How Much Are Dalmatian Dogs?

How much are Dalmatian dogs? What does this dog breed look like in the first place? Where did it come from? How big does it get? What is its coat’s color? What is its overall mood for most of the time? Is it a healthy breed? How do you take care of it? What are the appropriate foods for such breed? How much exercise does it need to maintain its overall health? What about its behavior with children? How is it with other pets?

Those are some of the basic questions that you are definitely asking if you are considering getting a Dalmatian as a pet as well as any dog in general. Moreover, asking such questions already proves one thing: you are certainly a responsible pet owner. Obviously, you are trying to research first on the dog breed that you have an eye on which is, indeed, the best first step to take. So good job on that part! This blog post contains all the necessary information about the Dalmatian as well as some fun trivia about this dog breed. So make sure to stick around.

Those are some of the basic questions that you are definitely asking if you are considering getting a Dalmatian as a pet as well as any dog in general. Moreover, asking such questions already proves one thing: you are certainly a responsible pet owner. Obviously, you are trying to research first on the dog breed that you have an eye on which is, indeed, the best first step to take. So good job on that part! This blog post contains all the necessary information about the Dalmatian as well as some fun trivia about this dog breed. So make sure to stick around.

Besides from its regal and supremely distinct outer appearance itself, the Dalmatian actually gained its worldwide popularity when it became the star of Disney’s animated film One Hundred and One Dalmatians which later produced a live-action remake entitled 101 Dalmatians (1996) and its sequel 102 Dalmatians (2000.) In 2003, Patch’s London Adventure which is the animated film continuation of the One Hundred and One Dalmatians was released by Disney too. These all came into existence because of the 1956 novel entitled The Hundred and One Dalmatians by British author Dodie Smith.

Dalmatian: Appearance

The Dalmatian is absolutely one of the most recognizable dog breeds out there because of its extremely famous black and/or liver spots on its coat. The dog’s head is of fair length as well as free of any loose skin. Additionally, its skull is flat with a slight vertical furrow. Its eyes which can either be brown, blue, or a combination of both, are somewhat rounded and are also medium sized.

Moreover, its ears are close to the head. Furthermore, the dog’s neck is arched, long, as well as free from throatiness. Lastly, its feet are round and compact with thick, elastic pads as well as arched toes.

Take note that any dog over 24 inches at the withers and with any color markings other than black, liver, or a tricolor is disqualified for being the standard Dalmatian.

Dalmatian: Origin

A Dalmatian’s history can be traced back to Croatia as recognized by the Fédération cynologique international which is a Belgium-based international federation of many national kennel clubs. It’s because the first illustrations of the dog breed were discovered in Croatia. Moreover, the first documented descriptions of the breed were also found there. Those archives date back up to the early 1800s where the dog was called Canis Dalmaticus in church scribblings made by Bishop Peter Bakić (1719) and Andreas Keczkeméty (1739.)

Then when the Regency Period came, the Dalmatian earned its reputation as the “Spotted Coach Dog” when they were frequently seen beside horse-drawn carriages. At the same time, this breed was also used to guard stables at nighttime.

In 1882, an Englishman named Vero Shaw introduced the first unofficial standard of the breed in England. Then in 1890, the very first Dalmatian Club in the country was established.

On the other hand, the Dalmatians took their coaching dog persona into the next level when they entered the United States. They became firehouse dogs where they worked with horses when responding to fire emergencies.

Dalmatian: Size

A male Dalmatian can stand as tall as 21 to 23 inches as well as weigh from around 45 to 60 pounds. On the other hand, a female Dalmatian can stand as tall as 19 to 22 inches as well as weigh from around 45 to 60 pounds too like its male counterpart.

Dalmatian: Coat

A Dalmatian’s coat is short, dense, fine, as well as close-fitting. Additionally, it’s neither woolly nor silky. Moreover, it’s glossy with a healthy appearance. Its coat needs brushing for several times a week using a bristle brush, rubber curry brush, hound mitt, or pumice stone.

Furthermore, this dog sheds all year round, so it isn’t hypoallergenic. So for pet owners or dog lovers with allergies and who are very much eyeing to own the famous Dalmatian as a new pet, better move on to the next dog because your safety comes first.

Take note too that the smooth-coated Dalmatians are the ones prone to shedding. On the other hand, their long-coated counterparts don’t shed that much. Although, these long-coated Dalmatians aren’t really accepted as qualified for the breed standard.

Dalmatian: Personality/ Temperament

The Dalmatian dog breed is active, energetic, friendly, intelligent, outgoing, playful, and sensitive. Moreover, it’s 100% adaptable to any kind of environment. It also has a moderate inclination towards barking as well as a moderate tolerance for strangers.

