Here is my general overview of Dalmatians :). I love to talk Dals, so please feel free to reach out and ask any questions.

Dalmatians are incredibly versatile, this is one of my favourite things about them. They excel at many different sports and events. As a breed designed for coaching alongside a carriage, they have impressive endurance.

I regularly hear people describe the breed as “stubborn'“. This has absolutely not been my experience. They are very clever, and can absolutely be wilful, but they are also very trainable and biddable.

Dalmatians were also expected to guard the carriage/horses and have retained this inclination. They can be standoffish, but this should never equate to fearful or aggressive. 2 of mine are generally disinterested in new people. They are happy to meet someone if we stop and happy to be pet and interacted with, but they are unlikely to seek out someone new on their own.

They get along well with other dogs and other animals.

They shed like FIENDS. All the time - hair in two colours, there will be Dalmatian hair in my coffin. There is hair on every article of clothing I own, even fresh from the wash, as well as hair in an astonishing amount of the food we make.

There is no show/working split, so you can go to one of the many wonderful show-focused breeders and get a beautiful dog that will excel at many sports.

I constantly hear how aggressive Dalmatians are. They are not an aggressive breed, but they are a breed that is plagued with many disreputable breeders breeding dogs with inappropriate temperaments. Please be very careful about where your Dalmatian comes from.

Deafness continues to be an issue in the breed, stemming from their extreme white pied colouring. Dogs who express this gene more strongly (like blue-eyed dogs) have a higher incidence of deafness, those that express the gene less strongly (like patched Dalmatians) have a lower incidence of deafness. All reputable breeders are BAER (hearing) testing all of their puppies and successfully working to decrease the percentage of deaf pups born.

All Dalmatians not part of the Pointer backcross/LUA program will have a genetic predisposition to forming urate urinary crystals and be at risk for urate bladder stones. With most well-bred Dalmatians this increased risk is very manageable with an appropriate diet, sufficient water/hydration, and regular trips out to empty the bladder.

Dalmatians are a wonderful breed. They are fun and energetic and always up for an adventure. They are sweet and snuggly and affectionate. They are clever and mischievous. With some effort in training and exercise they can be a wonderful family member.

The Dalmatian Club of America has some great general breed information.