Dalmatians are medium-sized, smooth coated breed of working and sporting heritage, suitable as a family pet or as a show-off / pet as Dalmatians love to show off so showing / agility is a good outlet for them to let off energy, and to get the praise they love. People often mistake a Dalmatian smile for aggression, bless them as Dalmatians only smile at people they like, or strangers they think love them immediately!
Dalmatians are very intelligent and do not let anyone tell you otherwise. They are very loving and loyal; while they have a fantastic temperament they can be territorial and bark when they think someone is trying to get into “their home”. The will often growl or bark at another Dalmatian if you are making a fuss of one you meet outside of the home, as they believe they are your property and do not like the idea of you talking to “stranger Dals”, funny they do not do this to other breeds of dog, only other Dals which shows that they recognise their own breed.
The Dalmatian is the only breed that has the necessary facial muscles to smile when happy. If a person has not seen a smiling Dalmatian before, it can be a scary experience and often mistaken for a snarl rather than a sign of affection.
Dalmatians smile when they are happy by pulling back the corners of their lips and baring their teeth, Bailey when very happy does this with her eyes closed, however her tail and body is swinging back and forth very quickly, showing clearly that she is very happy, and is always used to greet us if we have been out.
Be warned if the tail is not wagging, and you can hear the Dalmatian growling do not approach!
Dalmatians are not meant to be left outside: 1: They do not have thick coats and will get either too hot or too cold very quickly, either is bad for them. 2: They are very sociable and thrive on human company. They do not like being left on their own for long periods – work is OK as they know you are coming back, but knowing you are in the house and they are outside does not go down well. If you are the type who believes a dog should not be in the house with you then a Dalmatian is not for you as they are very much people orientated animals, their worse trait being that everyone they meet are a friend for life as far as they are concerned, and be warned they have very good memories.
A Dalmatian is suitable for any type of home from flat to three bed semi with a small garden. Yes a huge house with a acre or two of garden would be ideal but this is the real world where we all work hard for our own little kingdom, and as long as your Dal has plenty of human company, eats a good balanced diet (little or no treats as with humans they will get fat) and at least two good walks a day they should be happy and stay healthy. Dalmatians are active and if you can give them time on an evening to play with them they will love you even more, plus play gives them extra exercise and attention, cutting down on the boredom. By law all dogs must wear a collar when out of the house with a tag with his / her name on it, even if they are chipped. Do not let them out of the house to roam on their own instead of taking them for a proper walk as it is illegal and your Dal could easily get lost: Someone I know has a deaf Dal that she got from a shelter after it was found wandering the streets, it was not chipped, it was not wearing a collar, this could be your Dal, so please make sure they are chipped and are wearing a collar if not in the show ring (make sure they are wearing their collar when out of the show ring)
Unfortunately they shed all year, and shed everywhere!
