I don't know about a "low down" since dals don't understand the meaning of "basic" They are veeeeery high energy, not the highest energy breed but they don't know that. in America they were bred to be able to run next to their owners horses/carriage for miles and miles, and were used by firefighters to get the crowds of people out of the way when the truck was pulled by horses.

Alot of dal owners I've seen online seem to be overly sensitive when someone describes dals as "hyper" but I don't really have a problem with it - Jillian as a dalmatian puppy IS hyper. Dal owners I've known in person arent as sensitive to that word

They shed all year long, at first we fought the hair on the couch and bed but now ... "eh, who cares. our guests should know we have dogs. " Jillian and my last dal Joyce werent/arent very heavy shedders, I brush Jillie out with a rubber brush once/twice a day and that takes care of it. But I could brush Frankie all day long and he'd still get clumps of hair all over the sofa.

In general they should be accepting of other animals, if properly socialized. They should never be "shy", never be completely trusting of strangers but never act agressivly either.

They need an owner who has experience with dogs, since they can definatly be a challenge. They get bored very easily, they constantly want to learn - Jillian was potty trained in less than a week, learned sit in 1 day, and platz in 1 day Frankie learned platz just by watching Jillian do it.

Their definatly velcro dogs, Joyce would get mad at me for leaving the room during her nap - she'd run after me, and either bite my ankle or grab onto my ankle and try to pull me back to the living room lol and like DeliDog said about their pink skin we have to use sunblock on them, J has had a minor sun burn this summer already.

and finally ((I've written a book havent I? I'm just obsessed with dals lol)) I don't agree with people having small children wanting a dal because usually the reason is the movie 101 dalmatians and the kid wont stop begging for Pongo. We took J & F to the Reinasance festival last weekend and were chased down in the parking lot by a mom and her 3 yr old who wanted to pet them, which is usually fine, but about 1 hour later while we were eating they ran up to us again forcing us to finish early because Jillie wouldnt eat her lunch with a stranger around, then on our way out - yet again the ran up to us and the mom was saying "aww I really *must* get her one." I'm sure. I hope her new dal enjoys the 3 weeks he gets to spend in their home before the pound.

ok I think I'm done now lol Thanks for asking though!! as you probably know everyone enjoys talking about their doggies and breeds lol maybe there should be a thread for everyone experienced with a certain breed could describe them??