Animal register · DogIn the app
Dalmatian
Carriage Dog, Spotted Coach Dog, Firehouse Dog
The Dalmatian comes from Croatia; the FCI lists it among the breeds related to scent hounds. Its short, shiny coat is pure white with clearly defined black or liver (brown) spots, and the standard asks for spotted ears. The FCI gives a height of 56–62 cm for males and 54–60 cm for females; the PDSA gives an average weight of 18–27 kg.
The Royal Kennel Club recommends more than two hours of exercise a day and brushing once a week, and says the breed sheds and suits a large house and garden. The PDSA calls Dalmatians great pets for active households that are better suited to older children, need company and should never be left alone for more than four hours; it lists deafness among the breed's health problems and notes that a BAER hearing test exists.
Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).
Updated:
At a glance
- Size
- large — The Royal Kennel Club S429
- Adult weight
- males 18–27 kg, females 18–27 kg — PDSA S430
- Daily exercise
- more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S429
- Brushing
- once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S429
- Shedding
- sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S429
Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.
Who it suits
The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.
What it needs
From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.
Exercise
- Daily exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S429
Coat and grooming
Meals
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Lifespan
Life stages
- Reaches adult size at: about 12–15 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Size and weight
Training
Questions and answers
Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.
How much exercise does a Dalmatian need?
According to our sources, the Dalmatian needs this much exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S429.
How long does a Dalmatian live?
According to our sources, the lifespan of the Dalmatian is: median 13.2 years — Dogs Trust S123; more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S429. The sources give different values, so each one is listed.
How big does a Dalmatian get and how much does it weigh?
Size and adult weight of the Dalmatian, according to our sources: Size: large — The Royal Kennel Club S429; Adult weight: males 18–27 kg, females 18–27 kg — PDSA S430.
How much grooming does a Dalmatian need?
Coat and grooming of the Dalmatian, according to our sources: Brushing: once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S429; Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S429; Coat: short — The Royal Kennel Club S429.
Who is the Dalmatian a good fit for?
Our sources describe the Dalmatian as a good fit for: an active family — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S429S430; a large house and garden — The Royal Kennel Club S429. Keep in mind: needs lots of exercise every day — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S429S430; large dog — not for homes with small children — PDSA S430; loves company — best with someone home most of the day — PDSA S430; sheds — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S429S430.
Game rules, not veterinary advice
How PetPrep simulates it
In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.
| Life stage | Starts | Meals a day | Daily step goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy | arrives at 2 months | 4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 2 | 1,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 12,000 from month 12 |
| Young dog | month 9 | 2 | 9,000 → 12,000 steps |
| Adult | month 36 (3 years) | 2 | 12,000 steps |
| Senior | month 119 (9.9 years) | 2 | 9,000 steps |
- Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 2 hours, so 12,000 steps a day.
- Learns commands 1.2× as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
- Becomes a senior in month 119 (9.9 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
- Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
- Combing once a week.
- Care: trimming the nails every 4 weeks — a task for the child.
Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S123S429S431
Health
For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.
- Deafness in one or both ears occurs in the breed; puppies' hearing can be checked with a BAER test. — PDSA S430
- Bladder stones, collections of minerals that form in the bladder and urine, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S430
- Skin allergies (atopy), which cause itching and sore skin, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S430
- Epilepsy, a brain disorder that can cause seizures, occurs in the breed. — PDSA S430
- Hip dysplasia, a poorly developed hip joint that can lead to arthritis, occurs in the breed; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips scored. — PDSA S430
Before you buy: what to check with the breeder
Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.
For every breed
- See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
- The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
- Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
- Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
- National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
- Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10
Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.
Health tests of the parents for this breed
Other screening schemes for this breed
These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.
Similar breeds
Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.
Sources
Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.
- S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
- S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
- S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
- S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
- S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
- S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
- S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
- S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
- S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
- S123Dogs Trust (UK) — Life expectancy for 155 breeds and crossbred group (table of McMillan et al. 2024 data) (PDF)https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/downloads/life-expectancy-breeds-table-2024.pdf
- S428FCI — FCI-Standard N° 153 — Dalmatian (EN PDF, date of publication of the valid standard 13.10.2010)https://fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/153g06-en.pdf
- S429The Royal Kennel Club — Dalmatian — breed page (older address; key facts, Breed Watch, health testing)https://thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/display.aspx?id=4087
- S430PDSA — Dalmatian breed informationhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/large-dogs/dalmatian
- S431PetMD — K. Arford, reviewed by B. J. Morrison, DVM (updated Feb. 16, 2023) — Dalmatianhttps://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/dalmatian
- K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
- K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
- K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
- K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
- K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy
- K28American Kennel Club — Non-Sporting Group Health Testing Requirements (breeder programs)https://www.akc.org/breeder-programs/breed-health-testing-requirements/non-sporting-group-health-testing-requirements/
PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.
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