Anonymous wrote:For a first time dog owner you sure picked a hard breed.

+1

OP, you are setting yourself up for a nightmare.

OP, people are reacting this way because you have picked a difficult breed and getting two puppies at the same time also has problems. Dalmatians are hard dogs. They're very high energy, and don't have the drive to please that some dogs breeds do. I have a rescue dog right now that's a Dalmatian mix and he's the hardest dog to train I've ever had, and I'm an experienced dog owner who likes high energy breeds. Great dog, and there's a lot to love, but not easy.

Here's what I suggest:

1) Learn to clicker train. These high energy dogs can be worn out by mental stimulation as well as physical; in fact, in some ways I think 20 minutes of hard mental work does more than 20 minutes of running at the park. Teach the dogs tricks, mix it up, make the dogs work for everything.

2) Nothing In Life Is Free should be your code from the very beginning. Want to go outside? Sit first. Want to eat? Look me in the eyes first (I teach all my dogs the "look at me" command.) Etc. Anything the dogs want, they need to ask you for by doing something first.

3) Have your kids feed the dog from the start, and have them make the dogs do a command before they get their food. Have the kids take the food away in the middle of eating so that the dogs know that the kids have that ability.

4) With kids, I'm a fan of crate training because it gives the dog his own space away from the kids. I don't even bother closing the door to the crate now.

5) You're going to need to learn your local offleash places and take them their as soon as their recall is good. Nothing burns off energy like playing with other high energy dogs.


Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a first time dog owner you sure picked a hard breed.

Yeah Dalmatians are a nightmare, and they die young.

They really are. Good luck OP!

Jesus, no kidding. Terrible with kids and bite.

I can't believe a first time dog owner would get TWO Dalmatian puppies. Unreal.

Another thing to keep in mind is you can't go running distances with puppies, you have to wait until they're older as it can be too much on their young joints. Focus on playing and walks as exercise at first and gradually ease into running with them when they get bigger.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP,

1. Calm down because dogs sense emotions extremely well. Tell everyone to be calm and confident.

2. Think. There may be several good options for every situation. Use your common sense before you freak out, because see 1.

3. An excellent book which is often recommended is the Monks of New Skete about raising puppies.

4. Know that exercise is key to raising a healthy and well-behaved dog. First solution in the case of misbehavior is more exercise, always.

5. Crating is an American thing. In Europe we rarely crate dogs. Do what you think is best, this is an example of a situation where you actually won't traumatize your dog.

6. Feed them quality food, but not too much.

7. Insist on perfect obedience to simple commands. They should never think of themselves as top dogs. Never be on furniture. Never pull at the leash.

That's about it. Enjoy your wonderful pets, you lucky dog, you!

Monks of New Skete has some good stuff but they recommend physical discipline -- hitting your dog -- which is awful.

Insisting on perfect obedience with puppies? You've got to be kidding me. Well, I guess if physical discipline is your thing.

You know that obedience training is a process. At the end of it, a dog should be perfectly obedient. So they won't be young puppies anymore.
And I don't advocate hitting - but that book is a useful starting point for OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a first time dog owner you sure picked a hard breed.

Yeah Dalmatians are a nightmare, and they die young.

They really are. Good luck OP!

Jesus, no kidding. Terrible with kids and bite.

What a bunch of assholes on this thread. Good luck OP, and enjoy your new puppies!

and more... When young and far more active with kids etc we had american field lab and that mixed with english labs. Now as an older person English lab is better for me but would certainly be fine for your children which is what you should be thinking about.

Anonymous wrote:I have never ever had a dog in my life. DH has but I have a feeling since I'm home I'm primary caregiver.

So they are coming in 5 weeks. They will be 16 weeks old. They will be spayed/neutered, have shots, be house trained.

What do I need? What food do you suggest? How many toys do they need? Can they share a bed?

I keep getting conflicting advice from the breeder and the vet.

I looked up some stuff and saw crate training, it seems mean to me. Is it mean or is it necessary?

Obedience training is a must correct? What other training if any is necessary?

Anything specific about this breed?

I am a runner, I do know this breed is good for runners. Anyone have experience with this?

DH is excited, kids are excited. I need help but I'm excited too.

Dalmations http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/dalmatians.html

2 pups 16 weeks old is unusual. Most pups go at 8 weeks and you meet the puppy first. Breeders have puppy open house after a series of shots usually at about 6 weeks. Then you go back at 8+ and they match you with an available puppy out of the non-show homes. If they feel a pup you wanted is far better for say a family with children the breeder will not let you have the pup.

Have you met the breeder? Seen the pups? Mom? Dad is commonly NOT on site. How much do you run? Marathoner or a couple of miles per week. Large barrier fenced yard? 1/2 acre minimum for the breed? Invisible fence might not work on the breed as well as on a lab.

Why not look at american field labs?

Anonymous wrote:
OP,

1. Calm down because dogs sense emotions extremely well. Tell everyone to be calm and confident.

2. Think. There may be several good options for every situation. Use your common sense before you freak out, because see 1.

3. An excellent book which is often recommended is the Monks of New Skete about raising puppies.

4. Know that exercise is key to raising a healthy and well-behaved dog. First solution in the case of misbehavior is more exercise, always.

5. Crating is an American thing. In Europe we rarely crate dogs. Do what you think is best, this is an example of a situation where you actually won't traumatize your dog.

6. Feed them quality food, but not too much.

7. Insist on perfect obedience to simple commands. They should never think of themselves as top dogs. Never be on furniture. Never pull at the leash.

That's about it. Enjoy your wonderful pets, you lucky dog, you!

Monks of New Skete has some good stuff but they recommend physical discipline -- hitting your dog -- which is awful.

Insisting on perfect obedience with puppies? You've got to be kidding me. Well, I guess if physical discipline is your thing.

Buy kongs, chew toys, chuck it, tug ropes, bully sticks and so much more. With my 1 puppy, I was at the pet store constantly getting toys, treat balls, etc. to keep her busy.

Feed them by hand and make sure they understand having a gentle mouth - important before they go through the real teething stage getting new teeth.

Ian Dunbar has many training videos on youtube and Dog Star Daily http://www.dogstardaily.com/raising-a-puppy

You really should get 1 puppy and then in a couple years, consider another as a companion!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a first time dog owner you sure picked a hard breed.

Yeah Dalmatians are a nightmare, and they die young.

They really are. Good luck OP!

I would not take in two puppies from the same litter, it's a recipe for disaster. Google littermate syndrome, it sucks.

Get Ian Dunbar's book "Before and After Getting Your Puppy"

Register for puppy training classes with a cpdt to start as soon as you can, the younger the better.

It actually does sound like a joke, sorry to say. Training 2 puppies will be confusing, praising one and scolding the other - they won't understand.