Talk to me about Dalmatian’s

[LuluBellaBlue]

Hello,

We are considering getting a Dalmatian puppy, wondering if people with experience of this breed could share info please?

We have a 7 yr old collie x flat coat rescue who I’ve had from around 6 months old and 2 cats.

I’ve fostered cats and dogs for years now and have been looking for the right dog for about 5 years through rescues and none have come up.

Due to other pets and children would like a young dog. Even though I’ve had my girl from a young age she still carries trauma based fears like being petrified of men carrying guitar cases / umbrellas.

So finally decided to consider purchasing a KC pup.

My thoughts are after training a collie x flat coat who was already traumatised a Dalmatian should be easy? But am I under estimating the breed?
Also worth noting the puppy I’m thinking of going to see has unilateral hearing, so already aware of that risk. She’s the last pup left as I presume people can’t breed from her.

[spot102]

Yes, I think that's true. I remember reading a discussion along those lines, got me watching mine a bit more carefully and came to the conclusion that while I wouldn't get away with not walking her, she certainly didn't need the amount some people were quoting.
Having said that it's all a bit subjective, some people seem to consider walking out to the car a long way and 'hours of exercise' is about a twenty minute walk. Not having a dig at anyone, just different perceptions.

[Freshbreadandbutter]

Yes agree re the diet. Mine had uric crystals as we later discovered Brewers yeast in his feed was probably the cause. Now on low purine diet, really important for them. I think dogs get used to the excercise you give them tbh. Mine can get 20 mins one day or 4 hours the next, he's fine with that.

[spot102]

Back to original post - unilateral hearing means they can hear in one ear, which for a pet dog is not a problem although as mentioned advice is generally not to breed from them. I have a deaf one and she is far from untrainable though definitely has a mind of her own. Dals definitely lack the obedience gene so prevalent in collies! Previous one was similar though not deaf. Current dog, Spot2 is a bit hyper, but she is still very young, but I don't remember Spot1 being particularly hyper, but then I was doing the school run twice a day (about a mile each way) with her most days.
Upsides are great character, independent and intelligent. Good with kids. Like exercise. Spot1 used to be great following a bike and could jump a 3 foot 6 fence with ease.
Downsides. hair everywhere. Neglect exercise at your peril. Spot1 was very driven to walk. Spot2 noticeably calms down after a walk. Probably not unusual In the dog world, but definitely wouldn't recommend a Dal if you're not interested in doing regular exercise. For someone used to being active, I don't think their exercise requirements are that onerous (well so far my dogs haven't been), but if you consider a 10 minutes walk to be a long way then yes you will struggle.
Although they are not necessarily huge they are solid dogs and mine have considered themselves to be lapdogs despite weighing in excess of 25 kg!
Personally I think they are great dogs, they are a nice size, don't need much grooming, are self cleaning and good company. They are a proper dog shape so don't suffer from problems where they have been bred for extreme characteristics. You do have to watch their diet though as pp mentioned but even that isn't particularly onerous once you've done your research and got into a routine.

[MsMarvellous]

No. We're further North.

[LoneDally]

Yes were fb friends with the breeder and all the sibling pups, it's lovely! She doesn't live in Leicestershire does she by chance?

[MsMarvellous]

@LoneDally @Wolfiefan we were too. We had to take all the family down to visit and she asked loads about us. We're now Facebook friends too so she can see my lifestyle matches what we said. I'm happy to do it, I wonder about motives if there hadn't been an inquisition.

[LoneDally]

Yes we were thoroughly vetted and I'm glad if it. There was absolutely no question of the dog being good enough for us, it was definitely about us being good enough for the dog and so it should be.

[Wolfiefan]

Unlikely. Very very unlikely. There’s no way the OP has done the research to find a decent breeder in such a short time.
Approach breed club.
Talk to owners and breeders.
Be homechecked.
Have whole family meet breeder.
Our breeder wanted references.
Etc etc.

[Fucksandflowers]

But Fucksandflowers no decent breeder will have a pup at such short notice

Sometimes they do.
Equally, sometimes bad breeders will have a waiting list.

[LoneDally]

Corndog mine has never done any of the above, funny how different they can be!

[Corndog]

We kept dalmatians for decades. They need a huge amount of training and exercise. Incredibly greedy and good at opening doors, cupboards and one used to open the oven while food was cooking and steal what was in there! However all ours were great off lead eventually, and the sweetest dogs ever.

