Dalmatians

[btfcsta3]

I'm currently looking for a Dalmatian puppy anyone know where I might be able to find one close to PA. please e mail me at [email protected] thanks Rich

[dfdex1]

I will give a piece of advice from personal expierience,do not buy from a pet store unless you want a spotted diseased animal.

[EoneTiller]

I couldn't resist!!

a little humor!

[CoolDre]

lol EoneTiller

btfcsta3 - try going to Google and typing in damlation breeder pa or something of the sort. It'd give you a start. Or go to your local bookstore and pick up a dog magazine, they usually have listings in the back of various breeders

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

Sales of Dal puppies peaked when Disney released 101 and 102 Dalmatians. Many people had no clue as to what raising a Dal entailed, then abandoned them at shelters or through Dalmatian rescue organizations.

Why not contact your local animal shelter or Dalmatian Rescue organizations? You just might find your new best friend!

[DFCSmash]

CaptainGonzo makes a great point. I trust you know what you are asking for? Dalmations are NOT good house dogs. They were bred to run as carriage dogs. They are as bouncy as boxers if not more so. I apologize in advance for any offense given, but too many people have no idea how high maintainence Dals really are. They need room and lots of exercise.

This is why there are Dalmations in pet shelters. Good luck.

[E229Lt]

Dal concerns

Bad hips.
Not too bright.
Can be nervous/snappy.
Deafness.

http://members.tripod.com/~RavenwoodDals/health.htm

http://bcf.usc.edu/~thaase/DOT/adopt.htm

[FWDbuff]

GREAT DOGS, But................

I have successfully raised two (100%) full-breed Dalmatians, and am currently raising my third, who is a cross-breed. The two "dallys" are a male, "Tiller" who is 7 years old, and a female, "Brooklynn" who is 5 and a half. These dogs are well-known in and around my area as having great temperaments- I take them to all kinds of musters, parades, etc. Along with that, they regularly tour day-care centers, elementary schools, churches, and senior citizen centers at Fire Prevention time. They are excellent with children, seniors, and handicapped people as well. They can and will be high-strung, but when it's time for business, they calm down and stay calm.

My belief is that there are two keys- one is the bloodline, and the other, of course, is their upbringing.

Here are some pointers as I have learned:

The first thing you have to do, is THINK THINK THINK. Remember, the Dalmatian is an extremely active, energetic animal. They require lots of room to RUN RUN RUN! Though they don't really require a large house, a small apartment isn't a good idea, either. But a large (preferably fenced-in) yard IS A MUST! Think about your lifestyle as well. Do you live alone? Do you work more that 8-10 hours a day? Dalmatians are very social animals. Will the Dally be alone for long periods of time? I ask this because in my own experiences, they do not do good alone for more than 8 hours or so. If not "crated" or "caged" they can be destructive- chewing furniture, objects, electrical cords, etc. The reason I got the second Dal was at the suggestion of my Vet. Tiller had become destructive, and I did not want to leave him in the cage all day while I was at work. The Vet suggested a second dog (if it fit into my lifestyle) to keep him company. Along came Brooklynn. And the problems ceased! If your lifestyle isnt as mine was, however- (maybe you have someone at home all day....??) You wont need to do this. Perhaps you are able to stop at home at lunchtime to let them out of the crate for a few minutes. Just think about your lifestyle before you do it. Do you have small children? If so, you need to train them, as much as the dog! Small children must be taught (with any animal, but especially Dals) to treat the dog as it should be treated. My dalmatians get along beautifully with children- but I also know of many that do NOT get along well at ALL with children.

-NEVER NEVER obtain an adult dalmatian. Not that I have learned from first-hand experience, but I know of too many horror stories. Too many things can be wrong with the dog. Be wary of "Rescue Shelters." They may or may not be able to provide information about the Sire and Dam of the puppy which you would like to adopt. You want to know about (preferably get to see for yourself) the sire and the dam. Are they healthy animals with good dispositions? Are they AKC registered? Do they interact well with people and other animals? Is the Rescue Shelter clean, neat and orderly? Check with other people that have adopted from them. Rescue Shelters are definetly a noble idea, but you may want to stick with a reputable breeder.

-Stick with REPUTABLE breeders. Check with the American Kennel Club fopr breeders in your area. This may cost you more in the long run, but believe me, you will get a healthy, happy puppy; that is most likely neutered and has received his/her shots prior to you bringing it home. If you would like to receive a non-neutered animal (one that you wish to reproduce) contact a breeder, and advise them of your wishes. Again, think lifestyle!

