Doberman Dalmatian Mix, also known as Dobermatian, is the offspring of the two popular purebreds, Doberman Pinschers and Dalmatian. Dobermatians have sweet personalities with moderate to high energy levels. These dogs have inherited a highly protective and guarding nature against their Doberman parents. As family dogs, they love to be around their family and will not do well if left alone for long. Additionally, while these dogs are aggressive, they will become soft, loving, and loyal companions with early socialization and training.
Table of Contents
Doberman Dalmatian Mix Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Loyal and great companions
Can be aggressive
Highly intelligent
Highly sensitive to a noisy or chaotic household
Does well with other pets in the house
Needs plenty of exercise due to high energy
Doberman Dalmatian Mix Basic Information
Name: Doberman Dalmatian Mix
Group: Mixed Breed
Height: 22 inches to 27 inches
Weight: 35 pounds to 100 pounds
Coat: Short, sleek, and easy-to-maintain
Color: Black or brown colored coats with fewer dots on the chest
English Coach Dog, Carriage Dog, Plum Pudding Dog, and Spotted Dick
Doberman Dalmatian Mix Personality
The Doberman Dalmatian mix is a large-sized breed that is alert, smart, loyal, fearless, and outgoing. Hence, these dogs make excellent watchdogs and family pets. They have a natural protective instinct inherited from their Doberman Pinscher parents. They are tall and muscular with triangular-shaped, pointy faces, square fleshy noses, and large ears. Their coats are short, sleek, and easy to maintain.
Dobermatians typically grow up to a height ranging between 22 inches and 27 inches. They weigh between 35 pounds and 100 pounds. These dogs love and are devoted to their family. However, as these dogs have great strength and agility, they are prone to aggressiveness. Therefore, if you are a first-time pet owner, you should avoid this breed. Moreover, these dogs are highly active and super-intelligent, so they must be mentally and physically engaged.
Friendliness Overview
Affection level
Medium
Family-Friendly
High
Kid-Friendly
Medium
Pet-Friendly
Low to medium
Strangers-Friendly
Medium
Adaptability Overview
Good for New Pet Owners
Low
Good for Apartment Living
Medium
Sensitivity Level
Medium to high
Tolerates being alone
Low to medium
Cold Tolerance
Low to medium
Heat Tolerance
Medium
Doberman Dalmatian Mix Temperament
The Doberman Dalmatian mix serves as a great companion and is fun-loving. As a result, they are friendly to strangers and are blessed with a good sense of humor. Still, these dogs require early socialization to get along well with children or other pets. Further, these dogs prefer to be in packs, so leaving them alone can lead to separation anxiety.
Doberman Dalmatian Mix Training
Doberman Dalmatian mixes are alert, enthusiastic about everything, and quick learners; hence are easily trainable. However, these dogs could become headstrong if not trained early. Additionally, firm and consistent training is required to subside their dominance which may lead to aggressiveness. To assert your leadership, get an appropriate headcollar for your pet. Follow a reward-based training method with positive reinforcement to help your pet enjoy the training process. You can also reward your pet with treats initially and then replace them with verbal praise; this avoids obesity. Additionally, you may have to house-train your pups to excrete outside your living premises. This training conditions them and ensures they follow a well-disciplined routine.
Here are a few dog interactive toys and products that you can use while training:
Dobermans belong to the working group, while Dalmatians are good runners with great stamina. Therefore, Dobermatians are highly energetic dogs demanding plenty of exercise to exhaust their reserve and stay healthy. Additionally, if these dogs are not tired, they may exhibit destructive behavior such as chewing, barking, or disobedience. Hence, exposing them to vigorous physical activities to match their exercise requirements is vital. For this reason, you may take them for long walks and hikes. They can also be made to wear backpacks while on intense hikes.
Further, inheriting their Dalmatian parent qualities, these dogs will enjoy fetching-related activities, such as sports like Dock dog, Disc dog, and hide and seek. You can also keep them mentally busy by including games such as scent tracking, treasure hunt, and puzzles. In addition, it is best to always exercise these canines on a leash or in a secure area.
