Is it vital that dalmations get 2 hours of exercise a day?  Only we have a very large garden so the dalmation could be supervised out there and also have an hour long country walk every day.  Would this be sufficient, as we would love to bring one into our family but we do not want it to be unhappy? Advice from other owners would be appreciated. 

My four get about an hour and a half every day (broken into two walks), with free run of the garden as well. It takes my husband about an hour to do the 3½ mile circuit with them in the morning, and I do a shorter walk in the afternoon (they'd like a lot more!).

Of course only adults would be given this - pups need much less of course, and they need to be built up gradually.

Hi Guest

I have a Dalmatian and he gets an hours free running a day.  If you are starting off with a puppy, then you would not need this amount of exercise until he/she is fully grown.

I do try and play or train him for some mental stimulation each day too. 

He is perfectly content with an hours run, a very comfy bed and his food. Of course I like to think I play a small part in his well being too. ;)

If you are looking for a puppy, make sure you go through the breed club where breeders will have them BAER hearing tested.

A couple of links you may find helpful

http://www.britishdalmatianclub.org.uk/

http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk/toc/index.html

Sandra not all members of the breed clubs do have them BAER hearing tested so guest ask them.  It is not a requirement of the clubs to do so and there has recently been a very heated discussion on this on the BDC forum IMO it should be but they wont make it compulsory due to the lack of testing centres. 

I give all mine a hours free running and if they are looking a bit slack I do add a second walk per day.  If you buy a puppy it will adjust ot the amount of excercise you wish to give it.  Thomas was terribly thin and we only ever walked him every other day due until he bodied up now he goes the same as the others.  I think a hour a day is more than sufficient.  ;)

>not all members of the breed clubs do have them BAER hearing tested

I didn't know that.  I thought it was compulsory if you were on their puppy list.  It certainly should be.

Thanks for that
Sandra