Before we ask once more, “How much do Dalmatians cost?” let’s learn something about this wonderful dog breed. There are several dog breeds in the world you recognize in the blink of an eye, and the Dalmatian is one of them. We’re used to them being white with black spots, but Dalmatians can also be a combination of the following colors:
White background with brown spots and white with lemon, blue, brindle, or tricolor spots. With their regal posture and adorable spotted coat, Dalmatians are breathtaking dogs everyone loves. However, they’re not dogs for everyone. Even though Dalmatians love being around people, they can get pretty demanding and exhausting.
Back in the day, Dalmatians were used to run alongside carriages to scare away highwaymen, hence their endless exercise capacity. If you’re an active person and love running, hiking, or cycling, you should bring your Dalmation along. They’re excellent companions and love activities like flyball and agility courses.
Besides being extra active, Dalmatians are also extra smart. You should start their training as soon as you can. It’s easy to coach dogs like the Dal, but you need some patience as they can be headstrong. A firm but consistent approach with lots of positive reinforcement always brings good results.
What you should be aware of when buying a Dalmatian is their health status. This dog breed is highly prone to deafness, which they can pass along to their puppies. Over 8% of the Dalmatian puppies are born deaf! Sadly, the Dalmatian Club of America recommends humane euthanasia for deaf puppies since their life as deaf dogs can be quite difficult.
Besides problems with hearing, Dalmatians are also prone to urinary system issues. Adult dogs need to have a special diet to prevent further health complications. You should avoid food rich in purine and opt for proteins from real meat like poultry. Learn more about this dog’s diet in our Dalmatian feeding chart.
Of course, always provide enough fresh water. If your puppy successfully avoids these issues, he can live a happy life with an average lifespan of 10 to 13 years.
Dalmatians are good family dogs, and they get along with kids and other pets if they’re socialized properly. They can be great playmates for kids! Since Dals need plenty of exercise, having your kids play with Dal puppies will drain all their energy, and you’ll have a satisfied dog at the end of the day.
Also known as firehouse dogs, the Dalmatian dogs are great family additions. Even though they’re not carriage dogs anymore, they’re still excellent watchdogs and protectors of their families. With the right combination of exercise, love, care, and amusement, your Dalmation will be a happy dog!
Factors Affecting The Cost Of Dalmatian Puppies
Raising any dog breed, no matter if it’s a purebred pooch or a rescue hound, requires funds, commitment, and care.
The initial price of the Dalmatian breed is quite affordable compared to other breeds like the Great Dane or Retrievers. However, the additional cost of bringing up a Dalmatian can add up to quite a sum. Here’s what factors affect the cost of owning a Dalmatian dog.
Breeder’s Reputation
Finding Dalmatian puppies in shelters and rescue groups is quite rare unless you’re okay with Dalmatian mixes like the Corgi Dalmatian. In fact, these dogs are a rare breed in the states considering they originate from Dalmatia, a region in Croatia. These energetic dogs have found their way into our hearts and into America. But, how do you get this firehouse dog in the States?
First, you need to find a Dalmatian breeder. Buying a puppy from a breeder does cost more money, but you get your money’s worth. Respectable and reputable breeders have high prices because they invest in the dog’s upbringing: from planning the litter to taking care of the mother, newborn puppies, and their needs until they are adopted.
Dal’s Bloodline
Dalmatian pups, just like all the other puppies, get their traits from their parents. With that being said, a Dalmatian puppy with excellent traits will come from a premium bloodline and champion parents. This affects their price on the market greatly. In fact, a good bloodline can mean the average Dalmatian price can double or even triple!
A Dalmatian puppy from champion parents may cost up to $5,000!
Coming from an excellent bloodline means the puppies will have a good temperament and will be able to master training without any issues.
AKC Papers And Certification
If you care about where your puppy comes from, you should ask your breeder for breed certifications. Many breeders conduct genetic tests to prove their puppies’ origin is authentic. The American Kennel Club (AKC) hands out these certificates. However, if you want to own these papers, you will need to pay for them!
Health Screenings
Dalmatians are prone to breed-specific illnesses. These issues include hereditary deafness, skin allergies, and even hip dysplasia.
To guarantee that a puppy is free of these problems, breeders use diagnostic tests, which of course, cost them some bucks. When you buy your dog, these costs will then be added to the puppy price.
Don’t think these tests are just additional fees no one needs. Instead, see them as an investment for you and your dog’s relationship.
You don’t want to be bombarded with unwanted health issues in the long run. Remember that prevention is always better than cure.
Additional Treatments
White dogs are lovely, but they come with huge responsibilities. You have to keep them clean and avoid any parasites and pests on their gorgeous white coat. Responsible breeders will do their best to remove ticks and fleas, which will be added to the initial price.
