Dalmatian Care 101

Like it or not, Dalmatians come with a lot of responsibility. As responsible dog owners we must provide our dogs with the right care and training, but knowing what is best for them isn’t always clear and straight forward. Hopefully this article will shed some light on proper Dalmatian care.

Before you start doing anything, it’s important that you get more familiar with the Dalmatian dog breed. Learn as much as you can about their personalities, likes, dislikes, moods and so on. Knowing these things will prepare you for unexpected situations.

Here are some quick tips to get you started:

• Dalmatians start learning from day one - Puppies are constantly learning from their environment, regardless if you’re training them or not. This means that you have to encourage good behavior early and correct bad behavior as soon as you catch it.
• They are extremely energetic dogs - They have a lot of energy and if they don’t have the chance to use it up at the park, they will use it on your clothes and furniture. Give plenty of exercise to these guys to keep them happy.
• Dalmatians can’t have food that is highly dense in protein- They are the only breed missing certain enzymes which help digest foods high in protein. Take that into consideration when shopping for food (more on Dalmatian diet and treats).
• Dalmatians need a clear “pack leader” - these dogs are known to display dominant behavior and require a clear pack leader to feel comfortable within their pack or family.
• Healthy Dalmatian lifespan is 10-15 years – These dogs can live long and happy lives if they are given healthy diets along with plenty of exercise.

Grooming

For the most part Dalmatians are very clean dogs and don’t require too much grooming attention. They have very nice coats which are coated with oils that keep them shiny and healthy. A healthy diet is crucial and you can easily spot a Dalmatian on a healthy diet by the natural glow in their coats.

Even though Dalmatians don’t need frequent baths, you still need to take care of other things like nails, ears and teeth. Broken nails and ear infections are very common among all dogs. Clip or trim their nails whenever you notice them getting too long. Also be sure to inspect your dog’s ears for any signs of infections at least once a week. (more on Dalmatian grooming)

Health

Diet plays a high role in determining a dog’s health. Feeding the Dalmatian with high quality food is the best way to keep him healthy and full of energy. Not all dog food is the same so read the labels and watch out for food that is filled with too many chemicals and fillers and avoid it.

Exercise is also important for a dog to stay healthy, both physically and mentally. It’s in their nature to run around, play, dig and chew and denying them that can leave them stressed and frustrated. Not only will these activities strengthen their bodies, but they will also keep their minds busy.

Training

Even though many owners don’t realize it, training is actually very important part of Dalmatian care. When people hear of dog training, usually the first thing that pops up in their mind is a dog fetching a ball, holding a treat on their nose or playing dead.

While it’s true that trick training plays a role in overall training, the fact is that training is not limited to just that. Training is actually far more than just teaching your dog a couple of silly tricks that they can do to earn a reward.

Dalmatian training is teaching your dog how to behave around their human family and friends. Things like obedience training and socializing your dog play a huge role in the Dalmatians mental development and have a great impact on their perception of the surroundings.

Complete Dalmatian Care Guide

If you own a Dalmatian and are looking for a complete Dalmatian guide that covers everything a dog owner should know (training, care, health, obedience, exercise, safety) then check out the Dalmatians Owners Guide – click here to learn more.