Are you looking for an enthusiastic and active dog that can match your energetic lifestyle? Do you want a sweet family dog that protects you and your family?
If yes, then the Dalmatian Pitbull Mix may be a good match for you!
The Pitmatian is one strange combination that many have probably never heard before. It is a unique and beautiful crossbreed of a Dalmatian and an American Pitbull Terrier and is extremely energetic. These puppies are always full of life and never seem to get tried.
While your dog will look a lot like a Dalmatian with the spots, but you can still see some Pitbull in it.
Here is a guide that’ll help you know everything you need to know about the Dalmatian Pitbull Mix.
Dalmatian Pitbull Mix:
Here is a quick summary table that will help you know more about Pitmatian:
| Height | 18-24 inches |
| Weight | 45 to 70 pounds |
| Lifespan | 11 to 16 years |
| Colors | white base with black or liver-colored spots |
| Intelligence | Very intelligent and can learn tricks easily |
| Breed Type | Crossbreed |
| AKC Breed Popularity | Not recognized by AKC |
| Temperament | Very gentle and affectionate, but uneasy around strangers. |
| Daily Food Consumption | 2.5 to 3 cups per day of protein-rich dog food |
| Common Health Issues | Deafness, Urinary stones, Hypothyroidism, Hip Dysplasia, Cardiac diseases
|
Facts about the Dalmatian Pitbull Mix:
Are you curious about the breed now? Have a look at some fun facts about the Dalmatian Pitbull Mix:
- The designer breeders consider the Pitmatian to be the unique combination of two completely different pure breeds.
- These dogs came into existence when the breeders attempted to create a dog that was both strong, energetic, and people-friendly. So they created the Pitmatian with the crossbreeding of Dalmatian and an American Pitbull Terrier.
- This dog loves to be the heart of all fun and possesses a good sense of humor. However, it has a high prey drive.
- The Pitmatian is a relatively big dog and can weigh about 45 pounds to 70 pounds.
- This dog will look like a Dalmatian with prominent spots, but you’ll find a pit bull in it too.
- The personality of both parent breeds makes the Pitmatian an excellent family pet. However, it will need proper training to ensure there are no behavior issues.
- If you get a Dalmatian Pitbull Mix puppy, it will live with you and your family for many years to come. The typical lifespan of this breed dog is about 11 to 16 years.
- As the Pitmatian breed is not common, the average price range is $500 to $1000.
About the Dalmatian Pitbull Mix:
The Pitmatian is a strange combo of a Dalmatian and an American Pitbull Terrier. This unique combination makes this breed a beautiful animal and is rapidly gaining popularity among designer breeders.
The Pitmatians don’t have too long a history as per the designer breeders. These adorable dogs came as a result of the breeders wanting to create an energetic and agile dog that was not only protective but people-friendly too. These dogs are never tired and always seem to be full of life. While your puppy can be easily identified as a Dalmatian with all the spots, it will still have some Pitbull in him. This is a great combination that will give your dog a very even temperament, making him a great family pet.
These dogs carry a very confident look and have a dominant nature due to the Pitbull genes. Since they get uneasy in front of other animals and strangers, this breed requires regular training in the early formative years to become accustomed to everybody.
Come from two incredible families of dogs. However, being a crossbreed, there stay some health risks that it may have inherited from its parent breed. With little care and lots of love, the Pitmatian is just the one for you.
The appearance of the Dalmatian Pitbull Mix:
The Pitmatian being a mixed hybrid, its appearance entirely depends on dominant genes that it inherits. It is only after a certain age that accurate predictions about its looks can be made. Nonetheless, these dogs are large, well-muscled, and powerful. These dogs have muscular weight because they have a natural body build-up and weigh about 45 pounds to 70 pounds with a height of 18-24 inches. However, male Pitmatians usually have more weight than their female companions.
With floppy, triangle-shaped ears, these dogs look like Dalmatians but have a muzzle like the Pitbull. As both the parent dogs have a broad forehead, the Pitmatian pups are born with a similar shape of the head that makes them look adorable.
The Pitmatian is a well-muscled breed, and they have straight legs and powerful paws with a full-length tail.
Coming to the fur, these dogs have a short, smooth, and dense coat.
The Dalmatians have a white base with black spots, while the Pitbulls have a patched, black, white, brown, tan, red, or fawn-colored coat. Thus the Pitmatians look a lot like Dalmations with a white base and spots that are either black or liver-colored.
The Pitmatians shed at an average rate throughout the year and would need moderate grooming. Thus maintaining its silky coat would need weekly brushing.
