Many owners feed lamb and rice foods. Dalmatians can be deaf. Responsible breeders will have hearing tested the puppies as well as the parents. A Dalmatian can be unilateral hearing, that is, normal hearing in one ear and deaf in the other. A unilateral Dalmatian is perfectly acceptable as a pet.
Dalmatians require early, motivational, consistent training.
Puppy kindergarten and basic obedience are highly recommended. Dalmatians can be independent thinkers and even when well-trained may occasionally offer a behavioral challenge. Dalmatians require regular exercise so a fenced back-yard is an absolute necessity. The activity level and size of a Dalmatian may not make it an ideal choice as a companion for toddlers. In general, Dalmatians do well with older, well-behaved children.