Dalmatian

Temperament

The FCI standard describes the Dalmatian as pleasant and friendly, neither shy nor nervous or aggressive, as well as lively, loyal, independent and easy to train. It has great stamina and enjoys water and outdoor activities. The AKC gives it top marks for affection with family but only 3 for being good with young children: a young Dalmatian is strong, bouncy and can knock a toddler over in play. It is usually polite with strangers, though some dogs keep their distance and announce visitors by barking. Without enough exercise, it becomes mischievous and creative at destruction. Training goes well when it's varied and reward-based, because the breed quickly loses interest in repetitive drills.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Barking

quietvocal

With other dogs

difficultgreat

Protectiveness

lowhigh

Drooling

hardly anya lot

Cold tolerance

feels the coldexcellent

Heat tolerance

strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Dalmatian for?

The Dalmatian is a dog for an active person or a family with older children who run, bike or hike a lot and want a dog that won't be the first to tire. It does well in a house with a yard. We don't recommend it for people who are away most of the day, who mind hair on their clothes, or for families with very young children.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

The Dalmatian was bred to trot beside a carriage for hours, and it has kept that stamina. The Kennel Club recommends more than two hours of exercise a day, and the AKC suggests fetch, running alongside its owner on a bike or while jogging, and long hikes. Hold off on intense running until the dog is about two years old, because its joints aren't fully mature before then. The short coat needs brushing with a rubber mitt once a week, but Dalmatians shed heavily year-round, and the stiff white hairs weave themselves into fabric. Because of the tendency toward urinary stones, the dog must always have access to water and frequent potty breaks, and it's worth discussing diet with your vet. Check the ears every week.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Dalmatian has two problems built into the breed. The first is deafness: the AKC says responsible breeders test the hearing of parents and entire litters, and a dog deaf in one ear usually lives a normal life, while a dog deaf in both ears needs a special approach. The second is hyperuricosuria, an inherited disorder of uric acid excretion linked to the SLC2A9 gene. It affects nearly all Dalmatians except those from the LUA line, which descends from a cross with a Pointer, and it encourages urate stones. Otherwise the breed is healthy: the AKC gives 11–13 years, and in the McMillan et al. (2024) study the median was 13.2 years.

• congenital deafnessOccurs in the breed in one or both ears; puppies' hearing is checked with a BAER test.
• hyperuricosuria and urate stonesNearly all Dalmatians excrete excess uric acid, which encourages stones in the urinary tract.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The Dalmatian's origins are debated. The FCI names Croatia, and the AKC notes that by the early 19th century the breed was already closely tied to Dalmatia on the Adriatic coast. The UK Kennel Club points out that Thomas Bewick was the first to use the name “Dalmatian,” in 1791, and that in England similar white, spotted dogs ran alongside carriages and guarded passengers and cargo. In the Regency era, a Dalmatian trotting beside a coach was a status symbol, and at night it guarded the stables. The AKC recalls that in the days of horse-drawn fire engines, Dalmatians began accompanying firefighters. The FCI recognized the breed in 1955.

Fun facts

• According to the AKC, Dalmatian puppies are born without spots, which appear only later.
• The FCI standard puts the ideal spot size at 2–3 cm across, or about 2 cm in liver-spotted dogs.
• The old nickname “Spotted Coach Dog” preserves the breed's original job.
• Dogs from the LUA line have a Pointer ancestor many generations back and don't excrete excess uric acid.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Large dog breeds
• Hunting dog breeds

Sources

1. 1FCI standard nr 153 – Dalmatyńczyk (Dalmatinski pas)fci.be
2. 2FCI – nomenklatura, Dalmatinski pasfci.be
3. 3AKC – Dalmatianakc.org
4. 4The Kennel Club – Dalmatianthekennelclub.org.uk
5. 5Genomia – test hiperurykozurii (SLC2A9) u psówgenomia.cz
6. 6McMillan i wsp. 2024, Longevity of companion dog breeds, Scientific Reports (tab. S3)nature.com

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.