An iconic, famous dog, the Dalmatian is a loving, playful, and truly lively pooch! With a past as a firehouse dog, as well as a coach dog, the Dalmatian certainly has stamina.
But how does raising your Dalmatian affect their temperament? Are Dalmatians aggressive? Are they good-natured? Do Dalmatians bite or growl? And do Dalmatians make good family dogs? Let’s take a closer look at this renowned spotty breed:
Do Dalmatians have good temperament?
The Dalmatian has many inherent positive traits. This breed is known to be extremely energetic, for example, with an undying loyalty to their family and the ability to get along with kids, albeit generally getting along better with older children. Dalmatians are smart, too, with the potential to make a good guard dog or to excel in other work.
That being said, this bundle of spotty energy can be too much for a family with young children. Their intelligence also means that the Dalmatian can figure out how to get want they want, like opening the treat cupboard when you aren’t there, for example. Though generally good-tempered, these are some things to keep in mind.
Are Dalmatians known to be aggressive?
The Dalmatian is a highly energetic dog, and can be sensitive and playful with dogs and humans they know well. However, some Dalmatians don’t respond well to strangers, and can show aggression towards other dogs, too.
Dals are more intelligent than aggressive though, really. Many a Dalmatian knows how to sit attentively, watching you lock their crate or run, only to nudge the lock open when your back is turned immediately. Or, they may bark as if someone is at the door, only to jump up on the dinner table when you go to check!
Good socialization and training from an early age will give your Dalmatian the traits they need to get along with the other dogs and humans in their life.
Are Dalmatians bad tempered?
Yes, this lively, bright pooch has many good traits, and makes a great dog for many owners. However, the Dalmatian can also have some negative traits, too.
The way you raise your Dalmatian is extremely important. If you don’t socialize your Dal properly, you risk creating a dog who is fearful of the world around them, snapping at strangers who hold their hand out to pet them, or barking at other dogs at the park.
So, be sure to get your Dalmatian used to the world around them from an early age. Let them explore lots of different places, and introduce them to different people and different dogs. Show them different noises, colors, and situations.
Besides the way you raise your Dal, poor breeding can also lead to a Dalmatian having negative, bad-tempered traits. With the Dalmatian breed being made more and more popular in recent years thanks to countless films and books featuring the breed, this dog’s demand has increased accordingly. This has led to increased demand for Dalmatians.
Why are Dalmatians considered aggressive?
It’s true that some people consider the Dalmatian an aggressive or bad-tempered breed. But is this really true? Where does this stereotype stem from?
A Dalmatian could become aggressive due to bad breeding or a lack of attention or socialization. However, did you know that the Dalmatian produces uric acid instead of allantoin or urea like other dogs? The salt of this uric acid can form into stones. Urinary stones are pretty painful for a Dalmatian to pass.
Though the formation of urinary stones can be prevented with plenty of water and breed-specific dog food or food that is low in purines, it is only in recent years that this condition has been fully understood. So, it’s no surprise that the Dalmatian was historically thought of as aggressive!
Why is my Dalmatian becoming aggressive?
Most Dalmatians are generally placid enough pooches. However, it’s known that the Dalmatian can sometimes be aggressive.
Sometimes a Dalmatian’s aggression is due to bad breeding – the Dalmatian’s popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, after all, due to countless films and shows featuring these dotty dogs. This increase in popularity has led to a huge uptick in breeding these spotty pooches, for better or worse.
One other reason that a Dalmatian may become aggressive is due to a lack of attention. You see, Dalmatians are an energetic, boisterous dog, requiring plenty of physical activity every day. You can’t just adopt a Dalmatian and expect them to be happy to snuggle up on the couch with you during bad weather.
Dalmatians also need early, consistent socialization from a young age, just as much as any other dog. Without this, a Dalmatian won’t know what to expect when they meet other dogs and people, and may bite, bark, or run away in their confusion.
How do you train an aggressive Dalmatian?
With their high intelligence and tendency towards boredom, some aspects of training your Dalmatian can be difficult. Training your Dal against aggression is no exception.
