Dalmation Dog Breed
Posted by Jeanne on December 27, 2008
Question
We just got a dalmatian, and I have heard they are in the non-sporting group. Does this mean our dog won’t hunt? And, how do you teach a dog to hunt?
Answer
No, it does not mean that the dog will not hunt; the name nonsporting is very misleading. Many dalmatians will hunt; they have a good nose although they hold their head rather high when hunting.
Originally they had some connection with the pointer through ancestry in Spain about 300 years ago. lt is our belief that if they were trained greatly for outdoor work, they could develop into an excellent hunting breed as a whole.
To teach a dog to hunt, that’s a big order. Of course, you have to take him out in the field and see what he can do of his own accord.
There must be a lot of work at home also in the way of commands and getting him to stop when ordered, to move left or right or come or go upon signal. There are hundreds of books on this very topic.
Keep in mind that the dalmatian is a smart dog, and you must be smarter than the dog to teach him. So, look forward to a challenge from your spotted friend.
