When a Great Dane is crossed with a Dalmatian, the resultant puppies are called the Great Dalmatian. The Great Dalmatians have a characteristic gigantic appearance. However, they are loyal, loving, devoted, friendly, and affectionate pets who are excellent watchdogs. These dogs may inherit their size from their Great Dane parents. In contrast, the dalmatian parent contributes the spotted markings on their body. Despite their massive size, they are only moderately active, which means these dogs don’t require strenuous exercise and have a calm disposition.
Table of Contents
Great Dane Dalmation mix Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Excellent Watchdogs
Prone to separation anxiety
Have a calm disposition
Known to be hard-headed
Easy to train
Unsuitable for apartment life.
Great Dane Dalmation mix Basic Information
Name: Great Dane Dalmation
Height: 19 to 32 inches
Weight: 60 to 100+ pounds
Coat: Short, thick, fine/smooth coat
Color: Black, White, black, blue, brindle, liver, lemon, or tricolor (With Some Spots)
Unknown (named after a region in Yugoslavia, Dalmatia)
Height
Males: 30 to 34 inches Females: 28 to 32 inches
19 to 24 inches
Weight
Males: 120 to 200 pounds Females: 100 to 130 pounds
48 to 55 pounds
Size
Giant
Medium
Group
Working dogs
Companion Groups
Children-friendly
High
Medium to High
Family-friendly
High
High
Pet-friendly
High
Medium to High
Barking level
Medium to High
Low to Medium
Shedding level
High
High
Hypoallergenic
No
No
Grooming needs
Low
Low
Overall health
Medium to High
Medium to High
Energy
High
High
Exercise
High
High
Trainability
High
Medium to High
Activities
Watchdogs, companion dogs
Watchdogs, Companion Dogs
Complication in Breeding
No
No
Litter size
6 – 8 puppies
6 – 9 puppies
Life span
8 – 10 years
13 – 16 years
Other names
German Mastiff or Deutsche Dogge
Carriage Dog Spotted Coach Dog Leopard Carriage Dog Firehouse Dog Plum Pudding Dog
Great Dane Dalmatian Personality
Being a hybrid, the Great Dane Dalmatian will have an unpredictable personality as its physical characteristics are dependent on the parental gene expressed in the puppy. On the other hand, they may also resemble either one of the parents closely. The Great Dals can become very tall and weigh when they are fully grown. Like their parents, these dogs will inherit a short coat with black, white, or brindle colors with distinct spots due to the Dalmatian parent’s influence.
Friendliness Overview
Affection Level
High
Family-Friendly
High
Kid-Friendly
High
Pet-Friendly
High
Strangers-Friendly
High
Adaptability Overview
Good for New Pet Owners
Low to Medium
Good for Apartment Living
Low
Sensitivity Level
Medium to High
Tolerates being alone
Low
Cold Tolerance
Low to Medium
Heat Tolerance
Medium
Great Dane Dalmatian Temperament
Since the Great Dane and the Dalmatian are pretty friendly, social, intelligent, brave, and loyal, the Great Dalmatians also inherit these characteristics. Deriving their size from Great Danes and alertness from Dalmatians, they make excellent watchdogs. Blessed with a gentle and patient demeanor, these dogs have moderate exercise requirements.
Additionally, they are neither active nor sluggish, which makes them happier at home. Nonetheless, they are very affectionate towards their pet parents, which makes them prone to separation anxiety. Hence, they shouldn’t be left alone for more than 4 hours. Despite their large size, these dogs are friendly toward kids and other pets. However, they should be monitored when left alone with small kids and pets to avoid accidents.
Great Dane Dalmatian Training
With a pleasing personality and intelligence, these dogs are pretty easy to train. However, housetraining them may be challenging as they are quite headstrong and sensitive. To negate their stubbornness, they have to be trained from early puppyhood using reward-based positive reinforcement techniques. You can use treats, praise, and other rewards to make them happy. This way, you can encourage good behavior in them. On the contrary, they shouldn’t be shouted at or scolded as they don’t respond well to these methods.
Additionally, it is vital to socialize the Great Dane Dalmatians to avoid their rebellious or aggressive behavior. Socializing will ensure your dogs behave well with strangers and other dogs. Considering their love for physical challenges, you can grab the opportunity to socialize them in dog daycares or parks.
Trainability Overview
Easy to Train
Medium to High
Intelligence
Medium
Prey Drive
Low to Medium
Tendency to Chew, Nip & Play-bite
Medium to High
Tendency to Bark or Howl
Low to Medium
Wanderlust Ability
Medium
Attention/Social Needs
High
Great Dane Dalmatian Exercise Needs
When compared to their Dalmatian parents, the Great Dane Dalmatians aren’t highly active dogs. Hence, they have to be taken for moderately long walks and hikes to prevent obesity. Further, these physical activities reduce their energy level and avoid destructive behavior. Additionally, you can mentally stimulate them for a few hours with interactive toys that can be filled with delicious treats.
Exercise Needs Overview
Energy Level
Medium to High
Exercise Needs
Medium to High
Playfulness
High
Intensity
High
Great Dane Dalmatian Grooming
Coat:
Since the Great Dane Dalmatians are short-coated and don’t collect matter or debris, they can be brushed once a week to prevent shedding. However, they have to be wiped daily using deodorizing wipes and bathed once or twice per month to maintain their hygiene and health.
