
Every individual Dalmatian will have different requirements for exercise. This will depend on age, health and lifestyle. Different families also have to also tailor their Dalmatian's exercise to suit their lifestyle and work commitments. A healthy adult Dalmatian can be 'on the go' all day. It doesn't matter how long you have been out for, they will still be bounding on ahead. This is one of the reasons they were used for running alongside carriages. Should you work outside all day with the dog, or go running with your dog for exercise, your Dalmatian will receive plenty of exercise doing so. A Dalmatian needs to be exercised every day, come rain or shine. The minimum requirements would be at least 1 ½ hrs a day, with at least half of that free-running off the lead. Exercise benefits the mind as well as the body. It is quite okay to split up the walks during the day to suit your lifestyle. Some people take them out 3 times a day, some two. Find out what works best for you and the Dalmatian. That way it becomes easy to do and also a pleasure. Dalmatians are an extremely active breed; they will develop behavioural problems if they are not getting sufficient exercise as an adult.

PUPPIES
Until they are 12months old, a puppy's joints and bones are still growing. Undue stress on these joints and the body in general can affect the health and growth of your Dalmatian and can appear in older life as arthritis or malformed joints. Up until the age of 6 months, your puppy will receive enough exercise through play and short walks for socialisation and training. Long road walks in particular can be very detrimental at this age. By all means take your puppy out to as many situations as possible to make him/her a well-rounded dog for the future, but please limit the amount. A puppy tires easily and sleep at this stage is most important for growth. A puppy under 6 months should not be going up or down stairs, or jumping on or off any sort of heights. From 6 months onwards, formal walks can be introduced. Gradually building up the length and time. The more patient you are at this stage, the more benefits you will have of a long-lived, healthy Dalmatian. Again still restrict jumping over obstacles or excessive running up or down stairs (dogs who train to do agility are not allowed to jump until they are at least one year old, for this very reason). Use these months of your puppy's life for socialisation and training. The more you put in, the more you will get out of the puppy when it becomes an adult. By 12 to 18 months of age, your Dalmatian should be receiving at least the minimum amount for an adult (as outlined above), every day. It is a commitment, but the rewards for seeing a happy wagging tail running ahead of you are numerous. Regular exercise promotes good health and good behaviour.

Dalmatians in general are long lived. Your Dalmatian will gradually slow down as he reaches old age but short regular walks are important to keep them happy and to keep the joints moving. You may need to consider a dog coat for an elderly Dalmatian on cold or wet days. You may wish to start an activity with your Dalmatian which will help with the exercise and training. Many Dalmatians and their owners enjoy obedience, agility, fly-ball etc. There are also carriage dog trials which test a Dalmatian's ability to run alongside a carriage or a ridden horse, which many owners enjoy.
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