Most dal owners are in for a surprise should they want to go for a KC Good Citizen Dog Scheme. Indeed, the dog is not only pure energy and brawn, but brains too. But they are even in for a more exciting surprise if they decide to get their dog into agility. It may sound too cliché, but there is no denying that this dalmation training activity helps build a solid and fun relationship between owner and dog, not to mention boosts the dog’s confidence.
In your situation with your dalmation, agility classes help a lot even if you think the dog does not deserve to compete. Nothing is lost since there are also many training nuggets of wisdom to collect along the way. At the minimum there is a good follow up to the socialization skills that the dog picked up in its GCDS.
The skills the Dalmation gains at agility will actually be useful in day to day activities and in obedience, since most of the tasks related to agility concern left and right turns, stand-waits, stopping, recalls-send aways.
The fact is that any fairly fit breed can do agility, and a fair amount of Dalmations actually participate in a variety of levels. Winning a Champ class may be in the far horizon, yet agility is an attractive excuse to get out of the house and have a work-out. But some owners beg to differ on the issue of equality opportunity when it comes to the breeds’ talent and skills. To make the long story short, Dalmation owners are very much on the watch for ABC finals and classes, the acronym being “Anything but a Collie (or collie cross)”.
Some owners will not be surprised to find after all the dalmation training that the dog is still the same poo-eating (not all but some) clown, burning off energy by speeding in circles, or just about skipping every nth command from its owner. Owners, beware too, about a dal that will want to do equestrian jumping over above almost every household object, the moment it learns how to jump.
