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Information & Links
Information & Links
The Dalmatian Club of America has a wealth of information on the breed to include the breed standard, health research & information, events, breed clubs, breeder referral, rescue and so much more .
When obtaining a Dalmatian be sure you get one from a responsible breeder who has done the health testing on the parents. You can check the OFA website to see the tests that have been completed and if a CHIC # has been issued, BAER tested (hearing test) the puppies, have done the proper vetting in the first 8 weeks and have socialized the puppies properly. Puppy Culture is a very good program for giving the puppies the best start in life. A breeder will have a contract to protect the puppy which will include take back if for any reason you are unable to keep the puppy during its life. Be sure to check with the breeder for the specifics of their contract.
Another option to look into is a Dalmatian rescue (listed on both DCA and AKC websites). The rescues vet the dogs and evaluate them for the proper home. They also will take back their dogs that they adopt out.
The American Kennel Club website has information on the breed, rescues, training, Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluators, and you can search all up coming events. ttp://www.akc.org
If you are interested in joining a Dalmatian Club and/or an all breed club in your area, they are listed on the AKC website.
Many people ask about the Dalmatian and association about the firehouse. Check out the article "Dalmatian in Fire Service"
When we lived in Pennsylvania our Dalmatians participated in parades with the local fire company. The children of the volunteer fire fighters had a float that they designed my. Dalmatians rode on. The children competed in competitions with their float and they were sure the Dalmatians on it made a difference.
Dalmatians have two health concerns you should be aware of when considering one.
1. BAER Testing-
Statistics say one in every ten Dalmatians are born deaf. Puppies can show
signs of hearing as early as 2 1/2 weeks of age. BAER Testing (hearing test)
is how a breeder knows for sure if the puppy/dog is a bilateral (hears in both ears),
uni (hears in one ear) or is deaf.
Generally this is done when a puppy is about 7 weeks old. It is normally
done without sedation and does not take long to do but must be done by a
Vet who has the proper equipment.
2. Urinary Stone Formers-
Some Dalmatians may become stone formers. This is similar to humans having kidney stones. The attached article will be very helpful in understanding this condition. Diet and plenty of fresh water is an important part of prevention.
You can check out additional information about diet and health on the Dalmatian Club of America website. Also Facebook has a number of pages directly related to Dalmatians.
https://dalmatianclubofamerica.org/
As with any breed a yearly exam is recommended and base line blood work for future reference. When it comes to vaccinations the state requires rabies but after the first full year of vaccinations have been given you might want to consider doing titers to prevent over vaccinating you dog. Talk to your Vet and make an educated decision on whether to vaccinate or do titers. Make sure you know your state requirements for vaccinations and frequency to make an informed decision.
Check out this article on titer testing
Check out the article in Whole Dog Journal
Microchip- Most breeders microchip before BAER testing is done but if not they will be chipped at that time. The microchip number is checked on the puppy/dog and noted on the BAER test report as a way to identify them. Be sure to check with the breeder on this information.
Breeders generally use AKC Reunite as the puppies are registered with AKC.
The are several companies such as Home Again. Rescues, shelters etc. might use other companies such as Home Again. It is very important to keep this information current with which ever company the microchip is registered with so if the need arises you can be contacted and your puppy/dog can be returned to you.
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