Life With a Dalmatian

Dalmatians, sometimes known as the firehouse dog, love to play. They enjoy going for walks, running, and fetching. If you lead an active lifestyle and want a dog to take with you when participating in outdoor activities, then a Dalmatian is one of the best breeds to own.

Dalmatians, when treated and cared for properly, can make fantastic pets for those who enjoy an active lifestyle. An energetic dog by nature, Dalmatians require attention from their owners and should be walked at least once a day. Many people enjoy taking these dogs to parks, dog runs, and other areas where there are other dogs and people.

Adult Dalmatians are usually 19 to 24 inches in height and weigh 45-65 lbs. Males are larger than females and can grow to be 27 inches and weigh 70lbs. Dalmatians are considered medium sized dogs and are fairly strong animals.

You may easily recognize the Dalmatian because of the characteristic spots on its coat. These spots are usually brown, black, or a lighter lemon color. Spots will begin to appear as the dog begins to reach adulthood. Puppies are born without spots. If you are considering showing your Dalmatian, keep in mind that dogs with lighter colored spots are restricted from competing.

Another characteristic of the Dalmatian is the look in their eyes. Viewed as intelligent, these dogs have bright brown, blue, or amber colored eyes. Their intelligence is supported by their devotion to people, their ability to stand guard and protect what they feel is important, and their overall friendliness.

While it is easier to train a puppy, you can still train an adult dog with a little patience and consistency on your part. Do not use negative reinforcement with training your Dalmatian. Even though they are even tempered dogs, they could become angry when punished or verbally abused. Keep instructing your dog using positive reinforcement until they learn the commands.

Overall, the fun-loving, people-oriented Dalmatian thrives in a family environment. They are a high-energy breed and require daily exercise on a dog leash or within a fenced area. The breed's short coat sheds almost year round, but regular brushing helps minimize the shedding. Dalmatians enjoy being in the company of people, so buying a comfortable dog bed or blanket will help the dog stay comfortable. If buying a puppy, you should consider buying a dog crate for it to sleep in during the night. This is to protect the puppy from objects in the home, and also so you can get a good night's sleep.

Your Pet Dalmatian's Care and Feeding Tips

Learn About the Care & Feeding of Your Pet Dalmatian

You may have heard that Dalmatians are not very smart or are too hard to train. This is simply not true. The breed is alert, active, fast, intelligent, and is happiest being around & pleasing people. They were bred as hunting and working dogs, and, because of this, they are excellent family dogs, or show dogs. They can perform in agility shows, obedience competitions, and, of course, are fine carriage or fire truck companions. Over the years Dalmatians have been war dogs, shepherds, ratters, bird dogs, and retrievers.

Dalmatians have short, glossy, and thick coats which are generally white with black or liver (brown) spots. They will usually weigh somewhere between 50 - 55 pounds. Your pet Dalmatian will need plenty of exercise, especially since they were bred to run along-side carriages. Of course, this means that having one as a pet will mean daily walks or runs. Due to this they don't make very good apartment dogs unless you have a way to exercise them every day. They also need strong leadership from their family and ample socialization. Dalmatian families need to be consistent and intelligent about how they deal with their new pet.

If you can afford professional obedience training for your pet it would be a good idea. If you can't then make sure you get training manuals and videos and follow them religiously. Don't try training your pet Dalmatian part time or just whenever you have a little spare time because you won't be happy with the result. They need constant and consistent training to be the companion you are looking for.

If you plan to feed your pet Dalmatian dry food it should be of the highest quality and contain good quality ingredients like real meats instead of meat meal and have a minimal amount of ingredients such as purines, corn meal, soy meal, meat by-products and preservatives. If possible it's best to make natural dog food at home. This way you know exactly what the ingredients are and you can include the freshest and most wholesome natural ingredients in your pet's food. With premium food you will also have less "poop" to clean up.

