Dalmatians - Puppies

Dalmatians - Puppies - What to Expect in a Dog

Picture courtesy of Daisydot Dalmatians

Though the Dalmatian is an intelligent, friendly dog, it can be hard to train. It needs a firm hand but cannot bear harsh training methods. It is also not always good with strangers. The Dalmatian appears to be suspicious and makes a good watchdog.

As for children, the Dalmatian is very tender and affectionate. At the same time, one should teach children to treat the dog properly. Just like any other breed of dog, the Dalmatian will not enjoy being pushed and teased. Since Dalmatians are medium-sized dogs, and can grow to weigh about 90 pounds, they can easily knock children down.

Do not be surprised to see absolutely white Dalmatian puppies. These dogs acquire their spots completely only by the age of one year old. Note that Dalmatians come not only in black and white. Brown-spotted dogs are also acceptable, though not as popular.

Dalmatians - Puppies - Health Disorders

One of the most frequently seen disorders in Dalmatians is congenital deafness. It is a well-known fact that white dogs and cats suffer from this disease more often than other colored pets. The study of deafness in Dalmatians began as early as at the end of the 19th century. Contemporary veterinarians came to certain conclusions as to the reasons of the disease.

A series of experiments were helpful in determining the risk of deafness in blue-eyed Dalmatians, Dalmatians with and without patches, and in dogs with other variations.

It became evident that blue-eyed Dalmatians were more likely to develop the disease, whereas dogs with undesirable patches turned out to suffer less.