Have you ever heard “I want a puppy” when watching a dog-themed movie with your kids? Have you then tried to ignore their request only to be smothered in constant demands for a dog? What should you do, especially if not just any puppy will do? The puppy they want has to be just like the one in the movie.
If the movie you just watched was “101 Dalmatians,” you might be hard-pressed to know if your kids want a puppy to show you how responsible they are or if they just want to save a Dalmatian from the evil clutches of Cruella de Vil.
Before you give in and decide a Dalmatian could make a perfect dog for you and your family, do your research. Otherwise, when you bring your new dog home, you might be in for a few unwelcome surprises.
Dalmatians are a very active, social dog breed. They can make great family pets, but might get too energetic for children under five years of age. Always on the go, Dalmatians are a good fit for active (and willingly involved) older children and teens. Being people-oriented dogs, they require almost constant contact. As such, they aren’t really stay-in-the-yard dogs. However, they do well as both indoor and outdoor companions.
These delightfully spotted dogs are intelligent and quick to learn, but can also be stubborn, requiring consistent dog training. Every family member needs to be on board with this to ensure your Dalmatian gets the proper training he/she needs. Doing so also helps strengthen the bond between each family member and your new dog.
Fortunately, Dalmatians tend to build loyalty quickly to their new family. However, they aren’t great with strangers. Dalmatians are not a “love everyone” type of dog. Still, the more positive interactions they have with strangers, the easier it will be to teach them to accept newcomers.
After doing your research, you should be able to finally find that puppy at a local animal shelter. Dalmatians can be fantastic family dogs. They are energetic and loyal, and love to play. While they can be a bit too much for smaller children, Dalmatians love running around with the older kids in the backyard.
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