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Dalmation Facts to Consider

I think dals rule, but we are NOT for everyone. Here are some dalmation facts (or dalmatian facts) to consider before you add one to your family.

If you plan on getting a puppy:

Expect to have a strong-willed, extremely high spirited bundle of fur on your hands. Dalmation dogs are extremely active and need to play, run, jump, chew, bark and get into everything around us. We need a lot of exercise and attention. We are very intelligent and our curiosity level can be off the chart. You need a lot of patience during the early years, especially when training us.

101 Dalmatians

It took me three years to settle down and during those three years my #1 human swore she would give me away to the first "good home" she could find.

During my early years, I

• chewed up most of her rose bushes and other favorite plants,
• dug numerous holes under the fence to get out of the yard so I could run through the neighborhood with wild abandon,
• figured out how to undo my chain tie-out so I could dig holes under the fence and run through the neighborhood, again, with wild abandon,
• dug holes under the expensive dog kennel she had to put together in an effort to keep me in the yard and out of the neighborhood (she finally had to move it onto the patio where I couldn't dig)
• insisted on sleeping on her bed and the sofa,
• chewed up a lot of her furniture when I was teething and
• took great pleasure being obstinate during training sessions.

When I was young, I wanted everything MY way!

I also showered her and her family with intense dalmation dog devotion and entertained them as much as possible during playtime. I loved chasing balls and playing exuberant tug of war with anything I could grab hold of (my rubber bone, my chew rope, my human's good shoes, clothing, etc.).

Even though I'm now a senior, I still LOVE moments of spontenous tug of war! And that, my human friend, is an absolute dalmation fact.

About This Breed
Specific Dalmation Facts

Dalmations like to be with people, especially their human family. Being alone for long time periods is upsetting and is a root cause of bad behaviour. If you work long hours or are away a lot and there are no other family pets for company, this breed may not be for you.

We have very sensitive dispositions. It is a dalmation fact that we will sulk when scolded (or think we are being scolded). Sometimes, we will even sulk if you take away something we think is ours!

We are very protective of our families and our turf. Normally we are quiet dogs, but if we hear something we think is a threat to our family or home, we will bark loud and hard. This makes dalmatians very good watchdogs.

We are very vocal when greeting our humans and during play. We also tend to show our teeth in a doggie smile when our favorite humans come around. That's a dalmation fact that our owners love about us!

Rabble Rousers

We are very intelligent and when not stimulated, we can get bored easily. We need a lot of interaction with our human family or other family pets to keep us out of trouble. Special "treat" toys that give us something to do are quite helpful.

Here's a dalmation fact you really need to be aware of. We have an independent streak and can be very headstrong, especially when we are young and in the dog teen years. If we think we can get away with it, we'll try!

With this breed it's important to use positive training methods or we just won't cooperate. You'll find us fast learners if you shower us with praise and treats when we do what you want. Start our training EARLY.

As pets, we typically do very well with other dogs and even, when introduced properly, get along with the family cat, rabbit or bird.

Our Physical Self

Because we have short hair, we do not handle cold weather well. We do much better as inside dogs. A vet has noted that Dalmations who have to live outside in cold weather often wind up with pneumonia.

Dalmations are prone to sensitive skin. We often need special shampoos or prescription skin treatments due to skin dryness or due to reactions to flea bites and other skin allergies.

We typically shed year round so be prepared to brush us several times a week in order to keep this to a minimum. Our hairs tend to be stiff, so you can expect them to cling to and get into just about everything! A dalmation fact that can be quite irritating if you are not prepared to handle it.

Here's a dalmation fact most people seem to think happens a lot. Yes, some dalmations ARE born deaf; however, this happens to a small percentage and those that have this problem can be trained using hand signals. It takes a committed owner to care for and live with a deaf dog (or any other animal with hearing loss!)

Our average life span is twelve years. Our average weight is between 50 and 65 pounds. Our height runs from 18 to 28 inches.

Dalmations are white with black spots. They can also be white with brown spots. Here's another dalmation fact for you: sometimes the spots are so light, they are called "lemon spots".

Newborn puppies are all white and start showing spots at around two weeks old.

An independant breeder has been able to produce miniature and toy dalmations (ok, dalmatians). They are tiny dogs with huge price tags and, though they are adorable, are not recognized by the AKC. There is a lot of mixed opinion about these little dogs. However, if you love dalmatians, but prefer a smaller sized dog, this may be the perfect solution for you. If you are curious, this link will take you to the breeder's site for dalmation facts about mini-dals. They really are cute little canines.