I've heard that they are not very intellegent dogs and often get themselves killed in some freak way. But, I really love Dalmatians, they are so beautiful. Also, are they good with kids?
2006-12-07 16:49:48 · 10 answers · asked by IKnowWhoUAre! 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Thanks to the very popular 101 Dalmatians, this breed was over breed by every Tom, Dick, and Harry. They were pumped out to sell to all the boy's and girls. Unfortunately this led to VERY poor breeding. Aggressive and often snappish dogs. You can get good ones, rarely by luck, if that is what you want I would either reconsider or do a good bit of research and find a very reputable breeder.
2006-12-07 17:55:46 · answer #1 · answered by mrtryitall 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, they are ranked 39th (out of 70) as far as dog intelligence goes. Not so great. They are VERY high energy dogs, hyperactive describes them best. And any dog that is properly socialized can be fine w/kids, really. But a small kid could get accidentally hurt ( or trampled!) by an over eager or under trained Dalmatian. They are definitely work to own, say the people I have known that did. One of the dogs DID manage to get shot by the neighbors pellet gun, but he was fine after a vet trip. Not really a freak accident, either. The neighbors didn't like that dog, or his sister, much. Probably cause they were such idiotic dogs, due to barely any attention from the family that owned them.
2006-12-07 17:02:06 · answer #2 · answered by EileenNellie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot of Dalmatians are deaf for some reason and that is why people think they are not intelligent and they get killed.
Even if they can not hear they can still love you and the kids and live a good life. You just have to make sure they don't get out of the fence.
2006-12-07 16:58:09 · answer #3 · answered by myangelmyson 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can be good with kids if socialized correctly. They tend to get hurt because they are smart, high energy dogs and they will find ways to occupy their time if you don't give them something to do. They are bigger than most folks think too. Did I mention the high energy! They were bred to run alongside horse carriages-so they were bred to cover long distances at a fast clip and not get tired easily.
If you think they are pretty on TV, try to find someone who has a real Dal and meet it (dog shows are good for this). You may find that they aren't what you think they are. You can also go to the AKC website for breed info. Dal's have a high rate of deafness, so learn what to look for in picking a puppy. Deaf Dal's can still be a good dog-but they are a lot more work and require a great deal of the owner's time.
2006-12-08 02:29:52 · answer #4 · answered by VAgirl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I really don't know the answer and I starred for my contacts that may, but I would like to ask LVT Chick how long have you been and LVT. And do you know salmonella can be passed from one person to another through poor hygiene, by not properly washing hands after using the bathroom or after changing a diaper. And you do know that vets have been know to not just misdiagnose and over charge, but also encourage and recommend unnecessary surgery because lets face it, they are a business too. That is why they discourage raw feed because most of them want you to buy the dog food they sell out of their office. So who is to say and I am not making accusations here, but who is to say the vet you work for is not one of them! And everything "Dalmatian Appreciation" said are all valid points.
2016-05-23 05:43:24 · answer #5 · answered by Susan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ever since I was a young boy, I'd wanted a dal! But they are so big, and they need so much space...
then I met a breeder who has successively bred smaller and smaller dals. Just dal, 100% dal, nothing else. I now have a 'miniature dalmatian'... all the beauty, in 1/4 the size. because my breeder knew (or owned) all his ancestors, the pup is mellow, playful, not prone to genetic disorders, and the envy of the neighborhood!
2006-12-09 08:37:46 · answer #6 · answered by jake cigar™ is retired 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dals were originally bred as coach dogs, meaning that they ran along with horse-drawn coaches that travelled from town to town, miles apart. They had to have the stamina to run for miles on end, keeping pace with horses. In addition to having the stamina to run, they had to have the strength to do their main purpose in these runs.
Keep strange dogs from attacking the horses pulling the coaches.
This meant the Dals had to charge at dogs running out to bite the horses, drive the dogs off and catch back up to the coach that was still going down the road. Sometimes, the Dals had to actively fight off the dogs charging, meaning that Dals also have a tendancy towards being a very good fighting dog.
This ability of Dals is why they are known as the Firefighter's Dog. Firemen of old used Dals in their original purpose, protecting the horses that pulled the tanks of water that firemen used to put out fires.
If you intend to get a Dal and you have kids, you have to really do your research into this breed.
They are not the most intelligent of breeds, but aren't the dumbest. And, like any other breed, individuals might stand out, either by being more stupid or smarter than others.
In any case, Dals need a LOT of exercise. Before any training of a Dal starts, the dog needs to have a good, hard run, so their brain can be receptive to lessons.
As for freak ways of being killed, I haven't heard this myself. I have personally only had a lot of experience with one Dal. But the simple fact that this Dal lived a long life was pretty amazing. For several years, this Dal routinely broke out of her yard and ran. And ran and ran and ran. Her owners would chase her for miles through our busy town. It was amazing that she wasn't killed by a car or something else as she raced down the middle of the road, cut through yards...
I can see why you have heard that some Dals are killed in a freak way. It's because they race through situations that are extremely dangerous!
2006-12-07 18:14:09 · answer #7 · answered by Lori R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dalmatians are really playful dogs..i have one..!it grows too quickly..but a dalmatian would be nice as a companion..i think its good with kids also..because its very playful..but it would be nice if it is trained by its owner..it's intelligent also..and it likes to run..a lot..!dalmatians are really cute..
2006-12-09 00:35:59 · answer #8 · answered by butterfly lover 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to be careful with them. A large percentage of them are aggressive. Unfortunately when a breed is created strictly for color, sometimes undesireable traits can show up. If you are careful with your breeder though, and socialize them well they can be good with kids.
2006-12-07 16:55:10 · answer #9 · answered by skachicah35 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I dont know if they're good with kids or not, but experts say they have alot of energy. They need alot of exercise, running and big yards are nice.
2006-12-07 16:52:33 · answer #10 · answered by Emily 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