Dalmatian Dogs Information

Written by: Debbie Moore

Copyright 1997 to 2010 Dogs and Puppies Central
All rights reserved.

Alternate Names: Dalmatiner

Common Misspellings:  Dalmation, Dlamatian, Dalmasion, Dalmashun

Learn all about Dalmatian Dogs and Puppies through our indepth guide to the Dalmatian dog breed. You'll find solid information about Dalmatian dog history, Dalmatian life expectancy Dalmatian dog appearance, Dalmatian temperament and personality, Dalmatian health problems, Dalmatian puppy care, training Dalmatian puppy dogs and more. Also includes important information about choosing a responsible Dalmatian dog breeder.

Seeing spots? They don't come any more "spotted" than this! Many have stopped to stare in awe of this gorgeous breed and it's famous spots!

Made famous by Walt Disney through the favorite children's classic "101 Dalmatians", the Dalmatian dog breed is a favorite among young and elderly alike, and will no doubt continue his reign as one of our most beloved dog breeds for eternity.

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Dalmatian Facts

The Dalmatian Dog Breed In Brief

Country of Origin: Croatia (Hrvatska)

Dalmatian Height: 19 to 23 inches at the withers

Dalmatian Weight: About 55 pounds

Dalmatian Color Variations: White coat with spots of black or liver

Dalmatian Size Variations:

Dalmatian Exercise Needs: Demanding

Dalmatian Grooming Demands: Minimal

Dalmatian Trainability: Medium Difficult

Dalmatian Life Expectancy: 11 to 13 years

Average Dalmatian Prices: $750 to $2500, depending on Pedigree

Good With Children: Yes

Good With Other Pets: Yes

Breed Group: Non-Sporting

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Dalmatian Dog History

Well known for it's fire hall duties, and made very famous by Disney's 101 Dalmatians, this breed has been around for centuries. Of Croatian descent, the Dalmatian is thought to have originated in Northern India, where the breed was used as a sentry to warn against invasion by neighboring Turkey. The breed travelled to Dalmatia, a region of Croatia located along the Adriatic Sea during the 16th Century, and has since become popular throughout Europe for herding livestock, guarding home and hearth, controlling vermin populations and even performing in circus acts! The breed has since found it's way into the hearts and homes of North Americans.

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Dalmatian Dog Appearance

Dalmatians puppies are born white, and develop their trademark black spots as they mature.

Dalmatians are among the most widely recognized of all dog breeds, with their signature white coats and black or brown spots. Their short, sleek hair sheds profusely and should be brushed on a regular basis. Many people don't realize that Dalmatians are completely white when they are born, with their spots forming as they mature. In addition to the spots on their coats, these dogs also have spotted tongues. Some Dalmatians have blue eyes, some have brown, and some even have one eye of each color.


When full grown, Dalmatians can stand up to two feet tall and usually weigh between 45 and 65 pounds. They are very muscular, but do not tend to become bulky or overweight. Most Dalmatians eat a lot, but don�t tend gain excess weight because of their high energy and activity levels.

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Dalmatian Grooming

With it's nice, smooth, shiny coat, the Dalmatian does not require a lot in the way of grooming. A good weekly brushing and rub-down will get rid of any stray hairs. Like any breed with dropped down ears, the Dalmation should have his ears cleaned regularly using cotton balls and an acidifying ear cleansing solution that can be obtained at your local pet store, Walmart or your vet's office.

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Dalmatian Exercise Needs

Dalmations are happy and well-behaved, provided they are given plenty of exercise and attention. They tend to be strong-willed and require obedience training and a firm hand from an early age. Dalmatians make great companions for those who like to run!

If your Dalmatian doesn't get enough exercise, he or she is likely to become very destructive. Dog owners who leave their Dalmatians locked in the house all day are very likely to come home and discover that the stuffing has been removed from every pillow in the house and that there are teeth marks embedded in each piece of wooden furniture. This destructive nature is tied to both the high energy levels and issues with separation anxiety that characterize this rather high strung breed of dog.

Dalmatians can actually adapt to being house dogs, as long as they have access to the outdoors and their owners devote time and energy to seeing to it that they get the exercise they need. If you bring home a Dalmatian, one of the first things you should do is install a doggie door so that your pet always has the ability to go outside. Your floors and your furniture will be much better off once you take this precaution.

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Dalmatian Temperament

Naturally intelligent, energetic, athleticism, agile and graceful, the Dalmatian excels in agility, flyball, obedience, conformation, search and rescue and pet therapy, as well as making a loyal, affectionate and lively family companion.

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Dalmatian Training

The Dalmation is a very intelligent, very energetic breed that can be a challenge during puppyhood. It's a good idea to start obedience training from a very early age and get your Dalmation's respect from the get-go. This will go a long way towards enjoying your Dalmation's puppyhood - rather than waiting with baited breath for him to become a more mature dog. Dalmatians excel in all dog activities and sports such as flyball, frisbee, agility, etc., and can be a great way for your puppy to burn off that excess energy, while your family gets some exercise too.

