Can anyone tell me a bit about Dalmatians?

[TitsalinaBumSquash]

Can anyone tell me about owning a Dalmatian please? Are they good family dogs? Are they easy to train? Do they shed lots and do they mind generally being left for an hour here and there?
I've grown up having dogs but not had one myself as an adult and DH has never owned a dog (he's a cat man) we have the possibility of taking on a Dalmatian Pup (rescue before anyone bites my head off!) but thought I'd get some info from people who know what they're talking about first. 😊

No, Dalmatian is going "Charge!"

I had one as a child and teenager. She was always trim but I don't remember excessive exercise being needed. Two walks a day but not miles and miles as long as she could run for a bit. They love accompanying bike rides, too.

They moult like mad.

Mine was gorgeous. My mum would reincarnate her in a trice if she could.

We had one for 15 years. He was the loveliest, friendliest, soppiest dog I've ever met.

He was greedy, daft, liked to think he was hiding under bushes even though you could see him and would sneeze when he got excited.

He was the runt of the litter and was short and stumpy and too barrelly, and he had too many spots and all clumped together so no body wanted him for show.

He didn't chew anything. He did once eat a giant family-sized block of chocolate because he somehow managed to open the cupboard. And he ate a whole cake that had been left on the bench.

He was put down nearly four years ago. I saw another Dalmatian in a car park yesterday that had a very similar face to him and I just burst into tears.

They're not a breed I would ever willingly own, or really reccomend tbh.

Which sounds horrible after the last post, but I don't mean it in a horrible way at all.

I've never met a nasty one, they've all been without exception, lovely, friendly and madder than a box of frogs.

They smile you know, like actually raise their lips when they're happy and dance about on their paws when they're excited... they're happy and excited quite a lot of the time, it'd drive me insane, rofl.

They're pretty trainable, but, they'll ignore you if something more exciting comes along and well, apparently everything is exciting...

I suppose if you've loads of time and energy, masses of patience, a good sense of humour, you don't mind a dog that dances on its tiptoes almost anytime anything happens and don't mind if what it wants to do isn't going to always want to be what you want it to it might be ideal?

They're definitely not for me, but I'm pretty fond of the ones I've known, just always glad I'm taking them to their house and not mine after a walk, lol

I've never met one that wasn't dog aggressive. Sure they all can't be but every one round here is. Guessing dog intolerance must be a breed trait.

Mine is wasn't. A very gentle girl indeed and when she was in kennels the owners selected her to play with their small puppy because she was so kindly.

I've had two very bad experiences with dalmations - both very strong, and very very aggressive. They were unneutered males and the one tried to pulverise my spaniel, it was horrendous. I also know a family friend that has one - they are very very hard to train, very active, moult like crazy and whilst looking gorgeous, they aren't always nicely natured. Their dog is a terrible food thief too and they can't ever leave any food out - maybe something to consider if you have children? I'd not attempt it and I'm an experienced dog owner.

just DON'T....

seriously they are hard hard work....very little loyalty or desire to please..so using the collie as an example..though lively and needing exercise and stimulation want to do whatever the owners want them to do...they want to please...dalmations couldnt give a flying f&&k.

Mine was impossible to train, we went to endless classes, had one on one tuition, read every book etc but basically if she could have put a finger up at me she would have.

on up side very beautiful to look at...:)

they are really not for the niave or inexperienced .

Perhaps the film popularity made people breed them unscrupulously?

"Barking (excuse the pun) mad"

I am wary of them as they are prone to temprament issues. Not sure if there's a dodgy line or something but I've met lots of aggressive ones which is worrying for how few of them there are.

Also prone to health issues particularly urinary so get good insurance!