The Dalmatian Club of America
Health Survey Results


Personality and Temperament

Dalmatian owners were asked to rate their dog(s) on a 10-point scale (1 being never and 10 being always) on 14 personality and temperament traits. Figure 20 illustrates the average score for all dogs regardless of age or gender.

According to their owners Dalmatians are easily housetrained and have clean habits with an average score of 8.8 out of 10.

Data based on 747 dogs.

Figure 20 - Average Personality and Temperament Scores for All Dogs


Figure 21 illustrates that there is very little difference between male and female Dalmatian personality and temperament traits.

Figure 21 - Average Personality and Temperament Scores by Gender


Male dogs used for breeding scored slightly lower on 13 out of the 14 personality and temperament traits. The only trait they scored higher on was friendly with strangers and guests.

Data based on 327 male dogs.

Figure 22 - Personality and Temperament Scores for Breeding Males and Non-breeding Males


Male dogs that lived with other male dogs scored higher on 10 out of the 14 personality and temperament traits. These dogs appear to be friendlier, happier, inclined to bark more often and more submissive to people.

Figure 23 - Personality and Temperament Scores for Male Dogs That Lived with Other Male Dogs


Female dogs used for breeding scored lower on 13 out of the 14 personality and temperament traits. Apparently whether a female dog has had a litter or does not affect her housetraining and cleanliness habits.

Data based on 412 female dogs.

Figure 24 - Personality and Temperament Scores for Breeding Females and Non-breeding Females


Female dogs that lived with other female dogs scored higher on just 1 out of the 14 personality and temperament traits. These dogs tend to be noisier and more inclined to barking than female dogs that did not have a litter.

Figure 25 - Personality and Temperament Scores for Female Dogs That Lived with Other Female Dogs


Table 26 shows the personality and temperament trait scores for these diet types. Dry food only (52%), dry and home prepared food (17%), and dry, canned and home prepared food (11%) were the three most common dog diets in the survey.

The scores varied between all three diet types with dry food only scoring highest on:

  • active/energetic
  • submissive to dogs
  • submissive to people
  • trainable
  • friendly with other dogs.

    Dry and home prepared food scoring highest on:

  • active/energetic
  • submissive to people
  • trainable
  • friendly with strangers and guests
  • easily house trained and clean habits.

    Dry, canned and home prepared food scoring highest on:

  • excitable
  • aggressive to other dogs
  • aggressive to people
  • fearful
  • happy
  • easily upset by strangers
  • noisy and inclined to bark.

    Table 26 - Personality and Temperament Scores for the Three Most Common Dog Diets


    Data is based on 797 dogs. 416 dogs ate dry food only, 137 ate dry and home-prepared food and 89 dogs ate dry, canned and home prepared food.


Return to Health Survery Index Page

Return to Health & Research Information Page


Please submit your comments, requests and suggestions to
The Dalmatian Club of America

Copyright © 2003
The Dalmatian Club of America, Inc.
All Rights Reserved

Page last modified on November 19, 2003