Dalmatian Health

Like any purebred breed of dog, the Dalmatian is not without genetic health conditions which can crop up from time to time. Always take careful measures to choose a responsible, reputable breeder from which to purchase a Dalmation puppy. A responsible breeder will be extremely knowledgeable about the breed and the health disorders that can occur, and will be diligent in screening her breeding dogs for these conditions prior to breeding to help ensure happy, healthy and long-lived puppies. This screening should include CERF (eye), OFA or PENN Hip (hips), and BAER (hearing) screening and certification. There is no 100% sure way to prevent health conditions from occurring, but carefully planning breedings from healthy, disease-free parents will dramatically increase the chances of a healthy litter of Dalmatian puppies.

Health conditions which can occur in Dalmatians include:

Deafness
Urinary Tract/Bladder Stones
Iris Sphincter Dysplasia (ISD)
Hip Dysplasia
Elbow Dysplasia
Allergies
Skin Conditions
Thyroid Conditions
Epilepsy

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Is the Dalmatian Right For You?

If you're looking for a quiet puppy that will blend smoothly into your household with a minimal amount of disruption, a Dalmatian is not a good choice for you. Before you bring home a Dalmatian, remind yourself about all of the images that you have seen depicting these dogs running alongside fire trucks. Dalmatians actually enjoy that type of activity. They like being active, and they need a lot of exercise to burn of what many people describe as excess energy.

The Dalmatian is NOT the dog for everyone! Be sure to research the breed using the links below before making a decision to add this very special dog to your family. Ownership requires a strong commitment to training and exercising this very active and energetic breed. With the right training and exercise, the Dalmatian makes a wonderful all-round family dog and a great conversation piece!



These high energy dogs are definitely not a good choice for people hoping to bring home a pet that will sit calmly and quietly by his or her feet for hours on end. However, if you enjoy running and would love to have a dog that can keep up with you on your daily runs, you may not be able to find a better companion than a Dalmatian.

While Dalmatians can be ideal pets for the right people, it's important to realize that this type of dog will not be a low maintenance addition to your household. You'll need to plan to spend a significant amount of time with your dog, a large portion of which must be dedicated to allowing him or her to get plenty of exercise. It's also a good idea to participate in formal obedience training with your Dalmatian. Dog obedience classes can help Dalmatians learn to control their naturally high anxiety levels, and they can help you firmly establish yourself as the master in the relationship.

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Dalmatian Prices

Average Dalmatian Price: $750 - $1000

Price always varies when it comes to the purchase of a quality, home-raised healthy Dalmatian dog or puppy. It's of utmost importance that you place the most weight on acquiring a great Dalmatian puppy from a highly responsible, reputable breeder, and put the price as a secondary concern in making your decision.

Buying a Dalmatian dog or puppy at a cheap price from a breeder of questionable reputation can be a one-way ticket to heartbreak and great additional expense throughout the dog's life, should your Dalmatian puppy have hereditary health problems or behavior and temperament issues (which very often is the case with cheap-priced puppies). Buying from a highly reputable Dalmatian breeder is your best insurance for acquiring a well socialized, healthy puppy of stable temperament.

Dalmatian prices also will vary according to the puppy's conformation; puppies placed as pets and companions will generally be less expensive as show-quality Dalmatian puppies intended to be shown in conformation.

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Finding Dalmatian Puppies For Sale By Reputable Breeders

If you are ready to add an adorable Dalmatian puppy to your family, be sure to check out Dogs and Puppies Central's directory of Dalmatian Puppies For Sale, where you will find photos and information posted by reputable Dalmatian breeders. We actively screen Dalmatian breeders who wish to advertise on our service by asking that they meet and follow our Guidelines For Responsible Dog Breeders. We also ask for - and check - three references from each breeder.

By performing an initial dog breeder screening, it is our hope that we can help put you in touch with a caring, responsible Dalmatian breeder near you. We cannot physically inspect the premises and dogs owned by breeders advertising with us, so you need to be responsible for doing the final inspection and interview.

Let's stop the cruelty of puppy mills. Please help us keep money out of the hands of puppy mills, back yard breeders and pet stores. Buy your Dalmatian puppy only from a responsible, caring hobby breeder that raises their dogs and puppies in a loving home environment.

When you locate that perfect Dalmatian puppy - please be sure to send us some photos to be included in our growing gallery of Dalmatian dog and puppy pictures!

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Additional Dalmatian Resources:

• Dalmatian Wikipedia Profile
• AKC Dalmatian Breed Profile
• Dalmatian Pictures
• Dalmatian Videos

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