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History and Origin of Dalmatian Pitbull Mix:
The Pitmatian comes from a lineage of the Dalmatian and the American Pitbull Terrier, but very little information is available as to when are where they first originated.
Many designer breeders believe that they originated in the early 2000s. These dogs developed in the era when the designer breeders were breeding pure breeds for a new hybrid dogs.
Although we do not have much on the background of the Pitmatian, we can get an idea by looking at the history of the parent breeds.
The Dalmatians are one of the oldest dogs known to us. Although their accurate roots are somewhat shrouded, the earliest recorded history of the Dalmatians was found in areas of Asia and Europe, especially in Dalmatia. It is from the place Dalmatia that the breed takes its name.
The Dalmatians became a household name in the pages of history around the late 1790s. However, there is evidence of spotted dogs present in pictures and paintings with the dogs seated beside war chariots and all types of horse-drawn carriages. These paintings led to the spotted dogs being called the Carriage Dogs.
This ancient breed belonged to a large group of reputed owners who used them as dogs of war that guarded the borders of Dalmatia.
They were initially used to terminate rats and vermin as they have a strong prey drive and are excellent hunters.
They also made great circus dogs for years due to their dramatic senses and intelligence.
The Dalmatians became extremely popular with Disney’s “101 Dalmatians” project. This, however, had an unfortunate turn as irresponsible breeding gained pace. Many people found it hard to manage the high energy of Dalmatians. As a result, many Dalmatian dogs were abandoned, leading to the formation of rescue organizations.
Today, the breed is known for its friendliness and loyalty and makes the best pet for families.
The American Pitbull Terrier comes from the incredible lineage of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier of England.
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier emerged in the 1700s and was a result of crossing the old English Bulldog with other terriers. In the initial years, the Pitbull witnessed an era of pain as they were used by butchers in cruel acts of managing bulls in bullfights, also by hunters, to fight the bear and other animals. Many years later, this brutal blood-shedding sport of bull and bear-baiting came to an end.
It was in America that these dogs came to be known as the American Pitbull Terrier when they arrived in the United States. By the 1800s, these dogs had quickly become the pride of America as many reputed owners started adopting them. The owners used these dogs as family dogs, farm dogs, nanny dogs, and even travel companions.
It was much later in 1936 that the American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the American Pitbull Terrier and is now the 81st most popular breed.
Coming back to the Pitmatians, these dogs are slowly gaining popularity among designer breeders and other dog lovers due to their unusual combination of friendliness and valor.
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Is Pitmatian Good with Children?
The Pitmatians are unique and beautiful dogs that are great with children, but they need regular training and socialization in their formative years. As these dogs are always full of energy, the Pitmatian will always guard his family. They may, however, not be able to blend with other small animals or pets in the house, however, if you don’t have a big home then you should with smaller dogs like Shih Tzu pitbull mix, Pitbull Poodle mix, Great Dane Pitbull Mix, blue heeler pitbull mix, Border Collie Pitbull Mix& Pomeranian Pitbull Mix
Care of The Dalmatian Pitbull Mix Dog:
Food and Nutrition Requirements:
The Dalmatian Pitbull mix is an active and energetic dog that can keep you on your toes all day long. Like every other dog, your puppy will require a complete and balanced dog food diet right from a young age. An ideal diet for a large breed should suffice for your dog.
As this is a high-energy dog that loves to goof around, you need to ensure that your dog receives a high-calorie diet. But, high calories can lead to obesity as the Pitmatian is prone to immediate weight gain.
But, high-calorie food does not mean food that is rich in protein. So, make sure that you give your dog a diet that is rich in protein to fuel its energy requirements.
Make sure that the diet contains enough minerals and roughage to keep its digestive system healthy. You can provide it with raw vegetables that will work as healthy snacks too.
Hybrid puppies are usually prone to allergies to a particular food. Only a trusted local wet can help you with what kind of food is best suited for your pet. Homemade food is also the right choice for a Dalmatian Pitbull mix.
Exercise Requirements:
The Dalmatian Pitbull mix comes from a lineage of dogs that were initially developed as working dogs. Both the Dalmatian and the American Pitbull mix are very energetic and active dogs. It is no surprise that their offspring needs plenty of exercise to remain healthy and fit.
Like every other dog, the Pitmatian needs at least two hours of exercise every day. A 30-minute walk or a run followed by interactive activities that challenge its body and mind should work for your puppy.
