Buyer question
Is a Dalmatian good for beginners?
It can be: our Animal Library rates the Dalmatian 3 out of 5 for beginners (needs lots of exercise).
Source: the Dalmatian page in the Everybarn Animal Library. Dalmatian in the Animal Library
The detail
Bred to run alongside horse-drawn carriages and guard the horses, the Dalmatian has remarkable endurance and a strong bond with its people. Energetic and sometimes reserved, it needs lots of exercise and has a few breed-specific health quirks.
- Temperament
- Energetic, loyal, alert
- Best fit
- Runners, active families
- Trainability
- 3 out of 5 (Smart, needs consistency)
- Energy
- 5 out of 5 (1–2 hrs running daily)
- Grooming load
- 2 out of 5 (Weekly brush, sheds a lot)
What to weigh
Dalmatians shed constantly despite a short coat, need hard daily exercise and can be reserved with strangers. Deafness is common in the breed, and a unique urinary chemistry makes bladder stones a lifelong risk.