Being a dog owner can significantly improve the quality of your life. Dogs are naturally playful, energetic, and outgoing. Having a dog can encourage you to exercise and socialize more, which can eventually boost your physical and mental health. Additionally, dogs are affectionate and loyal too. Having a warm companion 24/7 can help stave off loneliness, anxiety, and even depression.

If you think you’re ready to be a dog owner, consider adopting a Dalmatian. Besides their unique appearance, they have a lot of things to offer. Having one (or maybe two or three) in your home will surely turn your life around!

Here are four reasons why you should consider adopting a Dalmatian dog…

They Get Along With Other Dogs

Are you planning to add more dogs to your home in the future? Worried that your home will be chaotic once you have too many dogs of different breeds? When you adopt a Dalmatian, you won’t have any problems, as this breed is known to be very friendly.

Dalmatians are sociable dogs, which means that they can easily get along with other breeds. Regardless of whether you want to add a large breed, such as a German Shepherd, or a smaller breed like a Miniature Poodle to your home soon, your Dalmatian will surely be happy to have more brothers and sisters!

They’re Often Quiet

If you have kids at home, you need to be careful about the breed of dog you choose to adopt. Choosing a dog breed that is naturally noisy will make it very challenging for you and your kids to fall and stay asleep. Noisy dog breeds can also make your home chaotic, especially when they howl whenever your children cry.

Since the Dalmatian is a naturally quiet breed, you don’t have to worry about noise in your home. This breed will love spending a lot of time resting in their comfy calming dog bed as much as they love exercising. The ability of Dalmatians to stay quiet can be very beneficial if you have sensitive kids or sleeping babies at home.

They’re Very Energetic

Exercising regularly is a must to maintain or improve your health. However, staying physically active can be challenging, especially if you aren’t motivated to move around and leave the house.

Because of their energy levels, adopting a Dalmatian can become your key to staying active once again. This breed needs at least two hours of exercise daily, which means that you have to get out of the house to take your Dalmatian for a walk every day. As you take your Dalmatian out for a walk, you’re also allowing yourself to exercise and sweat.

To prevent your Dalmatian from getting bored, you can introduce different types of exercises to them. Aside from regular walks, you can play fetch and run up and down the stairs with them. Playing hide and seek with treats can also be a great physical activity for you and your furry friend.

They’re A Stable Breed

Different dog breeds are being discovered every now and then. For example, in January 2021, the Biewer Terrier was newly classified by the American Kennel Club. And while this new breed looks charming, there’s still little information about it. Having limited resources about the breed of your dog can pose challenges, as you don’t know what to expect in terms of their health needs and behavior.

Dalmatians are stable breeds as they were known as early as the 18th century. With the number of people taking care of Dalmatians throughout the years, you won’t have any problems looking for resources to help you manage your expectations on the breed.

Do you want to know the most common health conditions amongst Dalmatians? Or how they behave around kids and other pets? Simply type your query online, and you’ll come across hundreds of search results. All of these resources will help you properly take care of your Dalmatian.

Start Your Search ASAP

Now that you know how great Dalmatians are, start visiting local shelters in your area to find your new best friend. Adopting from local shelters is always the ideal option, as it allows you to save a dog’s life by embracing them to be part of your family, and it helps to end the cycle of homeless pet overpopulation.

The sooner you visit local shelters in your area, the sooner you can welcome a Dalmatian into your home. So, what are you waiting for? Head out so you can start your journey of being the best fur parent to one of the best breeds in the world!

If you’ve ever thought about getting a security guard dog as protection for your home or business, rest assured that it can be a good decision. To find the right dog, you might hire a company that trains security or guard dogs, particularly if you don’t want the responsibility of training and pet ownership. Another option is to get a dog that you can train yourself to be a guard animal.

Regardless of the specific path you might take, the following are some general things to know about guard or security dogs…

What is a Guard Dog?

A guard dog is usually a certain breed, and they’re trained specifically for the task. People have guard dogs at their homes and very commonly when they own businesses.

Some dog breeds known for being protective include Dutch Shepherds, Cane Corso, Bullmastiffs, and German Shepherds. Typically a dog breed that’s known for being protective will also tend to be obedient, loyal, and very alert.

We often hear the terms watchdog and guard dog used interchangeably, but there are some differences between the two.

A watchdog can be almost any dog who will let you know if something out-of-the-ordinary is going on. However, being hyper-vigilant can be a bad thing in some cases. A dog should be alert but not so vigilant towards things that aren’t necessarily relevant to you. That can indicate the dog isn’t socialized enough.

Watchdogs basically just have to be able to bark loudly. This means that even very small breeds can make good watchdogs.

Guard dogs are trained to potentially restrain or attack people if necessary. A guard dog will usually bark and if the intruder doesn’t retreat, the dog may take action.

As a side note, guard dogs are also sometimes called sentry dogs. A sentry dog can protect warehouses and other facilities.

Guard dogs are not attack dogs. Attack dogs can be very aggressive and are usually used by police K-9 units or military personnel.

Training Dogs for Protection

If you truly want a guard dog, you have to start training early on. It takes time and effort. For example, if you start training a dog at around six months old, he should be prepared as a guard dog by the time he is 1 1/2 years old. You’ll also likely have to do some ongoing training and refresher courses.

Training focuses on obedience early on because you need to control your dog. Guard dogs need to be socialized, and then, from there the dog will be trained to attack in the event of an intruder who won’t stop.

Getting an aggressive or untrained dog and hoping it will be protective can be dangerous. Dogs who are true guard dogs are well-socialized.

What to Consider Before Getting a Guard Dog

If you’re thinking about getting any dog, especially a guard dog, it requires planning. You should think about your budget first. Are you going to be able to pay for everything the dog needs, including healthcare and maintenance, but also training? Training a dog can get expensive, particularly specialized training.

A guard dog will also need more exercise than other dogs to stay in good shape.

Your dog will have to learn basics like housetraining, but also how to react to situations that are high pressure.

You also have to think about potential liability if your dog attacks or bites another person or animal. As a dog owner, you’re responsible for preventing injuries from happening. If you’re not careful, and your negligence led to your dog hurting someone, you may be legally and financially accountable for that.

What About Hiring Security?

Some businesses and individuals will hire a security company that uses guard dogs. High-profile people will do this, for example, or they’ll do this if their business specifically requires it.

When you have a security dog onsite at your home or work, it’s a visual deterrent. The dog shows that you take security seriously. If you hire a security dog handler, then this can reduce your need for multiple security professionals to be onsite as well. You can be more efficient with your security.

Another advantage is that dogs have a great sense of smell and hearing, and they can detect things that humans can’t otherwise.

If you’re considering bringing a security dog onsite to your business, it may also help your employees feel safer.

Getting a guard dog is a big responsibility, and you may think you know what it requires, but it’s possible that you do not. Do your research to figure out the right option for you and your property.