Remember that a tired puppy is a good puppy. Your puppy comes from a family of aggressive Pitbull dogs. There are chances that it may turn aggressive if it does not receive enough care and exercise. Excessive energy that remains in the dog causes it to shred and destroy the objects around him like carpets and pillows. Its inactive state will only build the aggressive behaviour that it inherits from the Pitbull parent.
You can engage your dog in a lot of interactive games like fetching, rope pulling, tugging, and other appealing ball games.
This way, not only will your dog receive its daily exercise requirement, but it will also be an excellent opportunity for you to bond with your dog.
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Training Requirements:
Both the Pitbull and the Dalmatian are intelligent breeds, so as a prospective owner of the Pitmatian, you will find it easy to train the puppy. Even though it is an enjoyable process, you should be familiar with your dog’s stubborn side.
A large dog like a Pitmatian needs house training and obedience training from quite a young age. Fortunately, your puppy has a Dalmatian in it, and the Dalmatians are good with obedience training. Thus you will teach your dog that you are the master and that it should follow all your commands.
Your puppy also needs crate training because these dogs easily get adjusted to new homes and may make their escape routes.
It is also crucial to give your dog early bite inhibition training as it has strong jaws and scary teeth. This training will help your puppy to learn the appropriate amount of force that it needs to use when it bites and will prevent accidental injuries in case of an unexpected bite.
While you train your dog, make sure that you exercise a firm hand over it and also shower it with love and affection when it performs well. Keep in mind that positive reinforcement is the key to proper training.
Grooming Requirements:
The Pitmation is a mix of the Dalmatian and the Pitbull, and this makes it quite effortless for you to manage it. Your puppy will most likely have a short and silky coat that is straight and even in texture. Brushing its coat about once a week should be sufficient to maintain it in good condition.
But if your puppy is a heavy shedder like its Dalmatian parent, then it would need regular brushing to get rid of loose hair and debris. Proper and regular grooming from a young age is more likely to reduce shedding.
A high-quality diet such as food with fish oil and probiotic supplements can also improve the condition of the coat and can reduce shedding.
When it comes to bathing, give it a bath with shampoo for dogs whenever your puppy gets dirty. Other than this, they do not need regular bathing.
It is also a good idea to check your puppy’s ears for infection or wax. But since your puppy has flopped ears with sensitive skin, it is essential to pay attention to them and regularly show them to a vet for possible infections.
It is also essential to trim your puppy’s nails periodically, so they don’t become troublesome when it walks. Also, you will have to brush your teeth about twice every week to prevent dental problems.
Health issues of the Dalmatian Pitbull mix:
Coming from the Dalmatian and the American Pit Bull Terrier, the Pitmatian breed is prone to the same health conditions that the parent breeds face.
Both parent breeds are vulnerable to several health issues—for instance, deafness. The Pitmatians are highly prone to Canine Congenital Sensorineural Deafness (CCSD) that is linked to a gene named MITF (microphthalmia-associated transcription factor). This gene determines the pigmentation, and the extreme white colour with black spots is the cause of CCSD.
The Pitmatians are highly prone to having urinary stones that are caused by a gene called SLC2A9. This gene produces a high amount of uric acid, ultimately leading to urinary stones.
Other health risks include hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia, cardiac diseases, allergies, and eye diseases.
To avoid such health issues, it is always better to purchase or adopt your puppy from a reputed breeder who can guarantee you about the health issues that your puppy is prone to.
Further, occasional health checkups are a crucial part of health keeping, and you will have to consult a vet for eye examinations, heart tests, thyroid tests, and checkups of hips and elbows. You may also talk to your vet and form a care routine that will help you keep your dog healthy.
Final Thoughts on the Dalmatian Pitbull mix:
The Pitmatian is a powerful and independent dog that comes from a lineage of two formidable dog breeds. This dog is a perfect combination of courage and beauty and is both protective and people-friendly at the same time. This breed is easy to train and grasps new things quickly.
As smart as this dog is, it will need early and regular training to socialize, but it will surely be the best little companion for you and your family.
Dr. Aram Baker has been with Santa Clarita Animal Hospital since 1995 and his special interests include behaviour medicine and dermatology. He graduated from the Cleveland Humanities Magnet Program in Reseda, CA and attended California State University at Northridge where he received a Bachelor’s degree in biology. He went on to pursue his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at the University of California at Davis. He also spent time in the zoological medicine department at U.C. Davis during his Junior and Senior years. He is dedicated to caring for all pets big or small, young or old with compassion, patience, kindness, and love.