Also, many breeders will perform deworming. However, you should not look at this as a burden. These treatments are actually an investment in your dog’s health.
Types Of Dalmatian Breeders
Even though the Dalmatian breed is a bit rare, you’ll still find plenty of Dalmatian breeders in the States. Thank you Disney for 101 Dalmatian movies!
But, you should always be careful who you choose. A lot of breeders are not the best option because they follow unethical procedures when breeding and bringing up puppies.
Puppy Mills
Dalmatians are a very popular dog breed that often gets exploited by puppy mills. So, what are puppy mills? They’re businesses that produce puppies of all breeds and sizes on a massive scale. They don’t offer proper care for the puppies, their parents, or their general well-being.
These businesses focus only on the quantity, not the quality. They only care about profit, so don’t expect to see them run health screenings.
Puppy mills may tempt you into buying a puppy from their facilities since they offer Dalmatian puppies for a fourth of the original price. Usually, puppy mill Dalmatian puppies go for $200 or $300. If it seems too good to be true, then it is! An inexperienced dog lover may fall for this con and buy a puppy from a puppy mill thinking they got a good deal. In fact, they’ll be buying a puppy with health issues and end up spending way more money over the years than they would have spent on a puppy from a reputable breeder.
Besides, buying from puppy mills only supports their cruel approach.
Backyard Breeders
Backyard breeders are a better choice than puppy mills, but they’re still not terrific. If you don’t want show-quality pups, you can buy from a backyard breeder. These people don’t have the necessary certificates for their reputation and years of experience.
In most cases, these breeders are faced with an accidental Dalmation pregnancy, which has resulted in new puppies. A lot of them can’t handle extra dogs and are willing to sell them for a price of $300 to $500.
Truth be told, their intentions are good, but it doesn’t change that they have little to no experience as Dalmatian breeders. These dogs need to go through proper socialization and health screenings. It’s something most of these breeders can’t handle.
If you’re willing to settle for a puppy with a questionable origin, you can buy from backyard breeders. They’re still better than puppy mills, but they’re not as good as reputable breeders.
Reputable Breeders
Reputable breeders are experts in breeding Dalmatian puppies. They know everything about these purebred dogs and are the best source of information on handling Dalmatians. In addition, no one will provide better pre-ownership care for Dalmatian puppies than these breeders. You can rest assured your puppy will go through all the necessary screenings and get certifications.
Dalmatian puppies from reputable breeders can cost between $500 to $1,000. If you’re looking for a premium puppy, the price can go as high as $5,000!
Average Initial Dalmatian Cost
Now that you know the answer to the question, “How much do Dalmatians cost?” it’s time to crunch some numbers and see how much the average cost of owning a Dalmatian is. Your new puppy will need things for a happy life, including proper nutrition and going to the vet.
Here’s an average calculation of the essentials your Dalmatian puppy will need:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Top Grade Food | $60 |
| Initial Dog Insurance Fee | $50 |
| Dog License | $10 |
| Beds | $50 |
| Toys | $30 |
| Bowls, Harnesses, Leash | $100 |
| Treats | $35 |
| Initial Veterinarian Visit | $100 |
| TOTAL COST | $435 |
Average First Year Expenses For Owning A Dalmatian Dog
Owning a dog isn’t something to be played with. Besides love and care, dogs need food, a place to sleep, toys, and other dog accessories.
The first year with your Dalmatian puppy will come with higher expenses. But, as the years go by, you will need to invest less in dog food bowls, harnesses, and brushes. If you get high-quality products, you can expect them to last you a lifetime. At least if you buy from a responsible breeder, you will save money on medical bills if there are health problems.
Let’s see an overview of expenses you can expect in your first year of owning a Dalmatian. Remember, these are only average numbers, and items may vary from brand to brand.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Dalmatian Puppy | $900 |
| Vet Check With Vaccine | $160 |
| Pet Insurance | $160 |
| Dog License | $10 |
| Training Classes | $300 |
| Doggie Items (Dog Bed, Chew Toys, Shampoo, Collar, Harness) | $300 |
| Medical Exams (Xray and Emergency) | $100 |
| Flea, Tick, and Deworming | $80 |
| Treats | $420 |
| Food | $720 |
| Spay/Neuter Costs | $150 |
| TOTAL COST | $3,300 |
The first year is always rough in so many ways. You should prepare your budget for costs that can double or triple what you expect. However, there are some tricks that can help you save some money.
Professional dog training is not required. Sure, dog training is important, whether it’s obedience training or potty training. But, you don’t need to see a professional dog trainer to train your Dalmatian puppy.
In fact, these dogs are quite intelligent, and training them is a delight!
