Dog care - Clean the ears regularly

Clean the ears regularly with an ear cleaner recommended for use on dogs. Use cotton swabs to remove any loose dirt and note any redness or inflammation to be looked at by a veterinarian.

Dalmatian - Dog Lover

Dog care - Dry the dog completely after every bath

Dry the dog completely after every bath. Skin conditions can occur on a dog if it is not properly dried off after bathing. Check the Dalmatian’s skin condition both during bathing and drying. Any redness or flea dirt should be treated immediately or looked at by a veterinarian.

Dalmatian - Dog Lover

Dog care - Bathe a Dalmatian no more than every 8 to 12 weeks

Bathe a Dalmatian no more than every 8 to 12 weeks unless a situation arises that warrants giving a bath sooner. Use a quality shampoo and conditioning treatment for best results. If a medicated shampoo is used, be sure to leave it on for the recommended time.

Dalmatian - Dog Lover

Dog care - Go back to short walks and playtime at the park

Go back to short walks and playtime at the park for Dalmatians over 6-years-old. Hips can start to become sore after a very short period of play but, again, this breed will not stop until it is safely home.

Dalmatian - Dog Lover

Dog care - Jog with a middle aged Dalmatian

Jog with a middle aged Dalmatian (3 to 6 years old) or engage in vigorous walking to give the dog a sense of accomplishment and companionship. Watch the dog closely because a Dalmatian will not give in to tiredness or pain until its owner is home safely and at rest.

Dalmatian - Dog Lover

Dog care - Exercise a young Dalmatian

Exercise a young Dalmatian (under 18 months old) by playtime and short walks on soft surfaces. Dalmatians are eager to please and keep up with their masters, especially on long walks or runs. Sometimes they will run beyond what their young bodies can tolerate and will exhaust themselves.

Dalmatian - Dog Lover

Dog care - Brush the Dalmatian puppy’s teeth everyday

Brush the Dalmatian puppy’s teeth on a regular basis, everyday if possible. For the best results, a quick brushing after every meal will keep your puppy’s teeth healthy and strong throughout its lifetime.

Dalmatian - Dog Lover

Dog care - Provide fresh water for your puppy at all times

Provide fresh water for your puppy at all times. Puppies need to stay well hydrated to keep up their energy levels. The provision of fresh drinking water is almost as important as food for active puppies.

Dalmatian - Dog Lover

Dog care - Split feedings into two sessions to prevent a build up of uric acids

Split feedings into two sessions to prevent a build up of uric acids. Any build up of uric acids in the Dalmatian’s system can lead to kidney stones or other medical problems.

Dalmatian - Dog Lover

Dog care - Feed a Dalmatian puppy a diet low in purines

Feed a Dalmatian puppy a diet low in purines. Choose a dog food with ingredients of corn, wheat and rice, in that order. Chicken can be included, but not ever when listed as one of the first two ingredients.

Dalmatian - Dog Lover

Owner guide - Know that dalmatians can suffer from deafness

Know that dalmatians can suffer from deafness and should be tested at six weeks of age, prior to purchase. Deaf dalmatians may be aggressive. Dalmatians are also prone to urinary stones and skin allergies. Talk to the breeder to find out what type of screening has been done for these health problems.

Dalmatian - Dog Lover