It's believed about 12% of Dalmatians are born deaf. Others may be deaf in one ear. Most of them will learn to compensate for only being able to hear in one ear. These can still make good pets. Unfortunately the ones born totally deaf don't make good pets because they tend to be startled when touched or when they don't expect someone to be near them. They may react by biting which would make them dangerous especially around small children.

Take your pet Dalmatian to the vet regularly as there are several of the problems that are fairly common to the breed. These include diseases and disorders such as skin allergies, hip problems, bladder stones and arthritis.

Dalmatians are naturally curious and full of energy. They are not "sit in front of the fire" or "sit on the front porch "dogs. If something is going on, they want to investigate and see what all the fuss is about. They meet the world head on and at full speed. Owners need to remain patient and calm when in the training mode.

Caring for your pet Dalmatian's coat is relatively easy. You should brush them often, even daily, as they do tend to shed year round. They are normally an odor free animal but still should be bathed every 3 or 4 months unless they get dirty in between. Use a natural pet shampoo and keep it out of their eyes and ears. If you see evidence of fleas there are a number of natural repellents available. Be sure to get between their toes when putting in on as fleas like to hide here.

If you don't have the time to spend with your pet Dalmation, the time to train it or think that leaving it the backyard by itself is OK you should probably not get one because neither of you will be happy. If you do have the patience to train them and the energy to keep up with them, they will make an ideal pet for the whole family. A well trained Dalmatian is about as good a pet dog as you will find.

Dalmatians Dalmatian Club of America

Dalmatian Puppies - The Fire Engine Puppy That Actually Does Love Horses

There are a lot of myths and rumors out there, but the truth of the matter is that Dalmatians actually do love horses-just the like the beer commercials would have us believe. Hey, maybe truth in advertising does exist. Dalmatian puppies, unlike most puppies are surprisingly fast.

If you're raising a Dalmatian from puppyhood right now then you realize that these little guys are speedsters. The plain truth is that Dalmatians were bred for speed, but just wait until they turn into adults. They may not be as fast as Greyhounds, but they don't lag all that far behind them either. When driving down the street a Dalmatian could easily keep up with your car, to give you an idea about how fast they do get.

Looking for Dalmatian puppies for sale? Well, as most people will do you'll probably end up doing some initial browsing via the internet, and it's a great place to start. But, remember on the internet it's easier for puppy farm owners to hide, you can't see them and you can't get a feel for them, so it makes it easier for them to manipulate possible customers.

Our recommendation is to shop online but also look for word of mouth recommendations from other Dalmatian owners, I'm sure you could find a helpful blog or two with folks that would love to help you out. Isn't the internet great sometimes?

Also, look for licensed breeders because the unlicensed tend to be the crooked and criminals, but that's not to say that the little old lady down the street is up to no good, but it pays to be careful. We really like word of mouth referrals and we love real blogs to help folks out.

You could check the local rescue for Dalmatians, if that is something you'd like to do, however, be aware that most dogs in a rescue center will be fully grown and there may not be any Dalmatians at all. But, of course, rescuing an animal from a shelter is an amazing gift, so if you can that's just wonderful.

Dalmatian grow up fairly tall, about 22-24 inches from the ground to the upper shoulder, their weight's tend to be in the fifty pound range, they are lanky, long, and trim; remember, they're built for speed.

Dalmatians live to be around 12 or 13 years old which is fairly long in dog years.

If you have small children beware that Dalmatian puppies are known to get a little snappy when they play, so, keep an eye out. As they get older Dalmatians may develop deafness and cataracts, as these dogs are genetically predisposed to developing these conditions.

They also may develop hip problems as well. Remember Dalmatian puppies have just a shadow of the speed that they will gain as they grow to be adults. You're in for a fun ride; oh and take them down to the fire station or to visit some horses--they're love you for it.

