Planning on being owned by a Dalmatian?
Being owned by a Dalmatian can provide you with an experience you will never forget! These dogs are very loyal and loving, friendly and down-right silly! They are the clowns of dogs.
These spotted doggies are extremely energetic, playful and at times can be overly intelligent (ask me how I know this!)
Where they differ from your average dog is in the care and feeding they require in order for them to live a healthy and happy life. It is very important that you do *not* feed your dalmatian a high purine diet or you could be putting your beloved friend in jeopardy! In fact, a vegetarian menu is preferable. (Ours eat Nature's Recipe Vegetarian - available at PetsMart.
If you have nevered owned a dog before, research them well and prepare to spend your evenings at dog school as it is absolutely vital!
As I said before, a great deal of RESEARCH should be done to find out whether or not this breed would truly suit you and/or your family's lifestyle. Dals require lots of exercise and demand a great deal of attention from their owners. Without attention, they can become easily bored, lonely, *very* destructive and suffer from separation anxiety.
Most dogs will start to settle down at 18 months, but with a Dalmatian you must be prepared to survive the first three years! However, if you are the right person, having a dalmatian in your life can lead to great happiness and a love like no other! They are such wonderful animals who will give you many years of pleasure (a lifespan on average of 14yrs), enjoyment and companionship, not to mention the exercise, exercise and more exercise!
It is important to note that you should not really consider owning a Dal unless you are willing to commit to a longterm relationship and their traits match your lifestyle. Dalmatians can be quite demanding (picture a 2 year old child) and owners must be responsible dog parents. Be prepared to invest a lot of time with your "child".