The main way to prevent aggression in your Dalmatian is to socialize them well. Get your Dalmatian used to a range of colors, sounds, sights and situations.
Then, if something does trigger aggressive behavior in your Dalmatian, you should desensitize them to the trigger by gradually getting them used to it. Whether it’s the noisy washing machine, your friend’s swooshy skirt, or other dogs, bring your Dalmatian slowly closer to their trigger day by day until it no longer bothers them.
Are Dalmatians aggressive towards kids?
Dogs like the playful, intelligent, caring Labrador Retriever are known to make great family dogs. Is the Dalmatian the same?
Yes, many Dal owners swear the Dalmatian certainly has the same Retriever friendliness towards beloved young humans. If they get to know a child well, they will tolerate anything from even the most ear-pulling, crayon-wielding toddler!
However, Dalmatians are also very intelligent dogs. This means boring, inane games like fetch or tug sometimes just won’t cut it for this discerning dog. Instead, complicated food puzzle games that involve plenty of multi-step sliding, nudging and pawing will keep your dotty Dal occupied and less likely to do something negative!
Of course, Dalmatians also need way more exercise than most young families have time or space for. Historically, the Dalmatian was bred to run alongside horses and coaches all day long, keeping up just fine! Would you be able to emulate this level of activity?
The Dalmatian’s other historic purpose was to guard firehouses and stables, barking loudly if anything woke them. This makes many Dalmatians suspicious of strangers to this day, meaning you may have trouble introducing your pooch to a new child or baby.
Do Dalmatians ever calm down?
Though all dogs teethe and act loud or destructive at a young age, they do eventually generally calm down a fair amount when they reach adulthood. So, do Dalmatians ever calm down?
Your Dalmatian is sure to calm down at around one year of age, since this is when they stop teething. However, your Dalmatian also starts needing less sleep around this age, making them a little more hyperactive.
If you wait for your Dalmatian to calm down naturally, you’ll be waiting for around 10 years, when they become a senior. Even then, many older Dalmatians still don’t lose too much of their energy.
Instead, the best way to calm your Dalmatian down is to tire them out both physically and mentally. Take your spotty pooch for a long walk with plenty of sniffing, followed by some food and treat puzzles to tantalize their brain. A tired Dal is a happy Dal!
Why are Dalmatians used as fire dogs?
Marshall the Dalmatian is the PAW Patrol’s Fire Pup. Indeed, the Dalmatian is the official firehouse dog. But why is this?
Well, historically, Dalmatians were used as “coach dogs” for wealthy aristocrats in England, Scotland and Wales. These strange, striking-looking dogs would run alongside the coaches, protecting the luggage from bandits and keeping the horses company.
Later on, Dalmatians kept following the coaches, even when they got a bright red makeover. When the fire bell rang, the Dalmatians would sprint through the cities ahead of the coaches, barking to clear the way.
The Dalmatian’s fire-fighting past is still clearly in their DNA today, and affects their temperament to a certain extent, though, of course, the way you raise your Dalmatian is still a big factor in developing their personality.
Are Dalmatians known for biting?
Though Dalmatians are known for being a grumpy dog, we’ve taken a look at how this isn’t necessarily true.
Yes, a Dalmatian may bite you. However, they will only do this if they feel provoked, like if you try to pet them when they’re in pain, or when they feel threatened by something strange. Your Dalmatian will be a lot less likely to bite if you socialize them and train them properly. If you build a good relationship with your Dalmatian, training them should be a piece of cake!
How do I get my Dalmatian to stop biting?
Any dog will bite if they feel overwhelmed, right? What about the Dalmatian? Are they known to bite, too?
Yes, Dalmatians can bite and have a reputation for occasionally being grumpy too. But, the Dalmatian actually doesn’t bite any more than any other dog. If your Dalmatian suddenly snaps at you but is otherwise friendly, this may instead point to pain related to a health condition rather than aggression.
One unique health condition that the Dalmatian is prone to is urinary stones, or urolithiasis. This is because the Dalmatian actually has a unique urinary tract system that does not produce allantoin or urea like other dogs do.