Will a Dalmatian Be the Best Pet Dog for You? The Pros and Cons

Learn Why a Dalmatian Will or Won't Be the Best Pet Dog for You

No matter what you have heard, Dalmatians make excellent pets. They are strong, energetic, smart and noble dogs. They do mature slowly and are somewhat strong-willed so the correct training is a must. Training them does take a lot of patience but both you and your pet Dalmatian will be better for it. Like all breeds, they have certain needs and limitations. With the right start they can become a pet that will be much loved and will make any family proud.

Pros:

Dalmatians are very intelligent. They, historically, were trained as hunters, herders, carriage dogs, firehouse mascots and even circus dogs.

Their short coats make them fairly easy to care for as a daily brushing and bathing them 3 or 4 times a year will suffice to keep them looking and smelling good without a lot of shedding.

Dalmatians are energetic and love to play. Make sure they have plenty of toys to play with so they don't get bored when you aren't around.

They love a challenge and do well in competitions, like obedience contests and obstacle courses. Their memories are long and accurate.

This breed loves their families and wants to be with them as much as possible.

Crate training your pet Dalmatian is a good idea as it gives them a safe place to go. It will ease your mind, when you have to leave them behind, to know your pet isn't getting into trouble.

Usually, Dalmatians get along with other family pets. They especially love horses as evidenced by many pictures of them riding on horse drawn wagons of all types.

Most of the time your pet Dalmatian will be polite and well-mannered, but can have occasional lapses.

If you like to run, jog, or walk, your pet Dalmatian will be happy to go along with you.

Dalmatians are handsome dogs. Their black or liver spotted white coats will make them stand out from the rest of the canines.

Cons:

This breed sheds all year long even though their coat is short and sleek. They should be brushed often.

If you leave your pet Dalmatian alone to entertain itself, it can get into mischief, like digging holes, for instance. Try not to leave your pet alone if you can help it. It might be a good idea to crate it when you have to leave it home.

It takes Dalmatians longer than some other breeds to reach their full maturity. Often they are not truly adults until four or five years old..

If it is cold outside, your pet Dalmatian is not going to be happy. They have short coats, so the cold weather can be really uncomfortable for them.

They need lots of activities. Toys, balls, and chew toys are some good choices to help keep your pet busy.

Dalmatians have been wrongly accused of not being smart. This is not true as they are really an intelligent breed. Because of this, they need patience, consistency, strength of resolve, and unwavering leadership. They want to do the right thing to please their families, so members of the family must take the lead.

Your pet Dalmatian will need to have regular veterinary visits as they can develop diseases and disorders such as Skin Allergies, Hip Problems, Bladder Stones and Arthritis.

Deafness is a real problem with Dalmatians. It's estimated that up 12% of all them are born deaf. Many of them are deaf in one ear which they can learn to compensate for but the totally deaf ones should not be selected to be your pet.

Because the Dalmatian is such a beautiful dog and because they have been popularized in movies like 101 Dalmatians, some families have decided to purchase Dalmatians without understanding the unique needs of this breed. It's not a good idea to get puppy from a pet store as they likely came from a "puppy breeding mill" and won't have the proper background to be easily trained. At times you can find a full grown dog that has already been trained. This will save you a lot of time and possible heartaches.

Many times a family will give up on training their pet and either abandon them or send them to the pound. Some of these may turn out to be trainable if you have lots of patience. If you don't have the time and patience to devote to a Dalmatian it's probably a good idea to choose a different breed of dog.

If you select a Dalmatian from a reputable kennel and properly train it you will find they are smart, obedient and loving. It is important to remember that not only does the pet need to have the proper training, so do the pet's owners. When the owners are fully aware of how to train their pets, the families and their pet Dalmatians will be perfect matches.

Dalmatians Dalmatian Club of America

Diet For The Aging Dalmatian

As they age, their metabolism slows and must be accounted for. If maintenance rations are fed in the same amounts while metabolism is slowing, weight gain may result. Obesity is the last thing a dog owner wants for his Dalmatian, since it increases his risk of several other health-related problems.