Here are a few puzzles and dog toys to keep your pet engaged:
Nina Ottosson Interactive Treat Puzzle Game Dog Toys
Dobermatians have short and smooth coats like their parents. Moreover, they experience frequent shedding. To minimize shedding and enrich your pet’s skin and coat, you must bathe and groom him regularly once a week. In addition, it is vital to check and clean your pet’s ears regularly.
Dobermatians’ nails also have to be cut to prevent scratching and maintain the shape of their feet. Trimming the pads of your dog’s foot ensures his grip on various surfaces. It minimizes the dirt he carries into the house, keeping cracks and abrasions at bay. Anal glands should also be checked and expressed if they are full. Good dental hygiene is essential for a healthy pet.
Here are a few products and equipment to meet your Dobermatian’s grooming needs:
Generally, mixed breeds are less prone to health risks. But the presence of their parental genes may cause certain diseases in them. If your Dobermatian came from a reputable breeder, you would have a record of genetic health testing done on the parents. It will give a good insight into your pet’s health profile. However, a well-balanced diet, regular exercise, and vet visits ensure your pet’s wellness.
Health Overview
Basic Health
Low to medium
Weight Gain Possibilities
Medium
Size
Medium to large
Some of the health risks that Dobermatians are prone to include:
Hereditary Deafness
Deafness is prevalent in white-coated breeds. Dobermatians are prone to inherit deafness from their Dalmatian lineage. These may present as unilateral (deafness in one ear), which allows the animal to lead an everyday life, or bilateral (deafness in both ears). Dogs often require special consideration. The only reliable scientific test to detect deafness is the BAER (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response).
Urolithiasis
Dobermatians’ unique urinary tract system leads to the formation of urinary tract stones (Urolithiasis). These stones are formed from the salts of the uric acid from a Dalmatian’s urine. Therefore, these dogs’ urine constitutes uric acid instead of urea. The stones formed may be small or large. Smaller stones, also called gravel, may pass with the urine, but larger stones will lodge in the urethra. As a result, the urinary tract may be blocked entirely, and if this condition is not treated promptly, it will be fatal.
For this reason, sufficient water must be made available for your pet. Additionally, following a diet not high in peas can be helpful. During your vet visits, you can also ensure that your dog’s urine contains no urate crystals. There are a vast number of options available for treatment with the advancement in medical treatment protocols.
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat)
Bloat or GDV is a life-threatening condition prevalent in deep-chested dogs such as Dobermans. Dobermatians may inherit this condition from their Doberman parent. When bloat occurs, your pet’s gut becomes distended with gas and twists. This trapped gas hampers your canine’s ability to belch or vomit. This inability blocks the standard blood flow to the heart, causes a drop in blood pressure, and results in shock. If untreated, this shock could eventually lead to death.
Causes Of Bloat:
When they are fed more than one large meal per day.
They eat rapidly
Drink large volumes of water after eating.
Exercise vigorously after eating.
Symptoms of Bloat:
A distended abdomen
Excessive salivation
Retching without vomit
Restlessness
Depression
Lethargy
Weakness
Rapid heart rate
Hip Dysplasia
Hip Dysplasia is a heritable condition that occurs when the thigh bones don’t fit aptly into the pelvic socket of the hip joint.
Other Causes of Hip Dysplasia:
Injuries
Excessive weight gain
Wrong exercises
Symptoms of Hip Dysplasia:
This condition can exist with or without symptoms, and some notable signs may be present on one or both rear legs. They include:
Pain
Lameness
Treatment: X-ray screening for hip dysplasia, medication, and hip replacement through surgeries may also be preferred. This condition, if ignored, can be life-threatening.
Iris Sphincter Dysplasia
Iris Sphincter Dysplasia is an inherited disorder of the eyes, known to cause sensitivity to bright light, poor night vision, partial or total blindness, and cataracts. The prevalence of this condition and its treatments are being studied.
Cardiomyopathy
This condition occurs due to thinning and weakening of the heart muscles. It widens the heart chambers, causes an abnormally large heart, and causes heart failure.
Treatments
Fluid therapy
Oxygen supply
Medication
Von Willebrand’s Disease
This genetic disorder disturbs a dog’s ability to clot blood.
