
Dalmatian pictures, you can usually gain more insight into
what these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and this can help
you decide if you really want to become an Dalmatian owner.
The following sites below offer pictures of Dalmatian dogs,
Dalmatian puppy photos, funny Dalmatian photos and
more. Enjoy!
Breed Brief -
History - Appearance -
Temperament - Exercise -
Grooming
Training - Health
- Is Breed Right For Me? -
Breeders/Puppies For Sale
Dog Names -
Pictures - Further Info -
Clubs/Rescues
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.
Breed Brief -
History - Appearance -
Temperament - Exercise -
Grooming
Training - Health
- Is Breed Right For Me? -
Breeders/Puppies For Sale
Dog Names -
Pictures - Further Info -
Clubs/Rescues
Dalmatian clubs and rescues web sites can help you learn
even more about the Dalmatian dog breed, help you locate a
responsible Dalmatian breeder, or help you find an Dalmatian dog or puppy in need of a second chance for a loving,
forever home. We've compiled the following list of Dalmatian
clubs and Dalmatian rescues web sites for your convenience:
Dalmatian Clubs -
Dalmatian Rescues