As pets age, most of their organs do not function as well. The digestive system, the liver, pancreas and gallbladder are not functioning at peak effect. The intestines have more difficulty extracting all the nutrients from the food consumed. A gradual decline in kidney function is considered a normal part of aging.

Elderly dogs need to be treated as individuals. While some benefit from the nutrition found in "senior" diets, others might do better on the highly digestible puppy and super-premium diets. The latter diet provide an excellent blend of digestibility and amino acid content, though many are high in salt and phosphorus than the older pet really needs. Older Dalmations have specific needs. Their joints often become weak and painful, and medication is needed for comfort. They sometimes have circulation problems, and tumors can be common, also eyesight and hearing can become weaker or fail.

Unsprayed females can be subject to mammary tumors, uterine infection and other diseases.

Un-neutered males could sometimes suffer from prostatic cancer. Older dogs should be seen by the Vet regularly for tests and physical examinations, so any

problems that need attention are dealt with early.

Older dogs are also more prone to developing arthritis and therefore it is important not to over feed them since obesity puts added stress on the joints. For Dalmatians with joint pain, supplementing the diet with fatty acid combinations containing cislinoleic acid, gamma-linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid can be quite beneficial.

Exercise should be continued but should be reduced to shorter treks that are repeated often if the dog desires, but take care not to tire your elderly dog, or exercise if the weather Is too hot or on excessively cold days. Always give your ageing Dal a warm and soft place to sleep.

Why Call Them Dalmatians?

Nobody can mistake a Dalmatian for any other breed because of their white coats with black spots. They look like polka dot calls! They're named Dalmatians because they come from the region of Dalmatia, in Croatia. Their history was as war dogs, guarding the region's borders. Because of this background, they are still good guarding dogs and will protect members of their human family.

The reason Dalmatians are associated with firefighters goes way back to the days when fire engines weren't motorized; they were drawn by horses. Dalmatians were a breed of dog that got along particularly well with horses, so they were trained to run ahead of the fire carriage to clear a path and guide the firefighters to the fire. Additionally, the Dalmatians were used as rescue dogs to run into burning buildings and find victims. Historians believe that these dogs were also used to guard the firehouse and its equipment when the firefighters were sleeping or away from the firehouse, especially to deter horse thieves.

Many firefighters choose Dalmatians as their pets because of the tradition associated with them serving in the fire service. Many firehouses that have paid full-time officers "adopt" a Dalmatian and share the duties of caring for it as a firehouse mascot and pet.

To further increase the popularity of this breed of dog, the book and later Disney films 101 Dalmatians spurred interest in these dogs and breeders made a lot of money during that period. Unfortunately, many people didn't first investigate the temperament and needs of this breed of dog before taking them home to their children, and many found them to be too energetic and gave them up to animal shelters.

Dalmatians, though generally a healthy breeds, do tend to have a couple of specific health problems common to this type of dog. One of those is a predisposition to deafness. You've heard the information about how white cats with blue eyes are usually deaf, haven't you? Because Dalmatians are primarily albino (white) with black spots, the absence of certain pigment predisposes them to deafness. The other health concern for these dogs is bladder stones, much like kidney stones and gall stones in humans. The good news is that Dalmatians are less likely to suffer hip dysplasia that is common to other dogs.

Dalmatians usually weigh between 50-75 pounds and stand at a height (from ground to their shoulders) of about two feet. In this breed, the males are larger than the females and the average life span is 12-14 years. Puppies are born without spots in litter sizes averaging eight pups. Their spots don't start appearing until a few weeks after they're born. It's a good thing that these dogs have short hair, because they shed year-round. Even with brushing, Dalmatians are going to be messier than other dogs that shed because their hair is barbed at the ends, making it sticky, so it sticks to everything it touches (clothing, sofa, etc.).

