How to Buy a Dalmatian Dog In India

Hair: short, hard, smooth, and shiny.
Color: Pure white background with black or liver spots. The spots should be small, round, well-defined, and free of smudges, the size of a coin. Note that there are also brown Dalmatians, which are quite rare.
Size: 58.4 to 61 cm for the male and 55.9 to 58.4 cm for the female
Weight: approximately 27 kg for the male and 24 for the female

Origins and history

Its origins are controversial and several countries claim paternity, but the FCI has established that the breed was Croatian, although some specialists say it is Eastern and others English. England, however, is considered his adopted homeland. Probably born for hunting, as its typically braquoid appearance seems to prove, it quickly became a "carriage" dog, then a companion dog, although it was not a "pocket" dog. The Dalmatian turns out to be a very good hunting dog, contrary to what some might think.

Character and Abilities

Affectionate:
The Dalmatian, thus called Across the Channel, is a very gentle dog who generally has a very good attitude towards all the members of his social group whom he particularly appreciates despite his air of an independent dog.

Playful:
The boundless energy of this dog can partly be channeled through intense play sessions. He loves it and takes great pleasure in the playful activities offered to him, as long as they do not include too many obligations constraints.

Calm:
The calm after the storm, this expression fits perfectly with the skin of the Dalmatian who can indeed be discreet when all his needs are met, which is clearly not an easy task.

Intelligent:
He is so intelligent that he manages to "play dumb" when he does not want to obey an order. It is indeed the dogs that manage to find tricks to escape the commands that are often the smartest, no offense to their masters.

Hunter:
This Croatian dog has a very pronounced hunting instinct. Its braconid appearance (Braque type) allows it to envy nothing of its close cousin's ​​hounds. However, modern selections tend more towards the use of the Dalmatian as a companion and/or show dog.

Fearful/suspicious of strangers:
His official standard describes him as a dog with a pleasant temperament and friendly demeanor, being neither shy nor suspicious, neither nervous nor aggressive. However, he remains reserved if he does not "sense" a person and needs to analyze the situation before giving his confidence.

Independent:
Often seen as independent, the Dalmatian is in fact just a dog with a strong character that can't stand constraints and has trouble with commands. This may indeed make one think of independence, but it is not. On the contrary, despite its strong head, this dog is very close to its social group and appreciates its presence more than anything.

Behviour

Supports loneliness:
Very attached to his social group, the Dalmatian must not be left to his own devices from morning to night, in which case he could develop numerous behavioral problems (barking, destruction, etc.), even if he benefits from a garden.

He can therefore bear loneliness, especially if he is used to it from an early age, but should not be left alone for too long.

Easy to train / obedient:
Considered independent, the Dalmatian is actually very obstinate if his master does not understand him and does not have an "equal to equal" relationship with him, the only thing this very dog ​​can accept. proud. The search for any power relationship with this Croatian dog will be doomed to failure and will only taint the relationship.

The Dalmatian is considered the pet peeve of dog trainers, it is indeed not easy to educate. It is important to impose limits on him from an early age and to have a coherent speech with him, otherwise, communication is impossible.

In fact, novice or too lax masters will quickly let themselves be overtaken by this dog with a strong temperament. A firm and respectful education of positive methods is essential.

It is only with patience, determination, and perseverance that the masters of a Dalmatian manage to achieve results.

Barking:
It is mainly when he is bored that this Croatian dog can be particularly barking to signify his displeasure and pass the time.

Runaway:
Great runner, if he does not have the opportunity to express his great vitality with his master, despite his strong attachment to the latter, the Dalmatian will not hesitate to take to their heels to let off steam. of energy.

Destroyer:
Very active and having a lot of energy to spare, he lets off steam as best he can: outside if his master often makes him run, inside otherwise. Suffice to say that if he is not spent enough, he can return home in less time than it takes to tell.

Greedy/gluttonous:
Very good eater, this dog will never sulk his bowl or a treat. This delicacy is also a great help in educating this dog who is often very stubborn and reluctant to learn.

Guard dog:
Today, it is a companion dog but it can also be a good guardian of the house because it remains vigilant and alert. Without being aggressive, he can be dissuasive if he feels that it is necessary.

In addition, he will know how to warn his masters of any intrusion with his serious bark.

First dog:
The Dalmatian is a very intelligent, sensitive dog, whose strong character includes some annoying aspects. He should be known, understood, and loved for what he is, but he is not a very easy-going dog and he is not suitable for everyone.

