If you grew up watching Disney’s 101 Dalmatians, you probably fell in love with that dog and might be a thing of getting one when you grow up. However, in order to adopt or get a dalmatian, there are lots of things that one should consider before buying one.
The first and foremost thing that you must need to know is the cost of purchasing a dalmatian. They cost anywhere from $300 to $1000 dollars. They need lots of training, socializing and playing with their owner. For food, they need a special diet that is low in purine. Keep them away from chemicals and smoke.
For many of you cost might not be an issue and some might be wondering what they eat, do I need a bench or house for the pet and many more questions might be hitting your head at the moment.
But don’t worry, in this article all your queries for getting a Dalmatian will be resolved.
What is the cost of a Dalmatian puppy?
List of stores/kennels with prices
| Store/Kennel | Price |
| Dalmatian Nation | $600,- |
| Kay’s Kennel | $950,- |
| Yvette Gamez | $300,- |
| Paradise Spots | $900,- |
| Dalmatians | $1000,- |
The Cost of Dalmatian varies from place to place and according to their breed also. It depends upon many factors including the lineage of the puppy, breed popularity (Demand and supply), size of dog/puppy, training, socialization efforts, breed lines, reputation, and much more.
However, you must consider a few things before making your final decision. Firstly, you must know that it is imperative to find a reputable breeder for a Dalmatian.
If you finally decided to get a puppy, then you must search for good breeders in your location. Look for someone who understands the breed and provide you with all the paperwork necessary for your state regarding owning a dog.
Don’t get fooled by money-making stores who don’t have any love and affection for dogs. They focus on selling and overbreed their dogs. When you find a store like that, spend a little time and look for client history and reviews about them before buying. Make sure to get your Dalmatian from a reputable and reliable breeder.
What Dalmatian Breeders to Avoid
- Doesn’t offer any paperwork
- Selling younger than 12 weeks old puppies
- Won’t let you see the location
Doesn’t Offer Any Paperwork
You should avoid getting a Dalmatian from Breeders who don’t have an AKC registration. Although this does not ensure that the puppy is born in a loving environment, it is imperative. When you buy a dog, there is some paperwork involved with it, and if they are not registered, they can’t provide you with those legal documents.
Selling Younger Than 12 Weeks Old Puppies
The dog needs to spend time and with its mother when it is born. If the breeder is selling a young pup who is younger than 12 weeks, then you must avoid that store. A dog needs care, milk, and affection from its mother when they are born. So, look for Dalmatian elder than 12 weeks.
Won’t Let You See the Location Where the Puppy was Raised
Many breeders show the people looking for buying a Dalmatian where they were raised and tell them about the feed and care. It gives you a better idea of how to take care of them and what precisely the pup needs. You can interact with the seller about any other queries related to the dog. However, if the breeder you choose isn’t aware of all these things, then you better find another one.
Where to find a Dalmatian Puppy
There are so many ways you can find the perfect Dalmatian for your family. You are required to search a little and make a few decisions including age, breed, location, and breeder. Here are some ways you can try to find:
- Online web dog store directories
The best place to explore stores and find the perfectly suiting one is from the internet. You can browse the store near and reachable from your location from online dog store directories and contact the store. You can have a talk with them and tell them your requirements and if everything matches visit them. Make sure to visit the store first before buying.
- Dog clubs and shows
Every year or quarterly dog shows are held at different places around the USA. You can pay a visit to one of those events and find a reputable breeder. Talk to people who have Dalmatian and ask them where they get their dog. They can guide you through and give you some important tips also. Moreover, dog clubs can help you find a good Dalmatian breeder in your area.
- Ask other Dalmatian owners
If your neighbors, relatives, or friends have a Dalmatian, you can ask them about the store they have bought the pup from and ask the needful. This is probably the easiest and reliable way to find a kennel.
- Bulletins boards for pet stores
You can find them through fliers and bulletins boards in your area. Many pet stores advertise through newspaper fliers and have bulletins boards.
How To Take Care Of a Dalmatian Puppy?