-Try to avoid Dalmatians with blue eyes. For some reason or another, they are genetically prone to going deaf at an early age.

-Remember that Dalmatians are a breed (no matter what the genetics are in this case) that are prone to having bladder stones/urinary tract infections. This can be prevented by sticking with your vet's reccomended diet. No adult foods! Lots of clean water!

-I do not have enough great things to say about the "Crate" method of house training! When you purchase your Dal, buy a crate, or cage. Make sure it is big enough to keep them in when they are adults. Also make sure you can "downsize" it and change the size as they grow- you can do this with a wood partition.

-TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN!!! Like firefighting, training is an ongoing thing, neverending, and the more you do the better the outcome! And, like firefighting, the better the initial training, the better a firefighter, or in this case, the better behaved dog! Remember to show THEM that YOU are the boss, not the other way around! A great book is "Dog Training for Dummies."

-CHEW CHEW CHEW toys! LOTS OF CHEW TOYS! good, tough chew bones and plenty of them! Avoid rawhide bones as they tend to create gastro-intestinal problems. There is a particular brand of a hard, plastic bone called Nylabone. They are excellent! The same company also makes a hard, edible bone that I buy occasionally. Avoid soft plastic toys, rubber blow-up toys, and lambskin toys.

-Food: Stay with what I call "Exotic" food like Eukanueba or one of those. Though more pricey than Alpo, or one of those names, they are much better "engineered" food with less garbage fillers. Remembering a previous statement I made, Dals are prone to urinary tract and bladder stones- using a good quality food will help to prevent this. I never give wet (canned) food at the advice of my Vet. Only dry food, with some water added to give it moisture. Treats: Again, good quality edible treats! Especially when the dog is a pup, as giving treats such as dog biscuits enforces good behavior.

Thats all I can really think of off the top of my head right now. If you intend to use your Dal as a station mascot, start them out young! Get them on the rigs, take them for rides, get them used to the guys, the bells, the smells, etc etc. Again, I cant stress enough....Think about your lifestyle! Should you go ahead with it, a Dalmatian can and will be the most loving, loyal dog you will ever have! GOOD LUCK!

(Oh- and by the way....Number 3 is "Pokey"....a Dalmatian/Austrailian Shepherd mix) who is now 9 months old. Pokey looks like a Dal that is totally white with the exception of one brown spot on top of his head, and a few others here and there. Pokey was adopted through Dalmatian Rescue of the Carolinas. (www.drc.com)

FTM-PTB-EGH-RFB!

[FWDbuff]

OOOPS!

Sorry.....wrong website address....The correct one for Dalmatian Rescue of the Carolinas is www.dalrescue.com They are located in Greensboro, NC.

[Dalmatian90]

Bad hips.
Not a significant issue. Hip Dysplasia can occur in any breed, but Dalmatians are definitely *not* one of the more prone breeds (like German Sheperds).

Not too bright.
Rather, it's the opposite, but most people see it the same way. Dalmatians don't understand "No" the same way as most dogs. Most dogs here "No...don't do that." Dals hear, "No...don't do that that way." so they'll try a bunch of ways to accomplish the same thing.
If you're not a "dog person" and just want something to lolly around, a Lab is much easier to train!

Can be nervous/snappy.
Definitely an issue.
Remember, Dals where bred originally as guard dogs (for horses), and the same caution should be exercised around them as around German Sheperds, Dobermans, or Rotoweillers, breeds people usually act with more caution around.

Deafness.
About 1 in 7 Dalmatians are born bi-laterally (totally) deaf. With their large litters, most litters especially by "backyard breeders" will have at least one deaf pup.
Many, perhaps 1/3, of adult dalmatians have hearing loss in one ear.

-NEVER NEVER obtain an adult dalmatian. Not that I have learned from first-hand experience, but I know of too many horror stories. Too many things can be wrong with the dog. Be wary of "Rescue Shelters."
On the other hand, you have in an adult dog one whose personality is known. There are a number of speciality dalmatian rescue groups that can screen and place appropriately.

I have one Dal from puppyhood and three rescues.

Stick with REPUTABLE breeders.
Yeppers. If they have a sign in their yard, "DalmatiOn pups..." it's best to drive on by. (Although I lucked out and got the pick of the litter...other of Oscar's littermates ended up deaf, etc.)
Never, ever by a dog from a pet store. Don't. Just don't. Don't even think about. No.

-Try to avoid Dalmatians with blue eyes. For some reason or another, they are genetically prone to going deaf at an early age.
The deafness gene is carried in the same gene as blue eyes -- if you breed for blue eyes, deafness goes up tremendously. That deafness is from birth -- reputable breeders have their pups BAER tested (which usually is at a veterniary college) and put to sleep those bi-laterally deaf.