The only thing they all had in common was that they would urinate indoors when they fancied it.

[MsMarvellous]

@LoneDally thanks. I am home all day everyday on my own (work for myself) so I am looking forward to the company and the walks. I'll post pics when he gets here

[LoneDally]

MsMarvellous good luck with your pup, how exciting! I think they're a wonderful breed and hope you have many years of enjoyment ahead xx

[MsMarvellous]

@LoneDally I'm so glad I saw your post. I've been reading this thread as our Dalmatian pup comes home next month so I was searching out info. Our breeders girl is very calm and measured and she said she chose the male because he was a gent and had a beautiful temperament.

Anyway...back on with reading all I can about early puppy days and up to date positive training methods. It's been 20+ years since I had a puppy around!

[Branleuse]

fucksand flowers, im sure there are some out there that are fine, but ultimately noone would do it if they werent going to turn a tidy profit from it. Most people involved in or with any experience of dog rescues know what is involved. If youre not going to breed from the dog or show it, and just want a family pet, then there is absolutely no need to go and get a pedigree dog while other dogs in rescue are put to sleep daily, and these can be very good dogs.
Noones ever going to stop breeders, but im just saying that its worth not disregarding rescues because of one bad experience with a traumatised dog.

[LoneDally]

Yes I would worry about puppy being so readily available. We searched for a good breeder and then had to be vetted by her (the whole family had to present themselves, not just me) we waited months for her bitch to have the puppies and were still always under scrutiny. They take back any puppy no matter what age if you run into problems, seriously responsible breeders.

[LoneDally]

I'm too late to this but a lone voice here! My Dalmatian is 7 years old and the most incredible dog in the world. Doesn't steal anything, run away or misbehave. He's so loyal, brilliant with children, happy with a no walk day on occasion if situation dictates or happy with 20 miles out. I love him totally but get that they seem to suffer such a bad press. I took a long time searching for a very reputable breeder and she is a very strong exponent of LUA bitches (trying to breed out the uric crystal problem). I just wanted to write this for anyone else searching up Dalmatians in future, they're not all bad 😊.

[Wolfiefan]

But Fucksandflowers no decent breeder will have a pup at such short notice.

[Fucksandflowers]

Theres no need to contribute to dog breeding for profit businesses

Decent breeders make very little, if any profit and are not businesses...

[Branleuse]

or you can get puppies from some rescues

www.aadogrescue.org.uk/puppies-for-adoption

[Branleuse]

I wouldnt be put off older rescues. Choose the right rescue that describes their dogs realistically and wait for the right one to come along.
Ive seen a few rescues where all they seem to have is dogs with long lists of issues which I wouldnt be prepared to take on, and yet the one I used recently has been brilliant, and ive got myself a little 7 year old abandoned spanish dog that is soft as shite, housetrained, ignores my cats and has been a perfect fit for us. I waited a while for the right dog to come up, and it has been so worth it. Theres no need to contribute to dog breeding for profit businesses, and a puppy is a huge thing to take on

[Purplecatshopaholic]

Aw Lulu she is gorgeous. Defo worth reading up on the genetic and health issues with that breed though.

[tabulahrasa]

As well as health issues in Dobermans there are some pretty big temperament ones...

Badly bred ones can be a neurotic aggressive mess tbh and I’d be a bit worried it’s not that well bred given you’ve found it that quickly...

[Lucked]

What about a short haired German pointer. Similar size and colouring, clever and energetic but great temperament. I can’t fault any I have known, had one growing up and was just a great dog.

[Bonniefoible]

Dalmatians. I've lived with two, one a family dog, one my own. They are loving, chaotic, stubborn, destructive, comical, and very very good at playing dumb to suit their needs. Mad as box of frogs is a good description. One was very neurotic, the other not at all. Both needed a lot of exercise, and mine was exercised off lead following a horse out hacking for hours several times a week and could still be full of beans afterwards. You need to read up and understand their potential health issues, though neither of mine had issues luckily.

Unless one of you runs, cycles or such or you have time to walk them for hours every day they aren't going to be the dog for you. Experience of another short haired hound breed and their tendencies (pointer, vizler, Doberman, etc) would also be helpful as they have very similar needs and temperaments. I wouldn't recommend them to first time dog owners.