To Anyone Considering a Dalmatian

[Molalla1]

Great review of the Dalmatian.

Not at all sure why you got rid of your other dog. Sure hope you don't lose a leg....:confused3:[/QUOTE]

Agree overszd . . .

 

[BRMyers]

We have had three Dalmatians over the years. Wonderful dogs, but as you pointed out very high energy. We decided to go with something not as high energy this time around.





Now we have a lazy 135lbs Great Dane that everyone thinks is a giant Dalmatian.

 

[dodge man]

I had a friend back when I was in grade school and they had a Dalmatian. They had similar results but didn’t have the patience to deal with it. I thought I also heard they have a high incidence of deafness.

 

[Jstpssng]

I too thought that you wrote a great review, and also did your homework first to ensure that you got the right dog for your family. :thumbsup:

This

Many years ago we had a Dalmation pup named Willie. He was smart as a whip and knew when to choose his battles. There was a neighborhood tom cat that was nearly as big as Willie and twice daily this battle worn old tom cat would stroll leisurely across our property and Willie would run up to within about 10 feet of him and escort him at what ever speed the cat chose. It was really comical to watch and once the cat was off our property Willie would come running back to me as proud as could be and looking like "Well I got rid of him again".

is what really made me laugh my ### off though. :rotfl:

 

[Streetcar]

I had a friend back when I was in grade school and they had a Dalmatian. They had similar results but didn’t have the patience to deal with it. I thought I also heard they have a high incidence of deafness.

Deafness is common along with prostate issues for males

 

[WM75Guy]

We had people all the time stop by the fire station and try to give us their Dalmatian. We knew better. One of the other local fire departments had a Dalmatian for a station dog. It would let anybody come in the station except the mailman. It knew the difference in uniforms.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Great review of the Dalmatian.

Not at all sure why you got rid of your other dog. Sure hope you don't lose a leg....:confused3:

Honest question, and to be fair it was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make in my life. Our Kelpie was a very agressive herd dog, which is a positive trait among this breed. He had a compulsion toward "herding" our horses, and our horses had become very good at sparring with him. The vet had a high level of concern that if he got back in with the horses he'd not be able to hold his own. It was a front leg that he lost, and that would significantly hinder his agility when sparring with the horses. We made the decision to do what was safest for him rather than what was emotionally comforting to us.

I never would have expected that experience to affect me as much as it did. I hope that none of you ever has to understand why we made the decision we did.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

My wife and daughter picked one up on the side of the road once. No house nearby and no collar. I wanted to take it to the shelter but they talked me into keeping it until they could "find it's owner."

My guess is it's owner tired of it's high maintenance and threw it out.

$300 in vet bills and multiple counts of property damage later I reached a breaking point and took it to the shelter anyway.

That dog had no intention of responding to training or discipline. Dug up plants and holes all over the yard, chewed up garden hoses, etc.

It sounds like you started that race a few laps behind. You got a dog pre-programmed with destructive tendencies. It would be hard to convince me to get a Dalmatian that wasn't a young puppy. I think that the reason we love ours so much is that we were able to carefully curate his upbringing to channel his neuroses in a positive direction.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I had a friend back when I was in grade school and they had a Dalmatian. They had similar results but didn’t have the patience to deal with it. I thought I also heard they have a high incidence of deafness.

Someone once told me that the deafness was desirable for fire dogs because they don't get freaked out by the sirens. I'm not sure that's a valid theory, but it sounds nice. If anyone is considering a Dalmatian make sure the puppies are tested for deafness. It IS common among this breed. It doesn't mean you can't raise a deaf puppy... you just have to know what you are getting yourself into.

 

[ovrszd]

Honest question, and to be fair it was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make in my life. Our Kelpie was a very agressive herd dog, which is a positive trait among this breed. He had a compulsion toward "herding" our horses, and our horses had become very good at sparring with him. The vet had a high level of concern that if he got back in with the horses he'd not be able to hold his own. It was a front leg that he lost, and that would significantly hinder his agility when sparring with the horses. We made the decision to do what was safest for him rather than what was emotionally comforting to us.

I never would have expected that experience to affect me as much as it did. I hope that none of you ever has to understand why we made the decision we did.

Sounds like the dog was a tool to you. If so, I get it.

I had a dog that got kicked by a horse, shattering his should blade. Had to have the leg amputated. Never considered removing him from the family.

Now have a dog that needed ACL surgery. Got it done. While rehabilitating I still have to help him into the truck cab. Never considered removing him from the family either.