Dalmatians are highly energetic, lovable, and athletic dogs that are well-suited for families. If you are a thing about owning a Dalmatian, you need to take care of it like a baby and must know what measures you should consider for that aspect. Following are some things to take care off, when you own a Dalmatian:
- Feeding your Dalmatian Puppy
- Exercise your puppy
- Socialize your Dalmatian pup
- Brush your Dalmatian’s coat daily to control shedding
- Train your Dalmatian early and consistently
- Monitor his health regularly
Feeding Your Dalmatian Puppy
Purines are a great choice when it comes to feeding a dog. However, for Dalmatians, it is not advisable to give purines. They are a type of protein that is not good for Dalmatians and must be avoided. You can feed your Dalmatian with low purine food that is easily available without prescriptions.
Egg-based food products are right for them as they have a low level of purine in it. Besides, avoid beef and organ meat, including kidney and liver as they are very rich in purines. Instead, you can feed your dog with a proper quality diet, including eggs, poultry, and lamb.
Make sure to restrict the protein food products even more, if your dog has a bladder stone. Moreover, many human food items are toxic to all dogs, and you must avoid giving it to your Dalmatian. List of the food items restricted is as follows:
- Grapes
- Currants and Sultanas
- Cherries
- Apricot
- Rhubarb
- Apple pipes
- Unripe Tomatoes
- Macadamia nuts
- Mushrooms
- Onions and Garlic
- Green and raw Potatoes
- Artificial Sweeteners
This is a lists of things you should not feed your dog as they are toxic for them and can be a cause the formation of kidney stones. Dalmatians are highly prone to allergies, so you must take care of the diet.
Exercise Your Puppy
Dalmatians are athletic, playful, and full of energy. If you won’t let out that energy your Dalmatian will become destructive and annoying. You must take out each day to play and exercise with your dog. By doing this, he won’t only be able to release all the energy out, but he will be joyful also. Here are some tips for engaging your Dalmatian into playful activities to make him exercise daily.
- You are not required to take out a hefty amount of time; just 30 minutes are enough for exercising your Dalmatian. Also, break the whole exercising time into smaller segments for rest.
- One of the great ways to play with your Dalmatian is to teach him new tricks like fetching, grabbing paw, rolling over, and playing dead.
- You can also create an obstacle pathway for him to run through and jump over in your backyard.
- Also, you can give plenty of toys to play with your Dalmatian.
- Make sure it allows you to play one-on-one with you. And if you own a puppy, wait until 15 to 18 months before taking it for a run.
Socialize Your Dalmatian Pup
Dalmatians are an amiable and lovable dog, and they also tend to adapt quickly to new places, situations, and people. So, socialize him and let him meet new dogs, people, and take him to parks for a walk. This is an excellent way to keep him joyful, energetic, and socialize. Therefore, socialize him every time to get a chance. Moreover, it will help to encourage good behavior and correct the bad one. Socializing your Dalmatian is an essential part of the correct upbringing.
Brush Your Dalmatian’s Coat Daily to Control Shedding
Dalmatians have a very eye-catching and different look that easy to let everyone fall in love with. Though, do not get too swayed with your dog’s looks as it will shed hairs a lot. As a matter of fact, Dalmatians shed throughout the year. And in order to manage the shedding, you must brush your Dalmatian once a week properly.
You can use different grooming tools to remove dead hairs, including slicker brushes and curry combs. Although the breed has a short coat but shed continuously and can litter a lot of white hairs all over your place. Also, a soft rubber brush is a fantastic grooming tool. Besides, you can wear a grooming glove to perform the brushing process as your Dalmatian will shed a massive amount of hair.
Moreover, brushing your Dalmatian is a great way to spend time and bond with him. In addition to brushing, you also need to bathe him, brush his teeth, trim his nails, and clean his ears. Dogs have solid nails, and people can get hurt by them quickly because of the sharp edges. So, to avoid scratching people’s skin, you must cut your dog’s nails once a month. Follow the following for perfectly groom your Dalmatian.