Living conditions

Dalmatian in an apartment:
He should have a garden at his disposal to expend all his energy. He can still live in an apartment but it is clearly not his ideal environment.

Whatever his living environment, whether he lives in the city, in the countryside, indoors or outdoors, he must be taken to run often because he needs to do a lot of exercises (also so that he does not grows).

Need for exercise/athleticism:
The Dalmatinski pas, so-called in its country of origin, Croatia, is a dog that is full of energy and needs to run to fully develop. A sports master is, therefore, necessary for him.

On a lunge or preferably in freedom, he must benefit from at least three walks a day, and more if he lives in an apartment.

His past as a carriage dog has given this presumed Croatian dog immense joy when it comes to following his master on a horseback ride, for example. In this, it is an ideal companion for cyclists, riders, or joggers.

Finally, if the Dalmatian is not spent up to his needs, he can quickly become an uncontrollable dog who then becomes more of a daily constraint than a real companion.

Travel / Ease of transport:
The average size of this black-spotted dog allows him to move relatively easily alongside his master. It will also rarely go unnoticed thanks to its atypical beauty.

Nevertheless, early and quality socialization in various environments will be necessary from an early age for the Dalmatian puppy to allow him to quickly integrate the rules of life into society.

Grooming and maintenance

The short and smooth coat of this Croatian dog does not require extensive maintenance and even fewer baths.

However, brushing must remain at least weekly to maintain the cleanliness and protective qualities of his coat.

Hair loss: Hair
loss is all in all moderate but increases during the two annual molts, in autumn and spring, when brushing should go from weekly to daily to eliminate as much dead hair as possible.

Compatibility

The Dalmatian and Cats:
He can get along with the other pets in the household, including cats, but it is still preferable that he grew up with them so that the cohabitation is harmonious.

The Dalmatian and other dogs:
Early and quality socialization must be offered to the puppy Dalmatian so that he can develop and reinforce his canine codes.

The meetings must be regular, always positive and if possible controlled to allow the puppy not to have bad experiences which could generate a possible fear vis-à-vis his peers later.

The Dalmatian and children:
It is a great companion for children, bold and courageous. He appreciates their presence and particularly likes to play with them, but they must still respect his tranquility and respect some rules of life and safety inherent in the dog/child cohabitation.

Some examples :

• Do not disturb the dog when he is in his basket

• Do not play with the dog without parental permission and supervision

• Do not let the dog climb on the sofa when the children are there

• Do not bicker with the dog (pull its skin, its tail, climb on its back, etc.)

• Learn to recognize the dog's warning signs (yawns, growls, “smiles”, nose licks, etc.)

The Dalmatian and the Elderly:
The strong character of this dog combined with his great need for expense does not allow him to be able to evolve serenely in a homemade up of elderly people. He needs available and athletic owners to take him running as often as possible.

Health

Resistant / robust:
Enduring, the Dalmatian is an active and fairly robust dog.

Withstands heat:
You must always be careful of sunburn for short-haired or close-cropped breeds whose coat is predominantly white. During the summer periods, it is, therefore, necessary to favor outings early in the morning and late in the evening and not to leave the dog too long exposed to the sun.

Tolerates the cold:
It is advisable to make the Dalmatian sleep indoors because his short and smooth coat does not give him significant protection.

Tendency to get fat:
Big eater, fortunately, the Dalmatian is a particularly athletic dog, which allows him to quickly eliminate the accumulated calories. However, beware of dogs that do not exert themselves enough, they could quickly get fat.

Common illnesses:

• The problem of deafness is characteristic of Dalmatians but nevertheless very limited thanks to the action of breeders

• Urinary stones and kidney disease ( familial nephropathy ) due to higher than average uric acid level

• Hip dysplasia

• Megaesophagus

Where To buy Your Dalmatian Dog

The price of a Dalmatian varies according to its origins, age, and sex. It takes an average of Rs 18,000 for a dog registered with the LOF. The highest lines can be sold for up to Rs. 25,000.

The estimated average budget to meet the needs of a dog of this size is around Rs.4000/month.

Average life expectancy: about 14 years

Notes and tips

He was made famous by the film "101 Dalmatians" but this popularity made him an "at-risk" dog due to an overproduction of puppies which were not always of excellent quality. It should therefore be purchased only from a specialized breeder.