Anyone got a Dalmatian want to talk to me about them?

[sweetkitty]

Am thinking ahead but we would love to get a dog probably in about 2 years time once our house extension is done and the DC are a bit older. I was brought up with 2 large dogs so know the work involved so under no illusions.

DD1 is obsessed with Dalmatians so thought it would be great to get one. I know they are big dogs that need a lot of exercise. DH runs marathons and is always out running so maybe he could have a running companion.

So questions would be:

• are they good with children (we have 4)?
• what is the hair situation like, I know they are coarse short haired dogs but being white is it constant? We used to have 3 cats so well used to being covered in hair?
• are they big excitable dogs or placid in general?
• what are they like with cats, we have one left and he's well just a typical cat, my experience of dog and cat families are that the cat is the boss and puts up with the dog?
• we are thinking of getting a boy pup and neutering him asap

All dogs are good with children if they are properly cared for and trained - and by trained I mean the children as welll as the dog!

Hair - not as bad as some dogs I could mention

Excitable - IMHO yes, rather on the boisterous and bouncy side in the main. Not, TBH, the first dog I would be advising people with young DC to have unless they were like me and tended to tell their DC to get out of the dog's way and get up and stop moaning if he knocks them over! I have never owned one but have known quite a few people who have. They tend to be one of those mad breeds which takes some years to calm down. This is however only my opinion, from family having them and a couple I have met in rescue/owned by fellow rescuers. Rescue's opinion is that overall the breed is too often taken on by young families which don't realise the amount of bounce in a Dally or the level of training and commitment needed - I've had several conversations with very cross Dalmatian rescuers who are frequently approached by Dally owning parents of young DC who don't want the dog because it "keeps knocking little Johnny over" or they "can't cope with a toddler/new baby/pregnancy and the demands pf a Dalmatian"..

Re cats, the same as the answer to what they are like with children. An older dog might have issues - most can be overcome although I have had one failure in that department with a foster dog (not a Dally).

Have you considered having a word with Dalmatian Welfare?

Apart from my belief that because dogs are being killed in their thousands each year in pounds owing to lack of homes a puppy or dog bought from a breeder when he could have been adopted from a rescue deprives a pound dog of his life, even if you are set on a puppy these people know their breed and will be able to advise you very well. Better to know now than regret later! You could even consider fostering, to get a taste of life with a Dally.

If you are willing to consider a rescue dog, ensure the rescue assess, homechecks, neuters, vaccinates, microchips and will guarantee to take the dog back at any stage in his life should your circumstances change and you are unable to keep him. And, should you decide that a Dalmatian is not for you after all, please don't write off all the other lovely large breeds waiting patiently in rescue for a home.

HTH

We have a 2 yr old Dal, Keira. IMO Dallies are very good with children, we got Keira when DD2 was 8 months old and she was brill, couldnt have asked for a better behaved dog.
One thing I will say is if you cannot give a Dalmatian AT LEAST 2 hours or more exercise, everyday. I wouldnt buy one, my husband is in the forces and quite often runs the dog to work and it's 11 miles and when she gets back she is not even out of breath. If they dont get enought exercise they become destructive and can become tiresome.
They cant be left alone for very long at all, a weekly shop at the supermarket is about as long as we leave Keira as they pine, she wants to be involved in everything the family does and if she is excluded in anyway she does get upset.
Dals are like puppies until they are past 2yrs, literally like puppies lol.
They shed hair constantly, it never ends, really hard to get up with the hoover sometimes as the hair is so fine its quite good at inbedding into the carpet!
Keira's tail is like a whip so be very careful with the kids with the tail is wagging as it can leave red whelp marks!
Male Dalmatians are more domenent, even once neutered but my friend has a male and they keep on top of training him so it's not too bad.
I would recomment on going training with this breed, you cant be complacent with it as they will take advantage.
Last thing, be prepared to have a lot of food stolen, they will go to great lengths to steal a bit of food.

Love my baby to bits though and wouldnt change her for the world, she is like one of my children and brightens up my day. My DCs love her too!

Thanks I am not even considering getting a puppy until DS is at least 3 (he's almost 9 months just now) but wanted to start mulling it over. Plus the other DC will be older as well.

I did think they were very bouncy and pups for a long while, we are quite a bouncy family lol so I think an active dog would fit in well. DP will love a running companion for sure.

I don't have much knowledge of the breed as a whole, but I know that they are a major challenge, and not for the novice owner. A friend has a Dally, who is sweet and very loving, but BOY is she hard work (and I am a GSD girl, which should tell you something!). She is constantly on the go, always stealing or scrounging food, and I find her exhausting to be around to be honest. She doesn't settle much in the house, and despite years of training is still a major handful and somewhat unpredictable around other dogs. And she sheds sharp little white hairs that embed themselves EVERYWHERE

Victoria Stilwell had a dalmatian called (imaginatively!) Dally on one of her shows, and the counter-surfing food obsession was very familiar to me from my friend's dog. You might be able to find the episode on 4OD.

Bear in mind also that for a breed of this size I wouldn't do any running with your DP for the first 18m or so to avoid damaging joints - you'll need to do lots of shorter walks and lots of mental stimulation until he or she is fully formed.

I'd only consider a breed like this if I had a massive amount of time to devote to training the dog and keeping him or her well exercised and stimulated every day.

Friend has 2 rescue dalmations and they are hard work.One is deaf [ a problem with the breed apparently]so even harder to train.She gets up at 6 every day to walk them and says that they will eat any poo they find.She is an experienced dog owner and admits that they are very challenging,but she loves them to bits.Her dc are 13 6 and 5 and get on fine with them.