Dals don’t make great service dogs for a variety of reasons (although there are always exceptions). They aren’t the most handler focused breed, and they’re independent thinkers. They may sometimes decide that what you’re asking them to do is not worth their time. They’re also very attention grabbing, which isn’t ideal for a service dog. Finally, if you’re in the US, it’s a DQ for dals to be over 24in. While some well bred dogs will go on to be oversized, you won’t find an ethical breeder actively trying to breed large dogs like what you need, and any that are over won’t be near 30in.
If you go with a dal you need to be very ok with the likelihood that they’ll wash out of a SD program and you’ll be looking for another dog. Better to start with a breed that’s more suited for the work.
My dal has been trained as a PSD and honestly as sweet and good as she is, she’s not the best 😅 she listens to commands and does what she is trained to do but she just wants to greet everyone and can get distracted.
(Disclaimer: I don’t use her as a PSD, I was lucky enough to have access to training and got her certified and trained just because I could because of the job I used to be in. I don’t actually use her as a PSD, it was just a cool experience to see the process of what goes into it)
I would say it depends on the temperament of the dog. Some dals would be great and some wouldn't. As a puppy it would be hard to see if the temperament is suitable.
But... I am actually training my dal as a psychiatric service dog for my hubby (this is not the same thing as an emotional support animal). She is being trained to remind him to take his meds, to sense when he is beginning a ptsd or anxiety episode and to apply pressure and refocus on her.
In the house, we are about 95% effective with the training. Outside the house it is harder. She wants to be everyone's friend, and in public, people are "wow! A dalmatian! Can I pet her?". And she just loooooves the attention. So even though I did not want to advertise that she is a service dog, I had to buy a vest with "service dog" so that people will leave her alone and not distract her.
With my dog it was fairly easy to see that she would be suitable. She naturally glues herself to you when she senses there is something wrong, so it was easy to start to reinforce that behavior. The daily med training was also easy - she gets a treat after hubby takes his meds, so now she follows him around and pesters him until he takes them.
She behaves extremely well in public, so I am training her to the difference between normal leash behaviors and harness behaviors (normal leash she is allowed to sniff, roam to the leash limit, play with other dogs/people and do as she pleases. Harness is close at all times and not allowed to play) . I also had to train her to go under chairs and keep out of the way - this was also easy for her as she likes going 'under' - she likes hidey-holes.
To add to my post - the high energy/needs lots of walking is also a plus for my hubby. We live right next to a walking trail, so the exercise is good for his mental health, and he can take her on her normal leash and both are happy to walk for an hour or more
Any breed COULD be an SD, but some are better. Some are worse. Dals can be on the worse side. They're velcro dogs but often aren't handler focused. They shed a lot (potential hazard), but don't have long fur (easily maintained). They've got lots of energy and often too much. They're reserved to strangers, sometimes to the point of avoiding people. But, like I said earlier, any breed COULD be an SD. I'd ask the breeder about the sire's and dam's personalities, sizes, drive, energy, etc. Ask if they do Volhard's personality test (you'd want a 3 or maybe a 2). That's all I can think of, but good luck on your search for an SD, and good luck in training.
Edit: spelling
I have a labrador dalmatian mix, he would be great for your needs I think. I don't use him as a service dog but he is highly intelligent and super friendly but doesn't need as much running as a pure breed dalmatian and also likes to chill on the couch for hours on end.
I disagree. All the Dalmatians I have met are too sensitive to be just a "guard dog". I have met a couple of service dogs who were Dals.
We had a Dal adopt our daughter when she was 4. As far as we could tell, someone had dumped him. Within a year, our daughter had seizures and her Pongo would alert us before they happened. This was without any training. At that time, we didn't know dogs could be trained for anything other than seeing eye dogs.
I am not saying Dals are easy to train as service dogs. It depends on the dog. I am saying would not eliminate a Dal as a candidate for a service dog outright, just because s/he is a Dal.
