Dalmatians have short coats and therefore should be low maintenance in the grooming department. However, they are known to shed copiously throughout the year which means they really do need to be brushed once a day using a grooming glove to keep loose and dead hair from being left everywhere around the home. With this said, because Dalmatians are known to suffer from skin allergies, care has to be taken as to what sort of products are used on their coats to keep them in good condition and this includes using a special dog-specific shampoo when they need bathing.
Being very active dogs by nature, Dalmatians need to be given the right amount of daily exercise which includes enough mental stimulation for them to be truly happy, well-rounded dogs. It would be hard to over-exercise one of these dogs given their stamina, but with this said a minimum of two hours a day would be acceptable. It is also best to take a dog out for a walk twice a day, once in the morning and then again in the afternoon making sure they are given a lot of mental stimulation throughout the day.
With this said, young Dalmatian puppies should not be given too much exercise because their joints and bones are still growing and too much pressure on them could result in causing a dog a few problems later on in their lives. If possible, puppies should be allowed to play outside in a garden for around 15 to 20 minutes a few times a day which should be enough to keep them fit and happy. It’s also a great time and place to start a young Dalmatian’s education.
If you get a Dalmatian puppy from a breeder, they would give you a feeding schedule and it's important to stick to the same routine, feeding the same puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet, but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upsets and if they do, it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change it again.
Older dogs are not known to be fussy or finicky eaters, but this does not mean you can feed them a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature dog twice a day, once in the morning and then again in the evening, making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It's also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories or they might gain too much weight which can lead to all sorts of health issues. Obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years so it's important to keep an eye on their waistline from the word go.
