Dog Training and Dog Care advice from UK Professionals

Dalmatian Dog Breed Profile

The Dalmatian Dog has been immortalised in Walt Disney’s famous children's film, "101 Dalmatians".

K9Obedience Breed Profile

Origin: Yugoslavia, (some say the dog came from Asia and Africa)

Breed Purpose: Watchdog, herding, ratter, bird dog, trail hound, retriever. The Dalmatian was used as a watchdog running beside the mail coach and horses.

Kennel Club Dog Group: Utility

Height: Bitch 56-58.4cm., Dog 58.4-61cm.

Weight: 25kg.

Lifespan: 10-15 years

Exercise Needs: This dog loves running and has an extraordinary energy capacity. They also need mental stimulation in the form of ball games or Frisbees. The Dalmatian suits an energetic, outdoor person. They are perfect jogging companions and will run for miles.

Feeding Needs: Dalmatian’s with urinary tract problems must be fed a low protein diet. They are easy to feed with good appetites. They do have a tendency to put on weight so only feed recommended amounts.

Common Ailments: 10-12% of all Dalmatian’s are deaf. They are also prone to urinary stones and skin allergies (especially from carpet and upholstery fibres.) Overall, the Dalmatian is a tough, robust dog.

Physical Description: This is an average sized dog that is strong, well proportioned, with a distinctive spotted coat. The head has a flat skull with a moderate stop. The muzzle is long with strong jaws and a regular scissor bite. The neck is long and gracefully arched. The eyes are round and look lively with an intelligent expression. The coat is short, hard and dense. The colour is pure white with black (more common) or liver spots. These spots should not merge into black patches and should be well distributed across the body. The tail is long and thins towards the tip. Overall, this is a strong, athletic looking dog.

Dalmatian K9 Obedience Dog Breed Summary:

The Dalmatian becomes devoted to its family but never loses its insatiable desire to be active.

It does need huge amounts of exercise and is definitely not the breed for a couch potato! They can become very demanding and it takes a lot of dog training to make this dog obedient.

They are sensitive to the cold so are not good in outdoor kennels and prefer a nice warm bed.

The Dalmatian does tolerate children to a certain degree but is not happy if pulled around too much.

These handsome dogs are extrovert and impulsive, courageous and intelligent. The Dalmatian is a good guard dog and barks at any noise perceived as a threat.

To keep on good terms with the neighbours, the dog must be taught to stop barking on command. All in all, this is not a breed for the average family but would suit any outdoor types, especially joggers or horse riders with whom they love to run for hours on end.