Symptoms
Extreme bleeding after surgery or injury
Nosebleed
Bleeding gums
Bleeding in the stomach or intestines
Treatment: Blood transfusion from a healthy dog is the only solution.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
The gradual deterioration of the retina of the eye marks the progression of this disease. Affected dogs exhibit symptoms of night blindness which slowly progresses to complete vision loss. However, most affected dogs adapt well to their limited or lost vision if they continue to reside in the same environment when they have eyesight.
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic condition. Affected dogs are identified by pink-colored skin and nose and blue or light eyes. In addition, albino dogs are sensitive to sunlight and can suffer from various other health conditions, including cancer and eye problems. Therefore, it is advisable not to breed albino dogs.
Hypothyroidism
This disorder occurs in dogs when their thyroid glands don’t produce enough thyroid hormones. This condition slows down your dog’s metabolism leading to epilepsy, hair loss, obesity, lethargy, dark patches on the skin, and other skin conditions. Proper medication and diet will help in alleviating this deficiency.
Wobblers Syndrome
Often found in Doberman parents, this inherited condition affects dogs through cervical vertebral instability or from a malformed spinal canal.
Symptoms:
Spinal cord compression
Neck pain
Paralysis of the legs
Surgical therapy is hotly debated because, in some cases, the condition can recur even after such treatment.
Color Mutant Alopecia
Color Mutant Alopecia is a condition that pertains to most Doberman dogs’ coats. It usually affects pets with blue or fawn coat colors. Although dogs affected by this disease have regular coats at birth, symptoms generally show up at four months to three years of age.
Symptoms:
Brittle hair
Patchy hair loss
Secondary infection
Inflammation
Treatment
The condition is incurable, but medicated shampoos may help reduce scaling and itching.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder in which a dog’s brain cannot regulate wake-sleep patterns. As a result, this condition adversely affects putting your pet to sleep suddenly.
Skin allergies
Dobermatians may be prone to skin allergies, and it may occur in three different ways:
Food-based allergies can be treated by following an elimination diet that eliminates suspected ingredients to which the dog may be allergic.
Contact allergies: These allergies are caused due to the adverse reaction of a dog’s immune system when it comes in contact with a topical substance such as bedding, flea powders, dog shampoos, and other chemicals. Removing the cause of the allergy reduces the symptoms.
Inhalant allergies are caused when your canine accidentally inhales airborne allergens like pollen, dust, and mildew. Treatment for these allergies depends upon their severity. Often, these allergies are accompanied by ear infections.
Eye Diseases
Doberman Dalmatian mix can be prone to these eye diseases:
Corneal damage
Dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca)
Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
Eyelid mass
Cataracts
Glaucoma
Cherry eye
Entropion
Recommended Health Tests
BAER test
Thyroid evaluation
Ophthalmologist Evaluation
Hip evaluation
Cardiac test
Von Willebrand’s DNA Test
Doberman Dalmatian Mix Diet and Nutrition
Doberman Dalmatian mixes are prone to hip dysplasia. Hence, their diet should include recommended levels of fish oil, glucosamine, and chondroitin. These ingredients strengthen your pet’s bones. Additionally, a diet rich in beta-carotene helps in improving your pet’s eyesight. Further, including probiotics in their daily intake enhances their immunity. Lastly, to prevent your pet from developing diet-induced cardiomyopathy, avoid a diet containing ingredients like legumes, peas, seeds, and potatoes. Generally, a raw food diet for your canine is an excellent diet. However, you can also feed them high-quality dry food, divided and served twice daily. In addition, overfeeding should be avoided to prevent obesity.
Here are the foods and supplements to meet your Dobermatian’s nutrition needs:
Doberman Dalmatian Mix is best suited for warm and tropical regions. However, their short coats make it difficult for them to adapt to cold climates. In addition, this breed might not be suitable for apartment living as they are highly energetic and may need plenty of space to run around and play. Dobermatians are also very sensitive to noise and cannot adapt to a clumsy environment. Hence, you must avoid this breed if you are a louder or more assertive owner.
Adding a Doberman Dalmatian Mix to Your Family
Things to Remember Before Breeding a Doberman Dalmatian Mix
Crossing two pure breeds like Doberman and Dalmatian can have a terrifying effect on the offspring. In addition, crossbreeding may pass on the parents’ health problems to their puppies. So, when crossing a Doberman and a Dalmatian, check their parent’s lineage and health records from a responsible breeder to avoid ending up with a weak hybrid pet.