The Dalmatian is also associated with beer. Yes, beer. Anheuser-Busch is famous for its horse-drawn wagon and there is always a Dalmatian accompanying it. The dog and the Clydesdales have become iconic and their Super Bowl commercials are sometimes funny, sometimes endearing to the point of making you cry.

A Dalmatian is not a good choice if you live in an apartment because they like to run several times daily. They need some size yard to play in, but they should be an indoor/outdoor dog breed as they don't do well outside during the winter.

Next time you see one of those "spotted dogs," you'll know a little bit more about its history and some of the reasons the breed is famous.

Dalmatians - A Guide to the Breed

The Dalmatian is an ancient breed whose heritage is hotly disputed, it is thought by many to date back to 2000BC and to have come through the centuries relatively unchanged. Paintings of Dalmatians running alongside chariots have been unearthed in Egyptian tombs as well as in the remains of ancient Greece and Rome. Some believe that the breed originates from Dalmatia, Croatia but there is little evidence to prove this. Over the years Dalmatians have been used for a wide variety of jobs including dogs of war, border patrols, sheep herders, cart pullers, circus performers and coaching dogs. The Dalmatian breed has always been closely associated and retained a strong affinity with horses. They became popular with aristocracy after the breeds' introduction to Britain in the 18th century and often ran along side ornate carriages. Their strong bodied athletic build and limitless energy and stamina reflect these years as a coach dog.

Dalmatians were also adopted by fire departments in the 1800's and were trained to run through the streets clearing the way and guiding the horse drawn water wagons and fire fighters to the fires. They were sometimes also used as rescue dogs to locate victims in burning structures. Dalmatians make good watchdogs and were employed by fire brigades to guard there firehouse and equipment. As the fire engines were often the targets of thieves. As a result, many modern day fire fighters in the US have Dalmatians as pets and they are commonly known as firehouse dogs.

To this day the Dalmatian retains its guarding instinct but while they are friendly and loyal to those they trust, they are often aloof with strangers and other dogs. The breed also has a strong hunting instinct which makes it an excellent exterminator of rats and vermin, in the past they were used as bird dogs, trail hounds and retrievers as well as in packs for stag and boar hunting.

The Dalmatian breed had a massive surge in popularity as a result of the 1956 novel 'The hundred and one Dalmatians' by Dodie Smith and later due to the Disney and live-action films that followed. But the breed suffered when unscrupulous breeders began breeding high numbers without ensuring the health, quality and temperament of the dog.

Although Dalmatians are relatively easy to train as they have a willing nature and an eagerness to please, many well-meaning owners purchased Dalmatians without learning about the responsibilities and commitment required. Since the dogs were originally bred to run with horses they have high levels of energy and stamina and need frequent exercise. As many owners found themselves unable to provide the adequate care many Dalmatians were abandoned and left with animals shelters. This left the breed with a bad reputation of being difficult to manage.

Most health problems in Dalmatians are as a result of old age and they can live for up to 15 or 16 years. Although the one common problem found with the breed is deafness, this occurs in several dog types that have light pigmentation including bull terriers, poodles, boxers and boarder collies. Puppies can be tested after five weeks to see if this defect is present and reputable breeders test their dogs prior to breeding. Research shows that Dalmatians with larger patches of colour at birth, and brown eyes rather than blue, generally have less hearing defects.

One other health issue with the breed is Kidney and bladder stones which occur due to the lack of an enzyme called uricase which is not present in the Dalmatians gene pool at all. Males over 10 years old are prone to kidney stones and should take preventative medication. Owners should be careful to limit the intake of purine which is present in organ meats and animal by-products.

In America the Dalmatian is associated with Budweiser beer and 'Busch Gardens' theme parks as the famous Anheuser-Busch horse drawn beer wagon is always accompanied by a Dalmatian carriage dog. The brewer maintains several touring teams and claims that Dalmatians were historically used by brewers to guard the wagons while the drivers made their deliveries.