The Truth About Dalmatians

Are they good family dogs? Can they be a dog for a first time owner? Where do they thrive?

Temperament

Dalmatians can be standoffish, but this should never equate to fearful or aggressive. They typically get along well with other dogs and other animals. I'd describe 5 of my 6 as generally "disinterested" in strangers. They're happy to meet people, be pet, etc., but won't necessarily initiate an interaction. The 6th is a wiggly, spotted ball of love for everyone. They are easy to take out in public as they are happy to interact when people stop us to visit, but otherwise will ignore most people we pass.

If you are an introvert (like I am) then people's inherent love and fascination for Dalmatians is a pain. I get stopped every 5 feet by people asking to pet the dogs. Children regularly come running up to us SCREAMING in excitement.

Aggression

I constantly hear how aggressive the breed is. It is not. Lousy breeders breed lousy dogs and there seem to be more lousy breeders in Dals than in many breeds. A well bred Dalmatian will have a stable temperament.

They were truly a “jack of all trades” as a carriage dog that also guarded the horses/carriage, kept barns clear of rats, etc. They maintain a guarding instinct today. They will often be protective of your house but should NOT be an aggressive dog.

Urinary Health

Any Dalmatian not part of the LUA/pointer backcross program will have a genetic predisposition to forming urate urinary crystals and stones. In the vast majority of well-bred Dalmatians, this increased risk can be managed with appropriate diet, sufficient water, and regular trips out to pee.

It is important to note that the LUA/backcross program has successfully eliminated the increased risk of urate urinary crystals and stones but does not have any impact on the two most common urinary crystals/stones; struvite and calcium oxalate. LUA Dalmatians will still have the same risk of urinary issues involving struvite and calcium oxalate as any other dog (or Dalmatian).

Deafness

Deafness continues to be an issue in the breed, but good breeding practices are making a significant improvement. This is linked to the extreme white piebald gene, so it will always be part of the breed.

Blue-eyed Dals have a stronger expression of the extreme white piebald and will be at higher risk of deafness. All kennel clubs, other than AKC, have blue eyes as a fault or a DQ for this reason.

Overall Health

Despite holding a genetic abnormality that increases the risk of urate urinary crystals/stones (same as Egyptian Mau cats!) Dalmatians are a healthy breed overall. 

Copper Storage Disease has been found in most, if not all, lines if you look far enough back. At this time, there is not a genetic screening test, so the best way to improve the chances of avoiding CSD is for breeders to be honest about producing it so pedigrees can be tracked.

Allergies are very common in poorly bred lines but are not a significant issue in well-bred Dalmatians. The world’s top veterinary dermatologists agree that allergies have a genetic component, Dalmatians with allergies should be removed from the breeding pool.

Training and Sports

Dalmatians are incredibly versatile. They excel at many different sports and events. I compete (at high levels) in rally, obedience, agility, barn hunt, scentwork, dock diving, coursing, weight pull, and conformation with mine and we are training in IGP/IPO (3 have their BH-VT).

I regularly hear that they're stubborn; this has definitely not been my experience training multiple Dals in multiple sports and events, nor the experience of my friends who do performance with their Dalmatians.

They are extremely clever and eager to learn. They do not necessarily have an intrinsic work ethic nor the natural handler focus of some breeds, but they have tons of drive that can be brought out with motivation. Many are VERY food motivated and many are toy-driven.

Energy Level

Although energy levels vary between dogs and different lines, most Dalmatians could be described as medium-high energy. One of mine would be content with daily leash walks; the others would NOT. 

Dals make great running partners. Their endurance is outstanding. They love to run and thrive with safe off-leash opportunities.

Fitness

Most Dals LOVE to eat. If you are not careful with their intake, they will become blimps. I see a truly distressing amount of fat Dalmatians. This is extremely unhealthy and will absolutely shorten their lifespan as well as increase their risk for urinary issues, cardiac issues, and endocrine disorders.

Prey Drive

Dals have a range of prey drive. Many love lure coursing sports where they can chase a plastic bag. Many of my Dalmatian friends have stories of their dogs catching various rabbits, squirrels, etc. One of my dogs regularly snatches small birds out of the air (!).