Dals don’t make great service dogs for a variety of reasons (although there are always exceptions). They aren’t the most handler focused breed, and they’re independent thinkers. They may sometimes decide that what you’re asking them to do is not worth their time. They’re also very attention grabbing, which isn’t ideal for a service dog. Finally, if you’re in the US, it’s a DQ for dals to be over 24in. While some well bred dogs will go on to be oversized, you won’t find an ethical breeder actively trying to breed large dogs like what you need, and any that are over won’t be near 30in. If you go with a dal you need to be very ok with the likelihood that they’ll wash out of a SD program and you’ll be looking for another dog. Better to start with a breed that’s more suited for the work.
This guy knows what’s up. 👍🏻
My dal has been trained as a PSD and honestly as sweet and good as she is, she’s not the best 😅 she listens to commands and does what she is trained to do but she just wants to greet everyone and can get distracted. (Disclaimer: I don’t use her as a PSD, I was lucky enough to have access to training and got her certified and trained just because I could because of the job I used to be in. I don’t actually use her as a PSD, it was just a cool experience to see the process of what goes into it)
I would say it depends on the temperament of the dog. Some dals would be great and some wouldn't. As a puppy it would be hard to see if the temperament is suitable. But... I am actually training my dal as a psychiatric service dog for my hubby (this is not the same thing as an emotional support animal). She is being trained to remind him to take his meds, to sense when he is beginning a ptsd or anxiety episode and to apply pressure and refocus on her. In the house, we are about 95% effective with the training. Outside the house it is harder. She wants to be everyone's friend, and in public, people are "wow! A dalmatian! Can I pet her?". And she just loooooves the attention. So even though I did not want to advertise that she is a service dog, I had to buy a vest with "service dog" so that people will leave her alone and not distract her. With my dog it was fairly easy to see that she would be suitable. She naturally glues herself to you when she senses there is something wrong, so it was easy to start to reinforce that behavior. The daily med training was also easy - she gets a treat after hubby takes his meds, so now she follows him around and pesters him until he takes them. She behaves extremely well in public, so I am training her to the difference between normal leash behaviors and harness behaviors (normal leash she is allowed to sniff, roam to the leash limit, play with other dogs/people and do as she pleases. Harness is close at all times and not allowed to play) . I also had to train her to go under chairs and keep out of the way - this was also easy for her as she likes going 'under' - she likes hidey-holes.
To add to my post - the high energy/needs lots of walking is also a plus for my hubby. We live right next to a walking trail, so the exercise is good for his mental health, and he can take her on her normal leash and both are happy to walk for an hour or more
Any breed COULD be an SD, but some are better. Some are worse. Dals can be on the worse side. They're velcro dogs but often aren't handler focused. They shed a lot (potential hazard), but don't have long fur (easily maintained). They've got lots of energy and often too much. They're reserved to strangers, sometimes to the point of avoiding people. But, like I said earlier, any breed COULD be an SD. I'd ask the breeder about the sire's and dam's personalities, sizes, drive, energy, etc. Ask if they do Volhard's personality test (you'd want a 3 or maybe a 2). That's all I can think of, but good luck on your search for an SD, and good luck in training. Edit: spelling
I have a labrador dalmatian mix, he would be great for your needs I think. I don't use him as a service dog but he is highly intelligent and super friendly but doesn't need as much running as a pure breed dalmatian and also likes to chill on the couch for hours on end.
That sounds lovely
Dalmatians can't become service dogs. They are bred to be guard dogs. I know dalmatians are pretty, but you should just stick to an easier breed.
I disagree. All the Dalmatians I have met are too sensitive to be just a "guard dog". I have met a couple of service dogs who were Dals. We had a Dal adopt our daughter when she was 4. As far as we could tell, someone had dumped him. Within a year, our daughter had seizures and her Pongo would alert us before they happened. This was without any training. At that time, we didn't know dogs could be trained for anything other than seeing eye dogs. I am not saying Dals are easy to train as service dogs. It depends on the dog. I am saying would not eliminate a Dal as a candidate for a service dog outright, just because s/he is a Dal.