Families with young children might want to wait until their kids are about eight years old, or look to another breed. He might need training but he could also be deaf. There are significant health issues common with Dalmatians. Between 25 and 30 per cent of all Dalmatians have a hearing impairment ranging from slight deafness in a single ear to complete deafness. Having a deaf dog requires an even greater commitment but it can be very rewarding.
Breeders routinely euthanize completely deaf dogs, but hearing-impaired dogs are still sold.
Special Food Dalmatians are the only dog breed that process protein in a special way. Healthy Dalmatians tend to live a good life span of about 14 years. Dalmatians have smooth coat requiring little grooming. However, they do shed constantly. They tend to have little or no odour.