Despite this, I have had no problems teaching them what they can not chase. They are safe around my friend’s cats when I go to stay, and have (mostly) learned to leave my flock of chickens alone.

For people who live with cats or small house pets, you will likely need to invest significant time and effort into ensuring your small friends feel safe and comfortable and your spotty friend understands they’re not to be chased.

In the House

Properly exercised, I find our crew quite chill in the house. They like to play with their toys and rough-house but then will settle down quite nicely and relax on the couch while we watch TV.

I have a friend with a beautiful Dalmatian who describes them as “outside=go and inside=woah”, and that is pretty accurate!

They are a fun (and sometimes challenging) combination of clever, mischievous, and athletic. It is not uncommon for me to find a Dalmatian walking around my counters. 

They ABSOLUTELY can be trained not to get onto and into everything, but they do have a stronger tendency to be mischievous monkeys than many breeds.

They are typically a very “velcro” breed, wanting to be with you wherever you are. They are snuggly and SO loving. This does not and should not equate to a predilection for separation anxiety. A well-bred Dal should be able to be left alone and be comfortable and relaxed.

Family Dogs

I have many friends who have Dalmatians and children who thrive together. With respectful children and well-trained dogs, it can be a good fit. I would never leave any dog of any breed alone with small children. 

Beautiful Taffy, from our Cabin in the Woods litter, is absolutely THRIVING as the best pal of some special small humans.

First Time Dog Owners

Dalmatians can be a handful. They are often high-energy and athletic, so require exercise and training (like most dogs!). They should be well-socialized to combat their natural tendency to be standoffish. They can absolutely be a first-time dog for an owner who is prepared for the work and committed to putting in the necessary time and effort.

Shedding

They shed like fiends; there will be Dalmatian hair in my coffin. Their coats are easy to care for, grooming is minimal even for conformation prep. They will get filthy on a walk, then an hour later, their coats will look pristine again (probably because they literally shed all of the hair out with the dirt, ha!)

Show vs Working

There is no show/working split, so you can go to a great show breeder, get a beautiful dog, and then do all the sports .

Since conformation is important to soundness, even though a show quality dog is not essential since there are non-structural issues like spotting, going to a breeder who breeds to the standard is important.

Finding a Great Dalmatian

I consider it harder to find a great breeder than some other breeds. There are a ton of BYBs and another heap of mediocre breeders. Fortunately, there are also a lot of truly great breeders.

When evaluating potential breeders, first ensure the minimum testing is being done to be awarded a CHIC number. In Dals, this is merely hips (OFA or PennHip), BAER (hearing), and eyes OR thyroid. With such minimal requirements, there is absolutely NO reason not to have a CHIC.

I would like to see breeding stock that have eyes AND thyroid and additionally, strongly recommend having an Echocardiogram done. There are cardiac issues in the breed, and without sufficient screening we will not be able to avoid them.

Although a Championship does not necessarily mean the dog is a good representation of the breed, it does mean the dog has at least been out and shown and found to  have merit enough to collect enough points. 

I strongly recommend potential puppy buyers look for performance titles as well. These can be an indicator of a solid temperament. As much as I personally enjoy tricks and Sprinter or lure coursing events, I would not consider these titles as holding any indication of temperament. 

Events like obedience or rally (live, not virtual) demonstrate that, at the very least, the dog can remain under control long enough to make it around a rally course. Novice obedience includes an examination by the judge, a good indicator that the dog has the nerve and temperament to be (briefly) handled by a stranger.

Higher-level titles give you a much stronger indication that this is a dog that is working well and maintaining focus. A rally novice course, for example, is 100% on leash and does not require interaction with other dogs or people.

The Beloved Dalmatian

I have shared my house with some extraordinary dogs over the years and several different breeds. Dalmatians are a great fit for me. I love getting out and doing things (hiking, biking, etc), and they are ALWAYS eager to join in.

I love trying different sports and events and enjoy their versatility and willingness to try anything new.

I travel on my own a fair bit and appreciate their natural inclination to protect (without being aggressive). To me, they are the perfect temperament. They will alert bark when someone comes to the door and certainly make a ruckus, but at the same time, I consider them totally trustworthy with people of all ages.

They are incredibly sweet, loving, and snuggly. They will follow you everywhere and constantly make you laugh.