Dalmatian
Learn about the temperament and personality of the Dalmatian. Discover what he's like to live with, his traits and characteristics and how he generally behaves. And look at lots of Dalmatian photos.
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Dalmatian Temperament
Dalmatians are large dogs with even larger personalities. They are a very active breed, and some Dalmatians can be hyperactive. They love fun and they love to play play play. If you don't like being assaulted with love when you get out of the car, this might not be the breed for you. They require daily exercise, and it will take a lot to tire them out. They enjoy running, hiking, flyball, Frisbee, agility, and rollerblading -- they were bred to be able to run for hours. They also usually love water. They need to be kept on-lead or in a fenced-in yard because if they get away from you, they are fast. And they are not car smart. If they do not get enough exercise, they can become high-strung and destructive. Early obedience training is essential with this breed. Dalmatians can be dominant, and if they are not shown early on who the pack leader is, they will try to take on the role. Dalmatians will certainly take advantage of a master who lets them get away with bad behavior. They are, however, quick to housetrain. A Dalmatian is an intelligent, independent thinker who wants to be the class clown -- any teacher will tell you that's a challenging combination! Even a well-trained Dalmatian may occasionally surprise his owner by coming up with some unusual (and usually unpleasant) behavior. These dogs are people-oriented and thrive in a family environment. They will want to follow you from room to room and cuddle with you at night. Dalmatians who are kept away from family activities frequently become barkers, chewers or diggers. Dalmatians were bred to be guard dogs and are protective of their families. They do a good job of alerting the family to strangers. They are territorial and will protect when there is a need. They are typically not biters unless they are provoked. They can be aloof with strangers and early socialization is important with this breed. Puppies who are not socialized can become aggressive or fear aggressive and they might snap or bite when they are afraid of people. Some Dalmatians can be quarrelsome with strange dogs, but most get along well with other pets. They have a strong affinity for horses. Dalmatians have made great family pets for lots of families. They are strong enough to handle children's roughhousing, but care needs to be taken with really young children. A large, active Dalmatian can flatten a young child, and a happy Dalmatian tail makes a powerful unknowing weapon. A well-cared for, happy Dalmatian makes for an alert, curious, dignified, and enthusiastic social butterfly. They are sensitive to human moods and to human corrections. Some of them smile -- it looks like a snarl but is coupled with a wagging tail -- they often do it when they are in trouble. They are talkative: they coo and grunt and give a whistling yawn. But they are usually not problem barkers. Dalmatians are very smart, quick to learn, and they love to please the ones they love. They are very affectionate and devoted to the families they adore!
Dalmatian Training
The Dalmatian is intelligent and quite easy to train. He learns new commands quickly at an above average rate.
Dalmatian Shedding
The Dalmatian is a very heavy shedder. He sheds an awful lot of hair! You'll find hair all over your home, stuck to everything! You'll probably even find it in the butter!
Dalmatian Grooming
The Dalmatian only requires an occasional brushing. But because he sheds excessively you may find yourself brushing him daily to remove loose hair. (What you get out with a brush doesn't fall out in your home!)
Adopt a Dalmatian
Dalmatian Photos
Rating: Ease of training
Tells you how easy or difficult a breed is to train.
A higher rating means the breed is easier to train, a lower rating means the breed is harder to train.
An easy to train breed require less time and patience to train.
Rating: Intelligence
Tells you how intelligent a breed is in terms of how quickly it can learn commands from humans. A higher rating means the breed will learn your commands faster (and is therefore generally considered to be more intelligent), while a lower rating means the breed will learn your commands more slowly (and is therefore generally considered to be less intelligent).
Keep in mind that this is only one way to measure a dog's intelligence and a low rating might still mean the breed is highly intelligent in other ways.
Rating: Shedding
Tells you how much hair the breed sheds. The higher the rating the more hair the breed sheds.
Rating: Watchdog
Tells you how good the breed is at being a watchdog and raising the alarm when a stranger approaches. A higher rating means the breed will bark vigorously to warn you of a stranger's presence on your property. A low rating means the breed probably won't bark much if a stranger enters your property.
Rating: Guard dog
Tells you how good the breed is at being a guard dog due to the appearance, size, and strength of the breed. A breed with a high guard dog rating will make an intruder think twice before stepping foot on your property.
Rating: Popularity
Tells you how popular the breed is in terms of ownership. A higher rating means that more people own the breed. The more popular a breed is the easier it is to find and purchase one because there are more breeders breeding it.
Rating: Size
Tells you how large or small the breed is. A lower rating means the breed is smaller and a higher rating means the breed is larger. It gives you a quick idea of how physically large or small the breed is compared with all the other breeds.
Rating: Agility
Tells you how agile the breed is. A higher rating means the breed is fast and nimble on its feet while a lower rating means the breed is heavier and slower on its feet.
Rating: Good with kids
Tells you how good the breed is with children. A higher rating means the breed is good with children. Note: all breeds are generally good with kids when they're raised with them.
