Dalmatian vs Australian Shepherd – Which one is a better dog breed for you?
"Find similarities and differences between Dalmatian vs Australian Shepherd"
Compare Dalmatian and Australian Shepherd. Which is better: Dalmatian or Australian Shepherd?
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Name | Dalmatian | Australian Shepherd |
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Origins | ![]() | ![]() |
Group | Companion Dogs | Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs) |
Popularity Rank | 63 | 17 |
Reviews | 1 | 2 |
Rate |
Other Names | Dal, Dally, Carriage Dog, Spotted Coach Dog, Firehouse Dog, Plum Pudding Dog | Aussie, Little Blue Dog |
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Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
AKC Group | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1888 as a Non-Sporting breed. | Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1991 as a Herding breed. |
FCI Group | Recognized by FCI in the Scent hounds and related breeds group, in the Related breeds section. | Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section. |
Breed Recognition | American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club | American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Dog Registry of America Inc. North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Australian Shepherd Club Of America |
Price | $500-$600 | $600-$800 |
General Appearance - Dalmatian vs Australian Shepherd
Size | Large | Large |
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Weight | about 55 pounds (25 kg) | Male: 50-65 pounds (25-29 kg), Female: 40-55 pounds (18-25 kg) |
Avg. Weight | about 55 pounds (25 kg) | Male: 57.5 pounds (27 kg), Female: 47.5 pounds (21.5 kg) |
Height | Male: 22 - 24 inches (50 – 60 cm), Female: 20 - 22 inches (50 - 55 cm) | Male: 20-23 inches (52-58cm), Female: 18-21 inches (46–53 cm) |
Avg. Height | Male: 22 - 24 inches (50 – 60 cm), Female: 20 - 22 inches (50 - 55 cm) | Male: 21.5 inches (55 cm), Female: 19.5 inches (46–53 cm) |
Hair & Care - Dalmatian vs Australian Shepherd
Coat | Fine | Feathered |
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Colors | White Liver Brown Black | Red Blue Merle Black |
Grooming | Effortless: The Dalmatian requires minimal grooming. | Average: The Australian Shepherd requires average grooming effort. |
Shedding Level | Dalmatians are heavy shedders. | Australian Shepherds shed moderately. |
Characteristics - Dalmatian vs Australian Shepherd
Temperament | Active Friendly Outgoing Sensitive Energetic Intelligent Playful | Active Friendly Intelligent Loving Affectionate Good-natured Protective |
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Intelligent Rank | Smart: Dalmatian's has great intelligence. | Smart: Australian Shepherd's has great intelligence. |
Trainability | Dalmatians are quite easy to train. | Australian Shepherds are very easy to train. |
Playfulness | The Dalmatian is a highly playful breed. | The Australian Shepherd is a highly playful breed. |
Sensitivity Level | They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds. | Australian Shepherds don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits. |
Affection Level | Dalmatians are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers. | Australian Shepherds are highly affectionate dogs. |
Social Needs | Dalmatians need a lot of social interaction. | Australian Shepherds are a social breed. |
Barking | Average: The Dalmatian barks occasionally. | Low to Average: The Australian Shepherd rarely barks. |
Watchdog Ability | Dalmatians are average watchdogs. | Australian Shepherds are one of the best watchdogs. |
Territorial | Dalmatians are average defenders. | Australian Shepherds are extremely protective guard dogs. |
Biting Potential |
Low The Dalmatian has a low chance of biting somebody. |
Low The Australian Shepherd has a low chance of biting somebody. |
Mouthiness | Dalmatians have lower than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. | Australian Shepherds have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people. |
Impulse to Wander or Roam | Wanderlust potential of the Dalmatian is strong enough to escape from home. | Australian Shepherds are not the biggest explorers. |
Prey Drive | Dalmatians have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals. | Australian Shepherds have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds. |
Apartment Friendly | Dalmatians are not apartment-friendly dogs. | Australian Shepherds are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day. |
Adaptability | Dalmatians adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | Australian Shepherds adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. |
Tolerates Being Left Alone | Dalmatians tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them. | Australian Shepherds do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work. |
Fighting Dog |
Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. |
Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog. |
Good With - Dalmatian vs Australian Shepherd
Stranger Friendly | Dalmatians are average friendly towards strangers. | Australian Shepherds are not the most stranger friendly dogs. |
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Child Friendly | Dalmatians are very kid-friendly dogs. | Australian Shepherds are very kid-friendly dogs. |
Cat Friendly | Dalmatians are average friendly towards cats. | Australian Shepherds are average friendly towards cats. |
Dog Friendly | Dalmatians are very dog-friendly dogs. | Australian Shepherds are average friendly towards other dogs. |
Office Friendly |
No Dalmatian is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
No Australian Shepherd is not the best dog breed for office environment. |
Senior Citizens Friendly | Dalmatians are one of the best breeds for elderly people. | Australian Shepherds are one of the best breeds for elderly people. |
Pet Friendly | Dalmatians are generally with other pets. | Australian Shepherds are generally with other pets. |
Good For First Time Owners |
No Dalmatians are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality. |
No Australian Shepherds are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality. |
Service Dog |
Yes This breed makes good as a service dog. |
Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog. |
Therapy Dog |
Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog. |
Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog. |
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog |
Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones. |
Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones. |
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR) |
Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people. |
Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people. |
Boat Dog |
Not really Dalmatian breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
Not really Australian Shepherd breed usually doesn't like being on a boat. |
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog |
Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. |
Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling. |
Health Factors - Dalmatian vs Australian Shepherd
Health Issues | Dalmatians are commonly healthy dogs. | The Australian Shepherd is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly. |
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Health Problems | Allergies Deafness Hip Dysplasia Iris Sphincter Dysplasia Skin Allergies Urolithiasis | Allergies Cancer Cataracts Collie Eye Anomaly Deafness Detached Retina Distichiasis Drug Sensitivity Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Nasal Solar Dermatitis Osteochondrosis Dissecans Persistent Pupillary Membranes Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) |
Life Expectancy | 12-14 years | 12-15 years |
Hypoallergenic | No | No |
Energy Level | Dalmatians are high energy dogs. | Australian Shepherds are high energy dogs. |
Exercise Need | Dalmatians need a lot of exercises. | Australian Shepherds need a lot of exercises. |
Sleeping Need | Dalmatians don't need too much sleep. | Australian Shepherds don't need too much sleep. |
Avg. daily food consumption | Recommended daily amount: 1.5 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. | 1.5 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. |
Weight Gain Potential | Average to High. | Average to High. |
Weather & Climate | Tolerates warm and cold weather. |
Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Australian Shepherd can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog. |
Stinkiness |
Low The Dalmatian has a low chance of bad smell. |
Medium The Australian Shepherd has an average chance of bad smell. |
Drooling tendency | The Dalmatian is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. | The Australian Shepherd is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency. |
Reproducibility - Dalmatian vs Australian Shepherd
Gestation Length | 60-64 days | 60-64 days |
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How often can the have a litter? |
Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. |
Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy. |
Litter Size | 6-9 puppies | 6-9 puppies, average 7 |
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