The Dalmatian has a rather obscure origin. There is evidence to support that the Dalmatian was originally birthed in either the British Isles, Europe, North Africa, or Asia which is a very broad range of locations. By the 1800s, Dalmatians were generally associated with the region Dalmatia, located in central Europe near the Adriatic Sea, which is where this breed got its name from.
The Dalmatian has always been a working dog, from shepherds, to war dogs, to retrievers, to a bird dog, and even to circus dogs! However, it’s most well-known role was as a coach dog. As a coach dog, Dalmatians were responsible for trotting alongside horse-drawn carriages and guarding the vehicle when left unattended.
While commonly associated with the French, the Poodle actually originated as a duck hunter in Germany over 400 years ago. In German, “pudelin” refers to the splashing in water that the dogs would do to retrieve waterfowl. The Poodle’s curly, weatherproof coat as well as its natural swimming ability and high intelligence made it an excellent retriever.
Eventually, Poodles made their way from the lake to the life of luxury as they were the breed of choice by French nobles, and eventually royalty across all of Europe. To this day, the Poodle is still the national dog of France. The entertainment industry then caught on to the Poodle’s showy looks, intelligence, and ease of trainability and gave them a prominent role in circus acts across the world.
While the Poodle started out as the “standard” variety, eventually the miniature and toy variations were bred. The Toy Poodle started in the United States in the early 20th century to be a city-dwelling companion dog. Due to the many positive personality traits and its hypoallergenic coat, Poodles are now commonly bred with a wide variety of other breeds to produce the “designer” hybrid dogs known and loved by many as “doodles.”
Dalmadoodle Breed History:
Much like Pomapoos, ShihPoos, and others, the Dalmadoodle is a fairy new breed of doodle. The exact origin of when this mix was intentionally bred is unknown. As a more recent addition to the growing number of poodle-mix breeds, it’s likely to have originated in the late 1990s or early 2000s.
Dalmatian Poodle Mix Appearance & Grooming
How Big Do Dalmadoodles Get?
The size of a Dalmadoodle depends largely on what size poodle they’re bred with. On average, they’re around 21-23 inches in height at the shoulder and generally weigh between 45-70 pounds for males and between 40-60 pounds for females.
Dalmatians can be bred with toy, miniature, and standard poodles, although miniature and standard are far more common. The size of the poodle that the Dalmatian is bred with is a significant influence on the size of the Dalmadoodle puppy.
Dalmadoodle Dog Breed Coat & Grooming:
If you’re looking for a very low-maintenance dog when it comes to grooming, the Dalmadoodle breed may not be for you. The length of their coat is somewhere between medium and long, and it’s often wavy in nature.
Both Poodles and Dalmatians need rigorous grooming care. Dalmatians need to be brushed around 2-3 times a week and Poodles need to be brushed just as often, if not more frequently depending on coat length and how curly it is. Mix these two coats together and you can expect to brush Dalmadoodle puppies at minimum every other day.
Are Dalmadoodles Hypoallergenic? Do Dalmadoodles Shed?
It depends. Dalmatians are not hypoallergenic, while poodles are. Once you breed a hypoallergenic and a non-hypoallergenic dog together there is no way to guarantee that the mixed-breed is hypoallergenic.
With most doodle breeds, thanks to having one hypoallergenic parent and one non-hypoallergenic parent, you never know for sure if a puppy will be hypoallergenic and non-shedding or not. It may be safe to assume that the Dalmatian Poodle mix will shed less than a Dalmatian, but it cannot be guaranteed.
Dalmatian Poodle Mix Health & Wellness
Dalmadoodle Dog Breed Lifespan:
Deciding on getting a Dalmadoodle puppy is a big commitment! On average, Dalmadoodles live from 11 to 14 years.
Dalmadoodle Dog Breed Common Health Concerns:
Mixed breeds often decrease the risk of genetic health concerns but, that being said, there are some common concerns to be aware of. Some of the bigger issues in the Dalmadoodle breed are hip dysplasia, urinary stones, Addison’s disease, and Cushing’s syndrome.
Another less common health issue is gastric volvulus dilation. Around 30% of Dalmatians have hearing problems or deafness, so there is a chance it could be passed on to a Dalmadoodle puppy as well.
Due to the cost of treating these common health concerns, we highly encourage all dog owners invest in pet insurance. We recommend getting a free online quote from Healthy Paws Pet Insurance.
The Poodle Damiation Mix is an energetic, eager to please breed. Dalmadoodles are intelligent dogs who like to keep busy. Some Dalmadoodles have been known to be stubborn, but with a firm leader, they can learn quickly and will obey commands.
They are not known for being an aggressive dog, but may bark some when meeting new people. They’re energetic dogs that need to be both physically and mentally stimulated regularly. Dalmadoodles require a lot of attention, but in return they’ll grant you with all the love and loyalty in the world.
Dalmadoodle Dog Breed Activity Requirements:
If you’re planning on getting a Dalmatian Poodle Mix, plan on spending a good bit of time making sure they get enough exercise! Both Dalmatians and Poodles are energetic dogs that need owners who can keep up with them.
Keeping your dog physically and mentally challenged will prevent them from engaging in destructive activities. Plan on a minimum of 90 minutes of exercise daily. This could be between walks, hikes, jogs, or a game of fetch!
A big fenced in yard would be preferred for allowing a Dalmadoodle to run around in. Bonus points if you have a dog door! Both breeds are very intelligent and need mental stimulation as well as physical exertion to keep them happy and healthy.
Dalmatian Poodle Mix Pictures
Photo courtesy of @delilah.the.dalmadoodle on Instagram.
Photo courtesy of @flowerpowerdoodles on Instagram.