It's a balancing act with Dals and deafness. Yes, we could breed out deafness, but that also breeds out the Dal's distinctive coats and you'd end up with a German Shorthaired Pointer instead of a Dal.

-I do not have enough great things to say about the "Crate" method of house training!
Absolutely!
Even though mine aren't crated often, it's wonderful being trained.
Years ago Jake got clipped by a car. He ran home (on a broken pelvis!), right into his crate. It made it so easy for me & my step-dad to lift up the crate and bring him to the vets. He was trained, and knew that was his safe place to retreat to.

Food: Stay with what I call "Exotic" food like Eukanueba or one of those.
Food is important. Avoid greasy table scraps, and "blood" meats like livers. Chicken isn't to bad. Even particular veggies are bad -- tomatoes for the acid and peas/beans for purines.

I feed Nutro Lamb & Rice, which is one of the better foods. There's rules for Dals what you want for the top three ingredients, basically no red meats, but it's too late for me to remember them!

Even at that, watch them pee! Jake ended up going under the knife a month ago for bladder stones, $550 and a week's stay at the vet's he's fine and on a different food now. Some dogs are just more prone to stones than others, but I also think my schedule over the last year excerbated it -- I was taking night classes, so the dogs often where home alone for 16 hours so they couldn't urinate as much as they should.

Dals have a single, thin coat so they can't stay outside during the winter. If you're chilly in a long sleeved, flannel shirt it's to cold for Dals to stay outside.

(And in my experience, below -5 degrees, their feet get painfully cold even on a quick walk!)

All Dals are different, and you have to evaluate them.
I have four
Oscar, who makes Basset Hounds look high strung.
Jake, who is your archtypical "hyper" dalmatian.
Misty, who is a pyschotic sweatheart.
Lexie, who is a tiny (40# soaking wet) girl with a great personality.

Oscar & Lexie I trust 100% -- I could let them loose in a kindergarten classroom and not worry. I use them as parade dogs.

Jake I'll take out in public only in "controlled" places like the firehouse where it's a small group of people. His guard dog heritage kicks in and he gets very defensive of *me* if he doesn't like a situation. Parades with other dogs and such aren't appropriate for him. When I'm not around, he's easy going with other dogs. And even when where visiting the firehouse, Jake's leash is always on just-in-case. Jake, btw, knows our tones and goes to the door to see if he can get a ride to the station when we have a call!

Misty is a loving dog, but she stays home 100% of the time. She is so nervous of strange dogs & even little kids, I can't even trust her sitting in my car. At home I can control the situation, and she can retreat to her crate or other safe spot if she get nervous.

[MrFreeze]

Awesome you guys!

I can't add anything to Dal90 and Fwdbuffs' posts. But I will anyway!

My dal, as all are, is very social! They get separation anxiety really easy. My wife has been out of town, and I work 24/48's just like most of you. That shift night she has had to stay outside, and she is a BIG inside dog! She is so spoiled! It breaks my heart though, cuz she'll start this high-pitched bark/howl thing when I leave the driveway...

If you can't spend the time, don't get one. My 48 is spent with her, I don't have kids, she's my kid. Bike rides, trips to the store, jogging at the lake where the college girls all run (did I say that out loud?)

I'm not sure if the genes that cause blue eyes are linked to the ones that cause spot coverage, but whiter dogs, those with less spots, are more apt to be deaf.

Don't get a deaf dog; if you have any doubts, ask the breeder to get the dog tested, or just note whether or not there seems to be a hearing problem. Deaf dogs should be put down. Period. They will end up biting someone or running out into the street. Patched dogs, blue eyed dogs, any that don't meet AKC standards should be fixed. Period.

Get lots of tape rollers, air filters, and new running shoes.

[Firebraun]

Originally posted by E229Lt
[B]Dal concerns

Bad hips.
Not too bright.
Can be nervous/snappy.
Deafness.

Sounds like my captain... No wonder these spotted bundles of fun are the fire service mascot. They fit right in!

[Axman91]

Try this one

https://www.dalsavers.com

I have had my dalmatian for 4 years, it is the best dog, I adopted it from the web site that I have listed.

[WannabeintheFD]

just a little heds up, i dont know much about them, but my cousins had to get rid of there (put it up for adoption) because it was too aggressave... but i dont know if was just them.

[Weruj1]

FWD has been in the loop.....for the rest of you.........

here you go, please say Hi to ResQue.