Dalmatians are notoriously headstrong and stubborn, while also being sensitive and highly intelligent.  While all of these are admirable traits and part of what makes Dalmatians so special, the combination of these traits can make training a Dalmatian a bit more challenging than say, a lab.

First and foremost, most Dalmatians will not respond as well to coercion, so using a choke chain or other form of discipline is not likely to give you the results you are looking for.

One of the most effective ways of training a Dalmatian is using positive reinforcement through treats and clicker training.  Clicker training gives the dog an audio cue that they are doing something correctly.  This “click” is followed up with a treat, so the dog learns that by doing the correct action he will hear a sound and get a treat.  This is a very effective and widely popular method for training most dogs.

You can buy special training treats at any store that carries pet supplies.  These treats are small and designed to be just enough to reward a dog, without being a big calorie load.  Usually the size of your pinky fingernail, you can carry a handful of these in your pocket to reward your dog throughout the day.

So, to answer the question, Dalmatians don’t necessarily need special training, but they do need training that takes their unique personalities into account and focuses on positive reinforcement instead of correction or discipline.  When you train your dog with positive reinforcement, you will instill a joy of learning and eagerness to please in him, making your relationship that much closer.