You can pay for a few lessons to learn some tricks on dealing with your Dal puppy. Or, you can borrow some dog training books or look for courses online. Even though puppies have short attention spans and high energy levels, they’re still more trainable than you think.
Professional grooming is not a must. Same as professional training, visiting a professional groomer is really not a must.
Dalmatians do shed a lot, but once you establish a grooming routine at home, you’ll see that grooming them and keeping their coat and teeth clean is easy.
Of course, you can always visit a grooming salon, but why waste money on those treatments when you can invest in great Dalmatian dog grooming brushes and combs that will last you a lifetime?
Cheap pet insurance. Pet insurance can be as low as $50 a month. If you buy from a responsible breeder, you can be sure your puppy shouldn’t have any major health issues. However, if you’re getting a Dalmatian from an animal shelter, there are high chances your dog could develop health problems that demand immediate treatment.
There are numerous pet insurance programs out there, from cheap ones to incredibly high ones. You should pick according to your preferences.
How Much Do Dalmatian Puppies Cost Monthly?
Yes, you might have observed that the first-year expenses were fairly high, but it does lessen with time. On my Dalmatian journey, my monthly fees only consisted of food, treats, and insurance payments. The total costs are shown here:
| Item Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Two bags of dog food | $120 |
| Pet insurance fees | $10 |
| Treats and additional expenses | $40 |
| TOTAL COST | $170 |
Dalmatian puppies are highly active. Even when they grow up, they demand lots of exercise to deplete that built-up energy. With that being said, it’s natural for Dalmatian puppies to eat more food than other dog breeds. They should be fed up to 4 times a day to support proper development.
Two packs of dog food should be enough, and the amount will decrease as your puppy grows up. Dalmatians need special dog food that’s low in purine since they’re prone to developing health issues like bladder stones or kidney stones. Avoid foods that contain lots of organ meat as the first ingredients and opt for pure proteins from real meat.
As you can see, monthly grooming expenses are not factored in. The reason is because Dalmatians don’t really get dirty that often. Their coat seems to be dirt-repellent. Once you buy good Dalmatian grooming brushes and some sensitive shampoos, you will be able to get by with light weekly grooming and bathing once a month. As for their ears, since they’re floppy, use cotton pads and a mild, pH-neutral cleaner.
Additional Expenses For Your Dalmatian
There are always additional puppy costs that you should be ready to face. You may or may not need these services, but it would be good to have some money saved to take care of it. In fact, all Dalmatian owners should have extra cash just in case since they’re quite sensitive pooches.
Dog daycare service. We get that you want a dog, but we also get that you need to work. Leaving your dog alone for too long is not a good option. Dalmatians are active dogs, and they need their daily dose of exercise to stay fit.
The best-case scenario for them would include you working from home, so you can take them for a walk any time they need. But that’s pretty far-fetched. Instead, you can hire a doggie caretaker or walker who will keep your dog busy while you’re not there. Try choosing a reliable person, maybe a friend, that will play with your Dal. It should be someone your dog already knows, so he doesn’t have problems getting used to the fact that someone else walks him.
Travel and shipping fees. Travel and shipping fees are usually at the start of your journey. Sometimes, when breeders are far away, they can arrange a delivery service or ship a puppy to you.
Still, this is something you should only use if it’s really necessary. It’s better to visit the breeder’s facilities in person and meet your dog, its parents, and the person who takes care of the litter.
Remember, only opt for this option if you can’t find a responsible Dalmatian breeder in your area.
How Much Do Dalmatians Shed?
They usually have a short coat, but Dalmatians still shed heavily all year long. They require regular brushing, 2 to 3 times a week, and monthly bathing.
Here’s a tip to save money instead of wasting it on professional groomers: buy good grooming products and build your kit. This will cut the Dalmatian cost and expenses in half, and you’ll be able to create a bond with your puppy as you groom him.
How Much Are Long-Haired Dalmatian Dogs?
Photo from: @mae.the.longhaired.dal
Short-haired Dalmatians are more common than long-haired ones. This is a unique and rare dog breed, and their long-haired versions are as rare as unicorns.
Be that as it may, long-haired Dalmatian dogs are lovely dogs every dog owner would love to have! They can cost anywhere from $600 to $1,200. Their cost isn’t too different from the standard Dal’s. It’s the heritage that affects the dog’s price
Final Words
So, how much do Dalmatians cost?
As you can see, their initial price can be high, but the overall cost of owning a Dalmatian isn’t too bad. If you’ve got a healthy Dalmatian, you shouldn’t experience pricey vet bills. That’s why buying from a reputable breeder matters. The initial price can be high, but you’re investing in the future. If you buy from puppy mills, you’ll only end up with a puppy in poor health, and that’s just sad.
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