- Brush his hair once in a week
- Use nail clippers for nails and cut them once in a month
- Brush his teeth two-three times a week
- Clean his ears if they are smelly
- Bathe them as often as you brush like every week
Train Your Dalmatian Early and Consistently
It is advisable to start training your Dalmatian as early as possible because as puppies, they will begin to look up to their owners and obey them. You can start with obedience training initially. Start with little things like if your Dalmatian is chewing your footwears than redirect him to eat bones and so let him know that chewing shoes is unacceptable. You can train your dog in the following ways:
- Train your dog at home
When you bring a new puppy home, you should take him outside for relieving himself after every 1.5 hours. It will help him to follow a strict schedule to poop outside. It will help you train him, and you can do that if your Dalmatian is 15 to 19 weeks of age. You can also reward your dog with some treats every time he hints you for the bathroom and goes outside for it. - Enroll your Dalmatian into a training center
Taking yourself to a puppy kindergarten is a great way to train him. It will help your dog to socialize, and that will make him mature into a well-mannered adult dog. He will learn how to interact with other dogs appropriately. In addition, it will help expose new places and situations. If your dog is more than 18 weeks older, then enroll him in obedience training where he can learn some basic skills including sitting, walking, and sitting. - Crate training
Dalmatians do not like to spend time alone; they love to be surrounded by people. They could be destructive if left alone. Do consider crate training your Dalmatian if you leave your dog home and want to return to your home and seeing everything intact. Crate training is extremely beneficial for your dog as it helps him to see his place as safe and refuge, rather than punishment. A dalmatian can stay in a crate for about 8 hours. However, cut short these hours to around 2, if you have a puppy. Dogs beyond six months older can be kept in a crate up to 8 hours. Although, avoid doing it on a regular basis as Dalmatians get bored quickly. You can make the crate comfortable with different treats, comfy blankets, playful toys, that will encourage your Dalmatian to stay for a more extended period. Eventually, he will go into the crate, willingly seeing all the stuff inside.
Moreover, if you are going outside for a long time, then don’t forget to place some food and water inside the crate.
Monitor his health regularly
One of the most important things you should do on a regular basis is to monitor your dog, especially while he is a puppy. There are many things to take care of, let us have a look:
- Schedule regular veterinary visits
A puppy needs proper vaccination and deworming medication; that is why you must schedule regular veterinary appointments. Your puppy should start receiving vaccinations when he is six weeks of age. Whereas, deworming medications start from 2 weeks of age and to be taken until 12 weeks older. Though vaccinations for puppies are generally parvovirus and rabies veterinary might recommend a few more according to the area you live in. - Monitor your Dalmatian urinary problems
Urinary health of your dog is of utmost importance, and you must monitor your dog for it. If you notice anything unusual related to it, you must visit the veterinarian. Besides, give your dog plenty of freshwater to drink to maintain good urinary health. - Learn about deafness issues in Dalmatian
Dalmatians are genetically susceptible to deafness; they can be either deaf with one ear or two ears. Even, 8% of Dalmatians are born deaf, and around 25% are deaf in one ear since birth. If you encounter deafness in your dog, you must take him to the vet for a professional checkup. However, the puppies should be at least five weeks old for performing the deafness test. - Regular checks on his skin
Dalmatians are prone to allergies and can develop many different ones if not taken care of properly. Firstly, you should remove the source of treatment as that will be enough for curing it. For example, if your dog is allergic to some food product, then you can cure it by avoiding feeding him that. If you think that the allergy symptoms are unusual or the skin of your dog becomes red, then you must consult a veterinarian.
What to avoid with a Dalmatian Puppy In House?
Having a Dalmatian at home is just like having a new-born baby. You must be conscious and avoid a few things that can turn out to be dangerous for the Dalmatians. Keep your dog away from any chemical and poisonous substances to keep him safe. As we discussed above, they are prone to allergies and can fall sick quickly when encountering toxic things. Make sure to avoid the following:
Powerful Household Cleaning Chemicals
The floor or toilet cleaners we use at home have toxic and harmful chemicals in it. So, you must keep them in a safe place that your dog can’t reach. Also, you can do one thing, buy environmentally-friendly and natural products that can cause no harm to your dog. Top cleaning ingredients that are harmful to your dog, and you must check before you buy such products are:
1 Ammonia
You can find ammonia in-floor cleaner, oven cleaner, scrubs, carpet cleaner, and drain cleaner. It is considered a respiratory irritant that can be extremely harmful to your dog. If they breathe in too much of it, they can get respiratory tract problems.
2 Chlorine
In almost every sanitizing and cleaning product, including disinfectants, dishwasher, and detergents. This will be present in every corner of your home and can cause respiratory problems in dogs. It can cause dizziness, mucous membrane damage, vomiting, and lightheadedness when ingested or inhaled.
