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.

[BorderlineExperimental]

Dalmatian Welfare have some pretty good (and realistic) information about the breed and what they’re like to live with.

I’d also recommend reading up on Hyperuricosuria. Almost all Dalmatians have this which pre-disposes them to the formation of crystals/stones in their bladders. A successful outcross was done in the USA in the 1970s to a pointer with the aim of introducing the healthy version of the gene into the population and so producing Dalmatians without Hyperuricosuria. There are now low uric acid/normal uric acid (LUA/NUA) Dals registered with the KC but unfortunately there’s still no that much impetus to either maximise the impact on the gene pool those healthy dogs could have and even less to consider further outcrossing. LUA Dalmatians and LUA Dalmatians World have lots of information about the outcross programme and LUA Dals in general.

[DogHairEverywhere]

I wouldn't get a dalmation, they are not easy to train, can be stubborn, or highly strung with an enormous amount of energy.
Speaking as the owner of a flat coat, would you consider a pedigree flat coat? Don't be put off by your rescue as the collie side would perhaps account for some of the traits you've experienced along with the bad start. As long as you can cope with the mess (mud, mud, fur and mud), then they are great dogs. Reasonably easy to train, joyous to be around, with lots of energy but willingness to settle of an evening.

[TheClitterati]

I had one years ago. Gorgeous nature. Fastest dog you'll ever meet. My flat mate used to take dog on regular 10-15km runs. Dog would run at least twice as far and coped very easily.

He eventually was rehomed onto a farm as he needed more exercise than I could possibly give him.

[LuluBellaBlue]

Thank you everyone for the advice, we listened and have decided on this gorgeous Dobermann girl instead!! Now just need a name

[Fucksandflowers]

Pretty.
Have you actually bought her or just put a deposit on?

[LuluBellaBlue]

No deposit just reserved her :)

[Ginlinessisnexttogodliness]

I once had a beautiful Doberman black lab cross. She really was a fabulous dog.

[BorderlineExperimental]

Before you commit to a Dobe you really must read up on Dilated Cardiomyopathy. It's an absolutely huge issue in the breed, to the point where there are almost no lines at all that are free of it, and there's no way of reliably testing breeding dogs. It's sadly not unusual for outwardly healthy young Dobes to literally drop dead without warning due to DCM.

As of 2010 approximately 58% of all European-bred Dobes were affected and, due to poor genetic diversity, the breed is well on track for that number to be 72% by 2020 and 100% by 2039.

I'd recommend having a read through the following links:

UFAW - DCM in Dobermanns

UK Dobemann Partnership - DCM

Are we watching the extinction of a breed? - part 1

Are we watching the extinction of a breed? - part 2

[Fucksandflowers]

borderline has beat me to it.
I wasn’t going to mention it if you’d already bought her home but they are a very unhealthy breed.

[Fucksandflowers]

A similar breed to maybe look into might be a Beauceron.
They look very similar and as far as I know are much healthier.

[Fucksandflowers]

Beauceron.

[Fucksandflowers]

www.champdogs.co.uk/breeds/beauceron/breeders?mobile_site=1

[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.

[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.

[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...

[Purplecatshopaholic]

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

[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

[Branleuse]

or you can get puppies from some rescues

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

[Fucksandflowers]

Theres no need to contribute to dog breeding for profit businesses

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

[Wolfiefan]

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

[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 😊.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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