About Dalmatians
Dalmatians are an active breed that have historically been used as coach dogs. This entailed running alongside the carriage and when it was stopped, guarding the carriage and horses. Dalmatians have also served as firehouse dogs. The first "fire trucks" were horse-drawn, and Dalmatians were used as stable dogs and station mascots. Although fire trucks are no longer horse-drawn, Dalmatians remain associated with fire stations.
Dalmatians are extremely intelligent and it's important to give them training in manners and obedience.. They are not a breed that you can bring home and ignore! If not given the proper training, they can get bored and start to exhibit problem behaviors in order to entertain themselves.
If you aren't up to providing your dog with plenty of exercise, a Dal is not the breed for you! Dalmatians are a very active breed and needs to be given the opportunity to exercise. Daily walks, playing fetch, swimming, and runs at a local park (within a fenced area) are all good ways to exercise Dalmatians.
While Dalmatians are well-known for their striking coats of white with black or liver spots, there's more to Dalmatians than just looks! Many Dals enjoy competition obedience, agility, and other dog sports. Some Dals work as therapy dogs, visiting hospitals and nursing homes while others do search and rescue - and of course, there are Dalmatian service dogs!