We bought our dal bitch 1 month ago, we have had to let her go to a professional owner. She was very aggresive with her biting, it was not puppy biting. she would bite us and dig her teeth in and not let go unlike puppy biting she was not playing she was serious. She also would not settle in our home no matter how comfortable we made it for her she would constantly walk from room to room, even thgough we played with her regularly through the day.
We later found out that she was not home reared and unsure if this was her problem. My sister is considering buying a dal pup next year and is unsure if all pups are like this or was it just her. Can anyone advise me as we are desperate to find out what we did wrong with our little girl?

Hello,

Dalmations are not an easy breed, they are a very active dog and unfortunately because the puppy farmers have got hold of them, there are some out there with VERY dodgy temperaments. :(

I don't think you did anything wrong, it was just the wrong puppy, bought up the wrong way and in the wrong home (no offence!!).

If your sister wants to get one, I would suggest she contacts some breeders and chats with them, go and see adult dogs both in the home and at shows. Go and speak to the Dalmation people at Discover Dogs in November at Earls Court in London if you can, they will usually have lots of info for you.

Do LOTS of research not only about the breed, but also about the breeders and make sure you buy from someone who has owned the breed for a long time and really knows them well. Make sure she explains (honestly) what she wants the dog for, how much time she has, exercise regime etc etc and listen to what the breeder says.

DON'T buy from someone who keeps the dogs in kennels, these dogs are very likely to have missed out on socialisation and behaviour training.

DON'T get the puppy under 7.5 weeks old and MAKE SURE the puppy was NOT taken away from it's mother too young. If you do and if they are, they NEVER learn bite inhibition or doggy manners and she will have the same problem you have had.

DON'T buy from someone who has lots of bitches of breeding age and some of their own stud dogs, these are the people who are breeding for money and won't care what the breed together or who the puppies go to. Make sure they know their pedigrees and genetics as dalmations do suffer from producing a few deaf puppies, be careful of this as well!!

Good luck and please be careful!!!

manda
x

Hello

I have a dalmation dog i bought him for my daughter for xmas he is 2 now and i have found him to be very loving he is just starting to settle down as he is a very playfull dog he wants to be on the go at all times . having a few problems at the moment he has some sort of allergy which is causing him to lose his hair .tell your sister to go for it you seem to have been unlucky in buying the other one and i can assure you they are very loving and faithfull dogs and they have no problem in letting you no when they want your undivided attention :)