Dalmatian: Health

Every dog breed is more prone to specific diseases or health condition than the other breeds. For the Dalmatian with a life expectancy of about 11 to 13 years, the health conditions that you should definitely look out for are the following: canine hip dysplasia, deafness, hyperuricemia, urolithiasis, and iris sphincter dysplasia.

• Canine Hip Dysplasia

This is a hereditary problem characterized by the thighbone not fitting perfectly into the hip joint. Furthermore, this may lead to arthritis as time passes by. This can be dealt with using supplements, medications, as well as surgery.

• Deafness

This is a hereditary problem that can be aided by training the dog or using vibrating collars.

• Hyperuricemia

This health condition is characterized by the liver having trouble in breaking down uric acid and then later build up in the blood serum resulting into gout. Furthermore, this condition is certainly prevalent with middle-aged male Dalmatians. The treatment for this is the orgotein which is a veterinary formulation of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase.

• Urolithiasis

This is the forming of urinary tract stones that Dalmatians are very prone to since they have a unique urinary tract system. These dogs have uric acid instead of urea and allantoin in their urine and the said acid forms the previously stated stones. The treatment or primary aid for this is, obviously, a right amount of water intake. Furthermore, this condition must be taken seriously because it may be fatal if not treated as soon as possible.

• Iris Sphincter Dysplasia

This is an inherited ocular disorder which results into sensitivity to bright light, poor night vision, partial or total blindness, as well as cataracts. Up to this day, various treatments for this condition are still being researched upon.

Beside from these, the Dalmatian is also not an exemption with regards to skin allergies, just like with other dog breeds. Skin allergies come in three types such as food-based, contact, and inhalant. Food-based allergies can be treated by removing certain foods from the dog’s diet. On the other hand, contact allergies can obviously be treated by avoiding contact with topical substances which trigger allergic reaction. Lastly, the inhalant or airborne allergy caused by either pollen, dust, any many other more, can be treated in various ways, depending on the intensity of the condition.

For these reasons, you should certainly be in regular contact with your pet dog’s veterinarian in order to track your dog’s overall health as well as to detect any bad health condition in advance.

Dalmatian: Care/ Grooming

Caring for a Dalmatian includes bathing for just three to four times a year. Yes, you read that right! This breed only needs that seldom number of baths because its coat only has a minimal amount of oil, so it doesn’t acquire a dog smell. At the same time, frequent bathing may remove the said essential oils and can lead to dried as well as flaky skin.

Additionally, brush the dog’s teeth for at least two to three times a week or even daily if that is what you prefer. Moreover, trim the dog’s nail for once or twice a month if the dog doesn’t wear them down naturally. Furthermore, an ear inspection should be done weekly in order to detect redness or any bad odor which indicate infection.

Dalmatian: Feeding

A Dalmatian should be given a high-quality dry dog food which can either be commercially-manufactured or home-prepared. Also, the dog’s food can be divided into two main meals a day. With regards to treats, see to it that you give in moderation.

Dalmatian: Exercise

A Dalmatian is a dog breed that is, without a doubt, oozing with stamina and strength. For this reason, it needs a daily exercise routine that is rigorous to induce its physical as well as mental stimulation. Such exercise may include walking, jogging alongside the owner, hiking, as well as toss ball games.  Furthermore, remember that it may certainly inhibit tantrums from time to time if it won’t be able to get the physical as well as mental exercises that they need.

For its training, you can definitely use positive reinforcement which is usually in the form of praise and food rewards or treats. Moreover, you may need the latter more since Dalmatians are quite sensitive. When you accidentally shout at it when you are training it, it may get hurt easily. The treats will really go a long way in getting on the dog’s good side again.

Dalmatian: Behavior with Kids and Other Pets

Clearly, Dalmatians are really good with kids since they can match the little children’s high energetic level as well as enthusiasm in almost everything! Furthermore, it’s good to go with other pets too, most especially if it experienced socialization with the said animals at an early age. They are able to tolerate cats and can really be friendly towards other dogs. Of course, it fancies horses since they have been together right at the very beginning.

How Much are Dalmatian Dogs?

The price of a Dalmatian depends on a lot of factors such as the breeder’s location, reputation, the dog’s litter size, lineage of the puppy, breed popularity, training, socialization efforts, breed lines, and many other more.

According to Next Day Pets, if you’re a dog lover eyeing a Dalmatian to be your house companion, prepare as much as $800. Just remember that this is the cost of Dalmatians with papers, but without breeding rights nor show quality. However, if you’re really going for top quality or the Dalmatians with top breed lines as well as superior pedigree, prepare money amounting between $1,700.00 to $5,000.00. Furthermore, also think about the associated costs that owning a Dalmatian will entail on you. It’s said that you’ll absolutely need $500 – $2,000 or more for the first year of taking care of a Dalmatian and around $500 – $1,000 or more for every year after that.

