Confessions of a Dalmatian

Hello Readers!! Many of you write in asking about Gatsby. My 105 pound Dalmatian. Is he a good dog? He is so cute, should I get one? Do Dalmatians make a good dog? Well, I am not an expert by any means, but I do have my opinion when it comes to getting a Dalmatian. Especially now that Disney is remaking 101 Dalmatians.

First of all, Gatsby has his own personality. He likes who he likes and I can’t change that. Gatsby is very loyal, he even smile every morning I get him up! 🙂 Out of any breed of dogs I’ve had (labs, shepherd’s, chihuahua) Gatsby by far has the most personality. He is very affectionate and loves to play. That being said, Dalmatians are very active. He gets bored easily, and as a puppy required constant supervision around items. I found even taking him on long walks as a puppy hardly wore him out! He was constantly wanting to run! To train him I got a vibration collar, as Gatsby is very stubborn. However, one I got that it worked amazing and he quickly learned.

Dalmatians are very smart dogs. They remember things and love to be involved. Gatsby knows how to sit, stay, lay down, and other commands. Will he always listen? No, but that’s Gatsby! I will say Dalmatians are a hard dog breed because they require a lot of your time and energy. Gatsby is like my kid and all my spare times is dedicated to him. It has to be because he requires it.

What I fear most is the release of 101 Dalmatians because yes they are really cute puppies. But what a lot of people don’t release is how much work they require. A lot got placed up for adoption or send to shelters after the first launch of the movie. Owners forget Dalmatians require patience, especially in a family environment since they like who they like. You can’t punish them for it.

Now, what some readers noticed was Gatsby has a patched ear. He is also partially chocolate with black spots too. Every Dalmatian is unique. Did you know that? I didn’t until I got him. That every Dalmatians spots are different and they never stop getting spots! Pretty Cool I think!

Was Gatsby a hard puppy? Yes. Does he require a lot of exercise? Yes. Does he need supervision? Yes. Am I required to dedicate my spare time to him? Yes. Gatsy requires a lot and if you are not willing to do that or can’t, I would recommend thinking hard before getting this breed.

I LOVE Gatsby, but he requires a lot of energy. It is rewarding because he is a huge member of my family. But what people do not realize is you need patience.