Instead, a Dalmatian’s urine has uric acid. Unfortunately, the salts of this uric acid can form into stones, which are painful to pass and which may even lodge in a Dalmatian’s body.
If your Dalmatian develops urolithiasis, they need prompt veterinary treatment and diagnosis of this condition, since a blockage can quickly become fatal, not to mention painful. Thankfully, good access to clean drinking water and food that is low in purines, such as Dalmatian-specific kibble can go a long way in preventing this condition.
You should keep a close eye on how regularly your Dal pees, as well as whether they show any signs of pain while doing so.
Another health condition that may cause your Dalmatian to snap or nip at you is hip dysplasia. Like many other large breeds, the Dalmatian can inherit this condition. With hip dysplasia, a Dalmatian’s hip fits badly in their pelvic socket. The condition can lead to a range of symptoms, or hardly rear its head at all. It can affect one or both of a Dal’s rear legs, and may cause arthritis in your pooch’s later life.
Why does my Dalmatian growl at me?
It’s normal for any dog to growl out of excitement during play or to warn you that they don’t want touched. Growling can be a good thing, and it’s important not to discourage it. But it’s important to understand what your Dalmatian means when they growl.
Take this scenario as an example – you are playing fetch or tug with your Dalmatian. You have been playing together for a while, and your excited Dal can’t wait for you to throw the toy! Growling or even barking in this situation is perfectly normal. It’s just your Dalmatian’s way of telling you that they are excited.
Or, maybe your Dalmatian is relaxing in their bed and you go to pet them. If they’re particularly sleepy, your Dalmatian may growl if they don’t recognise you. They may even try to bite you while half-asleep. If your Dalmatian is wide awake and growls at you when you pet a certain area on their body, it could be that they are in pain.
In truly aggressive behavior, growling is preceded by more subtle signs that your Dal wants to be left alone. Your Dalmatian may yawn loudly, sneeze repeatedly or wag their tail stiffly. If your don’t spot these signs, your Dalmatian will then progress to growling, or even biting!
Many owners punish all growling without thinking about why their Dalmatian is doing it. However, hardly any growling is inherently aggressive or bad. Dalmatians even growl when they play! Punishing all growling instead of truly desensitizing your Dalmatian actually has the effect of increasing aggressive behavior, since your Dalmatian will now have less of a chance to give you a warning.
Are Dalmatians good for first time owners?
The Dalmatian is a friendly, loyal dog, which can make them easy for a first time dog owner to train. However, anyone who chooses to adopt a Dalmatian must be prepared for the breed’s extremely high energy requirements. Remember how Dalmatians used to run alongside coaches, with more stamina than a horse? They still need this level of activity!
The Dalmatian is also incredibly intelligent, with the ability to outsmart their owner if they get bored. They also shed, with fine, coarse hair that will thread and weave its way into every soft furnishing and piece of clothing in a prospective Dalmatian owner’s house if the Roomba or lint roller doesn’t find it first.
A first-time Dalmatian owner should consider looking into a local Agility or Obedience class. This will help harness a Dalmatian’s endless energy and intelligence.
Are Dalmatians clingy?
Dalmatians are not generally clingy. Dalmatians are usually happy, playful pooches. But their high intelligence means that they can get bored if they have nothing to do all day. This can manifest as separation anxiety, where your Dalmatian is reluctant to let you leave the home, and destroys objects if left alone for too long.
Hiding your Dalmatian’s food in food puzzles and toys, or just leaving it around their room can give your Dalmatian something stimulating to do when they’re alone, making clingy or destructive behaviors less likely.
Are Dalmatians difficult to train?
The Dalmatian is a friendly and loyal dog. This should make them easy to train, right?
You’d think so. But, a Dalmatian’s keen intelligence and stubbornness often hampers training for many Dal owners. You can combat this to some extent by beginning training your Dalmatian early in their life, as well as finding ways to make training more rewarding and interesting for your dotty pooch. But stubbornness may be the innate nature of some Dalmatians.