Nails:
The Great Dane Dalmatians are prone to overgrow their nails which can break, causing pain and infections. Therefore, their nails have to be trimmed once every couple of months.
Teeth:
Your canine’s teeth have to be brushed regularly with dog-formulated toothpaste. This way, you can ensure your pup doesn’t develop periodontal diseases.
Ears:
To prevent the occurrence of ear infections, wipe your dog’s ears with a cotton ball dipped in pH-balanced ear cleaner weekly once.
Grooming Overview
Amount of Shedding
Medium to High
Tendency to Drool
Low to medium
Tendency to Snore
Low
Easy to Groom
High
Great Dane Dalmatian Health
Although Great Dane Dalmatians are healthy, they are predisposed to specific health conditions. Additionally, they may also inherit certain genetic diseases from their parents. Therefore, you need to know the health concerns that affect both parents.
The Great Dane Dalmatians may be susceptible to the following health conditions. They include:
Bloat (Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus)
Bloat or GDV is a severe condition prevalent in deep-chested dogs like the Dalmatians. When bloat occurs, your pet’s gut becomes distended with gas and twists, which hampers your canine’s ability to belch or vomit. The inability to puke blocks the average return of blood to the heart, causing a drop in blood pressure and leading to 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 and is
Excessive salivation.
Retching without vomit
Restlessness
Depression
Lethargy
Weakness
Hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a heritable condition that occurs in dogs when the thigh bones don’t fit aptly into the pelvic socket of their hip joint. This condition may be prevented by supplementing your dog’s diet with glucosamine or chondroitin.
Other Causes of Hip Dysplasia:
Injuries
Excessive weight gain
Wrong exercises
This condition causes defects or injuries to the hip bones, and joints and worsens without treatment.
This condition is caused due to the thickening of the eye lens, leading to cloudy vision in dogs. Although it occurs primarily because of their age, you can treat this condition either with medications or surgery.
Hereditary Deafness:
Deafness is prevalent in white-coated breeds. Great Dane Dalmatians are prone to inherit deafness from their Dalmatian parent. These may present as unilateral (deafness in one ear), which allows the animal to lead a normal life, or bilateral (deafness in both ears) dogs often require special considerations. The only reliable scientific test to detect deafness is the BAER (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response).
Urolithiasis:
The Dalmatians have a unique urinary tract system which leads to the formation of urinary tract stones. These stones are formed from the salts of the uric acid that comes from a Dalmatian’s urine. 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, sometimes 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 that is low in purines can be helpful. You can also ensure that your dogs’ urine doesn’t contain any urate crystals during your vet visits. There are a vast number of options available for treatment today with the advancement in medical treatment protocols.
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 may cause a widening of the heart chambers, an abnormally large heart, and heart failure in dogs.
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: Currently, blood transfusion from a healthy dog is the only solution.
Wobblers Syndrome:
This is an inherited condition that affects dogs through cervical vertebral instability or from a malformed spinal canal.
Symptoms:
Spinal cord compression
Neck pain and
Paralysis of the legs.
Surgical therapy is hotly debated because, in some cases, the condition can recur even after such treatment.
Skin allergies:
Dalmatians may be prone to skin allergies, and it may occur in three different ways. They include:
Food-based allergies: This can be treated by following an elimination diet that involves eliminating suspected ingredients for 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: These 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.
Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is an abnormal production of cells that leads to the breakdown of bones in dogs. They are more prevalent in large breed dogs.
Signs of osteosarcoma:
Lameness or swelling
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Reluctance to walk or play due to pain caused by a tumor on the bone.
Health Overview
Basic Health
Medium to High
Weight Gain Possibilities
Medium
Size
Medium to High
Great Dane Dalmatian Diet and Nutrition
Great Dane Dalmatian dogs love food which makes them overeat and leads to canine obesity. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain their diet as per their individual requirements and feed them 2 to 5 cups of high-quality raw dog food every day. However, this has to be divided into two or three equal meals. Additionally, avoid giving them treats to prevent obesity.
Since these dogs are prone to orthopedic issues, their food should contain a good supply of glucosamine and chondroitin. For their skin and coat health, they will need probiotics and wild Alaskan salmon oil.
Great Dane Dalmatian Living Condition
Great Dane Dalmatian has a massive stature, making them unsuitable for an apartment lifestyle. These dogs require a house with a fenced backyard that gives space for these large breeds to roam and play. Their short coats make it difficult for them to adapt to cold climates. They may also be quite sensitive to noise and struggle to adapt to a noisy environment.
Things to Remember Before buying a Great Dane Dalmatian
As a to-be-pet parent, you need to consider the size of this dog as his maintenance can be quite expensive. Additionally, these dogs are crossbreeds and are rarely bred. The best choice is to buy from a respected local breeder who guarantees the health and happiness of both the parents and the puppy. For a vaccinated dog, the breeder should give health clearance certifications as well as gene testing. It would be ideal if you could pay a visit to the puppy’s parents. You’ll receive a healthy puppy while also learning about the parents’ traits.
Cost of a Great Dane Dalmation mix Puppy
Despite the challenge to affix a price for this new breed, you may have to pay between $400 and $2000 for a puppy which may vary based on the location and the breeder.
