DALMATIAN  INFORMATION

 Obedience  Training

Obedience Training is highly recommended for all  dogs, especially Dalmatians. The oldest Dal on record who  won championships for his obedience was 10 years old  when  trained. If a 10 year old Dalmatian can be taught new  tricks then so can a younger one.

Dalmatians are very  intelligent, but they also want to please. You must show  your  Dal who is in charge. Be ready to lavish praise for  a job well done. This is  especially  important for rescued  Dals. They need positive reinforcement. They don't  respond well to negative reinforcement.

 Exercise

Dalmatians have a lot  of energy. They need to expend it. Exercise your  Dalmatian  every day. Take him jogging, have him run along  side your bike, have him fetch a ball or catch a Frisbee.  This will not only keep him in great shape, but also keep   him happy. You will find that you will have a quieter dog  afterwards.

There are also new toys  out that can keep your Dal happy and engage his sharp  mind. Check out the  Buster Cube !!! This is a cube toy into  which you put dry food or treats. You show your Dal how  to roll it so food randomly falls  out. This catches his  interest. You can adjust the level of difficulty as he  becomes more skilled. It will keep  the Dal entertained  for a long time. It has been found to  help solve  behavioral problems caused by fear,  aggression, or  boredom. Any pet store should be able to order it if it   doesn't already carry the Buster Cube. As with   many toys and chews, don't leave your Dal home alone with  it.

Attention and Love

Dalmatians need  attention and love. They love to stick their heads into  your lap and let you pet them. They love to jump up and  rest their paws on your waist so   that you can  better  reach them to pet their heads. Many will raise a paw up  and try to wrap it around your leg. They are only trying  to show you how much they love you.

Your Dalmatian may want  to have a special bed in your den to lie on while you  watch TV or he may want to lie next to you on the sofa.  If you let him, he will climb right into bed with you.

 Crates

When you are not at  home, your Dalmatian should be in his crate. A crate is   like his den. You do not want to come home after a long  day at work and find that  your loving Dalmatian has  destroyed something out of boredom. Use a crate not only  for your sake, but also for your dog's safety. Choose a  crate that is at least  24.5 inches wide by 36 inches long  by 26 inches high.

Diet & Weight

Dalmatians, like human  beings, produce uric acid in their urine. This is why  they  are prone to forming urinary stones. Their diet and  their water intake are extremely important in preventing  urinary stones.

Provide plenty of water  for your Dalmatian. Allow him to urinate frequently. Feed  a dogfood that does not contain high amounts of  purine-yielding foods such as liver  and other organ  meats. A lamb and rice diet is one that works quite well. Low purine snacks including carrots; celery;  peeled, cored apple slices; and string cheese are great. You can also make cookies for your Dalmatian.

Most Dalmatians should  not weigh more than about 55-60 lb. The bones at the  chest should not be very distinct at sight, but should be  noticeable to the touch.

 Other Dalmatian Health Issues

Dalmatians have other  health issues that anyone who either owns or is   contemplating owning a Dal should know about. About 8%  are totally deaf, while  another 22% have unilateral  hearing (normal hearing in only one ear).  Hearing can be  tested using Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER)  testing. This can  only be done at certain facilities,  usually a vet school.

Dalmatians are also  prone to skin problems and allergies. These are usually  seasonal  and  due to inhalant allergies. Use of over the counter  antihistamines (50mg twice a day if needed), diet, and  the use of fatty acid supplements may help.

Hip dysplasia does  exist in the breed, however, it is not common. If a Dal  is to be used in a breeding program (which should not be  done except by someone who  knows the breed standard and  genetics well), it should be certified free of hip  dysplasia by the Orthopedic Foundation For Animals (OFA)  or PennHIP.  PennHIP evaluations can be done on dogs as  young as sixteen weeks of age,  while OFA studies are not  done before 1.5-2 years of age.

Also look at the information provided by the DCA on Dalmatian Health and their information on the Dalmatian, in general.

Heartworm Preventative

If you love your  Dalmatian, then you will be sure to have a heartworm test  done once a year and keep him on a heartworm  preventative, such as Interceptor, year round.

Heartworm disease is a  parasitic infection that can occur in both dogs and cats.  It can be fatal if not treated. The heartworm is  transmitted to the dog when it is bitten  by an infected  mosquito. It takes 6 to 7 months since the dog was first  infected for the worms to reach maturity. At that point,  the worm can  produce its own offspring.

The most common  symptoms of heartworm include:

   Chronic (long-term) coughing

  Tiring easily

  Unwillingness to exercise

  Difficulty breathing

  Lethargy or laziness

If untreated, heartworm  disease can cause serious damage to the heart and  possibly death. Treatment is very difficult on the dog  and may cause death. PREVENTION IS THE BEST POLICY. PLEASE  TEST YOUR DOG ANNUALLY AND GIVE HEARTWORM PREVENTATIVE  MONTHLY!!!!!

Behavior  Modification Technique

A humane way to let  your Dalmatian know that you are not pleased with a  behavior such  as barking is spraying him with water using  a trigger/pump  sprayer.  Be sure to say "No" or  "Hush" to let him know what you want. This can  also be used to try to get your  Dalmatian not to jump. If this doesn’t work, try putting a few pennies into a can and if he does something that isn’t desired, say “NO” loudly, followed quickly by a shake of the can. Also, look at Bach Remedies.

Jumping

Dalmatians are  notorious for jumping. It is very difficult, if not  impossible, to  get them  to stop that behavior. The water  bottle helps. Another technique is to  command the Dal to  "SIT" when approaching quickly (which is  usually a sign that he will jump up on you).

Breeding

Are you wondering  whether you should breed your Dalmatian? More often than  not the answer is NO!!!!

There are too many  Dalmatians that are being bred by individuals who don't  know  enough about the breed standard, the quality of their Dal,  health clearances before  breeding, temperament, pedigree,  breeding, whelping, time involved in raising a litter of  puppies, expense (NO PROFIT), and the responsibility that  is taken on when breeding. Look at Should I Breed My Dalmatian? for good information.

Commitment

Owning a Dalmatian,  like any other animal, is a lifetime commitment. You must   commit yourself to love and care for your Dalmatian; he  will commit to love you  unconditionally  for the rest of  his life.