Avoid using products containing these ingredients or avoid using them in the presence of your pets.
3 Smoke
Even dogs suffer from a similar illness from smoke like humans does including cancer and lung diseases. You must keep all the vaping and nicotine devices and cigarettes away from your pets. Although many devices, including vaporizers, e-cigarettes, e-hookah, don’t contain tobacco and emit smoke, they still hold a potential threat to pets. Make sure to avoid using these devices in the presence of your pets, and if you always do, ensure the place is adequately ventilated. If you think or suspect any symptoms in your pet of any exposure to smoke, contact a professional for help.
4 Houseplants
It is so fun to walk a dog in the park or outside your home. However, it can be dangerous also as there are plants in the park. Some plants can be poisonous for dogs. Many plants use in landscaping can be harmful to your Dalmatian, including oleander and sago palms. Not only the leaves and stems but the roots, bulbs, and seeds of plants like hydrangeas, peonies, and tulips can be harmful to your dog.
Even some fruits can be hazardous for them, including grapes, cherries, and raisins. All these contain toxins that can harm your dog.
5 Windows and Balconies
Windows and balconies are dangerous places for pets as they run the risk of ingesting a toxic plant, burned by balcony barbeque and most commonly falling. However, it doesn’t mean that balconies are off-limits. You can avoid such mishaps by due diligence and a few precautions. Falling from balconies is the most common risk and can cause severe injuries to the dog. Therefore, always be around when the dog is in the balcony.
6 Human Medicines
Medicines must be stored away and not in reach of your dog. Studies have shown that veterinarians, every year, witness thousands of cases of the dog swallowing a toxin substance. Many pet owners are not even aware of the fact of how dangerous a single human medicine can be for their dog. Symptoms of poisoning include digestive upset, vomiting, bloody stool, increased thirst, increased frequency of urination, and seizures. If you witness any of these, take your pet to the vet as soon as possible.
Where Should I Buy a Dalmatian Puppy From?
Many people who wish to get a dog, but get overwhelmed by the best options to choose from to get the dog. They generally get confused between getting the pup from a rescue shelter or a puppy store/breeder. Both have their pros and cons. However, it is best to buy from a breeder rather than rescue shelter.
How do you know if the breeder is good?
Let’s glance at some of the key points that indicate a reputable breeder:
- The best breeder will reserve the puppies before they even came to life.
- A good breeder will enquire about you and ask questions before selling the puppy.
- The reputable breeder will complete all the paperwork
- They will keep the puppies indoors not in kennels outside.
- They only breed one type of dog breed.
Get a veterinarian
You should have a veterinarian for you Dalmatian as your little puppy will require proper vaccinations and checkups. Dogs take a lot of time to get comfortable with vets. Therefore, you must have one go-to veterinarian for everything. Also, in case of an emergency, you can rush to the vet.
Housetrain Your New Pup
Every pet owner must house train their dog consistently and early. It will help to instill good habits in your Dalmatian if you engage him in daily training sessions. A dog gets obedience training when he is six weeks older so that he is habitual of pooping outside. Also, treat him every time he behaves well which will encourage his good behavior. Besides, you should take out at least 30 minutes from your schedule to train him and play with him.
How often does your pup need to go outside to do his thing?
Although an adult dog can hold it for as many hours as he wants to, you must take him out every one to two hours during a day. Whereas, a little three-month-old pup can hold up to only 4 hours.
How long will it take before your dog is housetrained?
All dogs are different, and some learn faster others are slow just like us. So, it depends on the dog to dog how much time they will take to get house trained. It takes approximately 4 -6 months for a puppy to be fully trained. However, some dogs can take up to a year. Most dogs can be successfully potty trained when they are 14 to 20 weeks older.
What equipment do you need to clean up after your dog, because accidents in the house will happen?
- Puppy pads. You can get puppy pads to avoid these accidents inside the home.
- Litter tray. You can use a litter tray to pick an indoor bathroom spot.
- Dog poop bags. Use the dog poop bags to clean up; you can either clean or roll up and throw away the poop.
- Pooper scoopers. A pooper scooper is a very effective tool for cleaning up all the mess without touching it.
Cleaning products. In order to get rid of the bad odor after accidents inside the home, you need an effective cleaning product.