Dog Breed Plus also says that a rescue Dalmatian dog is more likely to be an adult and does cost less at around $100.00 to $300.00. It also says that if you are a pet owner or a dog lover who is eyeing a Dalmatian to be your house companion, prepare money amounting to $485.00 a year for a Dalmatian’s medical expenses. Also, prepare money amounting to $265.00 a year for a Dalmatian’s food expenses. Lastly, prepare money amounting to $245.00 a year for a Dalmatian’s toys, license, basic training, and other miscellaneous costs.

Other Fun Trivia About the Dalmatian

• A Dalmatian puppy is born pure white and without any spots at all. It’s only when it reaches four weeks that its trademark spots do appear. This is shocking, especially to fans of the popular Disney films about Dalmatians, but this is the truth.
• No two Dalmatians have the same number and pattern of spots. Indeed, a Dalmatian’s coat is one-of-a-kind like a fingerprint or a snowflake.
• There is a common joke about the Dalmatians that has always been circulating ever since and that is the dog only sheds two times. Those two times refer to both day and night. Yes, the joke implies how an excessive shedder a Dalmatian dog breed really is.

• Plum Pudding Dog is another British nickname for the Dalmatian because its spots look like the plums in a Christmas pudding.
• The Dalmatian’s other nicknames are the English Coach Dog, the Carriage Dog, the Fire House Dog, and the Spotted Dick.
• According to Dogbreedslist, the top 10 boy names for the Dalmatian are the following: Charlie, Jack, Buddy, Teddy, Lucky, Duke, Tucker, Sam, Oscar, and Leo. On the other hand, the top 10 girl names for the Dalmatian are the following: Molly, Lola, Coco, Penny, Lola, Molly, Sophie, Dixie, Zoey, and Stella.
• The most popular Dalmatian mixes are the Sharmatian, Bullmatian, Corgi-Dalmatian, and the Chimation. The Sharmatian is a cross between the Dalmatian and a Shar-Pei. The dog ranges from medium to large size and is fairly active. Next, the Bullmatian is a cross between the Dalmatian and a Bulldog. The dog is of medium size and is also fairly active as well as inclined to occasional barking. Then the Corgi-Dalmatian is a cross between the Dalmatian and a Corgi. The dog is of medium size and is highly active. Moreover, it’s inclined towards moderate barking and is also really sensitive. On the other hand, the Chimation is a cross between the Dalmatian and a Chihuahua. The dog is of medium size and is fairly active too. Moreover, it’s inclined to occasional barking as well as being very sensitive in general.
• A Dalmatian has a very low tendency to dig.
• Also, a Dalmatian has a very low tendency to snore.
• A Dalmatian has a very low tendency to drool.
• Also, a Dalmatian has a very high social or attention need, so prepare to smother it with tons of love and affection.
• The American Kennel Club classified the Dalmatian as a non-sporting dog breed.
• The United Kennel Club classified the Dalmatian as a companion dog.
• The Dalmatian has always been associated with the Budweiser brewery ever since 1950.
• George Washington, the first U.S. President who is known for being a dog lover had a Dalmatian coach dog named Madame Moose.
• The Romany people who are also known as the gypsies fancied the Dalmatians so much that they brought these dogs with them during their travels.
• Deafness is truly common among this dog breed that most of them can only hear from one ear.
• The Dalmatian also had a stint as a circus dog. This dog breed has a natural inclination to entertain people.

Final Words

“How much are Dalmatian dogs?” Surely, this main question and the others have already been answered by this comprehensive Dalmatian guideline that we provided.

The Dalmatian has proven how good of a watchdog it is. It has always been an excellent guard dog ever since. The skill and ability are certainly imprinted on its DNA. On the other hand, as time passes by, the dog also continuously prove that it can also do very well as a companion dog.

If you are an aspiring pet owner and you are looking for an outgoing dog which matches your outgoing personality, pick this breed. Moreover, pick this breed if you want a dog that is truly intelligent and friendly. In addition to these, if you want a dog that other pet owners or dog lovers will really go nuts about, pick the famous and well-loved Dalmatian. You will definitely have tons of compliments going in your way. Also, choose this dog if it’s certainly complementary to your personality and lifestyle in general.

Well, without a doubt, it’s easy if you can just pick an adorable Dalmatian without even thinking, but you really have to ponder hard about the dog that you will choose to be your life companion. Indeed, that is a hard task because all dogs are extremely lovable, especially a Dalmatian. But regardless of your final choice, happy fur parenting!

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