Obedience training will help make him an excellent watchdog and family companion. Caring for the Dalmatian is relatively simple. He is odor-free and with his short coat, bathing is necessary only occasionally. Because of his short coat, he should be housed indoors, not exposed to extremes of temperature. Children and dogs are a natural, and children and Dalmatians can be an exceptionally good combination.
Dalmatians thrive on the activity associated with children in a normal, busy household.
With the Dalmatian's exuberant personality and his athletic ability, he is well-suited to a variety of activities. They also excel in many of the other performance activities, including tracking, obedience, scent hurdle, fly-ball, and road trials. There are also activities for Dals in herding, lure coursing, hunting, and pet therapy. As with any breed of dog, there are a few health-related issues with Dalmatians. Dalmatians have a unique uric acid metabolism.