Breed Profile: Dalmatian

This dog is probably one of the world's most easily recognized. Dalmatians are white dogs with black spots and they are most commonly seen sitting atop fire engines or alongside the famous Anheuser Busch Clydesdale horses. When thinking of Dalmatians, often 101 names come to mind from the famous Disney animated movie (and the later modernized version with actors) 101 Dalmatians. They are a unique and distinct breed, hopefully my post today will be very informative to you!

Physical Description of the Dalmatian:

Height: 20-25 inches

Weight: around 50-55 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10-12 years

The Dalmatian is a very lean, sharp looking breed and as mentioned above, can be spotted (pardon the pun), by it's spots! The pattern is completely random, and each Dalmatian has a completely different set of spots. They are as unique as a zebra's spots, or our fingerprints. The Dalmatians coat is very short and the spots can be any of the following colors: black, brown, lemon, dark blue, tri colored, brindled, solid white, or sable (the most common of these colors is black).

Personality of the Dalmatian:

This dog is very active and does not want to sit around and do nothing! They want to be up and busy constantly! Dalmatians are very easy going and playful but without human companionship will become very depressed and lonely. The memory of the Dalmatian is wonderful! They can remember lessons learned up to two years earlier! They respond best to strong, firm training as they can be incredibly stubborn.

Exercising Your Dalmatian:

You need to get your Dalmatian out for a good, long walk every day. This will help drain some energy and make your Dalmatian less rambunctious at home. It is also recommended that you have a fenced yard large enough for your dog to run free off-leash. This should be done in addition to (not in replace of) the daily walk.

Living Requirements for Your Dalmatian:

Due to the hyperactivity of the Dalmatian, they are not recommended for apartment dwellers. They are incredibly active indoors and will need plenty of room to roam inside as well as outside!

Common Health Issues of Dalmatians:

By far the most common ailment in Dalmatians is deafness. It is estimated that somewhere between 10-12% of all Dalmatian puppies are deaf. No matter where you decide to get a puppy from, take him to your veterinarian's office to be tested for deafness. If a puppy is found to be deaf, spaying and neutering are highly recommended. Dogs that are deaf often grow up to be generally more aggressive and will snap out of fear. This of course is understandable considering they cannot hear one word you are saying. If you are trying to raise a deaf dog, the best way is by using hand signals rather than voice commands.