1. Why are they known as "Firehouse Dogs"

The Dalmatian breed is very old, with somewhat obscure origins, but Dals have always had a strong affinity with horses. When fire departments began, their fire wagons were horse-drawn. Dalmatians cleared the path for the horses to travel. At the fire, where there is always a lot of commotion and confusion, the Dalmatians would be there to help calm the horses and to be their mascots. Although horses are no longer seen in the modern firehouse, the Dalmatian may still be there.

Dalmatians are a wonderful breed for a family with children. They are medium-sized, sturdy enough to tolerate children's horseplay, yet not so big as to be over powering. As with any dog, small children need to be educated about their pets likes and dislikes, and the dog should be trained to have proper behavior, especially around small children. It is important to purchase your puppy from a reputable breeder who has socialized the puppies with children, teenagers, and adults.

Dalmatians are intelligent and strongly desire to please their owners. With positive reinforcement techniques and consistently setting limits for appropriate behavior, the Dalmatian quickly learns to be an excellent canine citizen. Training classes are highly recommended for any dog, helping the owner learn how to train their new dog.

Properly bred and raised Dalmatians are usually not “hyper.” Dalmatians do have high energy levels, as they have historically been bred to trot all day with the horse and carriage. Dalmatians should have daily physical exercise to help maintain their health and happiness.

No two Dalmatians are spotted identically, thus adding to their uniqueness. For a show Dalmatian the number of spots is not as important as their evenness of distribution. The AKC standard describes the ideal Dalmatian, preferring spots ranging in size from a dime to a half dollar, pleasingly and evenly distributed. An exceptionally heavily marked or sparsely marked Dalmatian may be less preferred in the show ring, but that in no way diminishes their value as a loving family companion.

Liver-spotted Dalmatians are less common than black spotted Dalmatians, as recessive genes cause the liver color. Liver Dalmatians are not more valuable nor more expensive, but they frequently attract lots of attention.

A well-bred Dalmatian is a generally healthy dog requiring little special care. Dalmatians do have a unique uric acid metabolism, with high levels of uric acid excretion in their urine, which can make kidney and bladder stone formation a possibility. By paying attention to the dog's diet and providing plentiful water, the knowledgeable owner can usually prevent serious problems. In the rare severe cases of stones, established medical treatments are available.

A small percentage of Dalmatians born are born deaf in one or both ears. Breeders who place a bilaterally deaf puppy are responsible for conducting a thorough screening of potential candidates to ensure they have the knowledge, experience and resources to socialize, train and provide for a deaf puppy for the entire life of the dog. Unilaterally deaf dogs make perfectly good pets but are generally inappropriate for breeding. Bilaterally deaf dogs should never be bred and must be spayed or neutered at the appropriate age. All responsible breeders have the hearing status of all Dalmatian puppies documented by BAER (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response) testing prior to placement in new homes.

The chances are, a responsible breeder will be a member of the Dalmatian Club of America, abiding by their code of ethics, and also be a member of a local Dalmatian Club or an all-breed dog club. The responsible breeder will supply detailed education and guidance about the breed, but will furthermore likely ask the prospective buyers many questions about the puppy's prospective home and family environment. The responsible breeder will have a written sales contract with a health guarantee, a four or five generation pedigree, and the shot and worming records of the pup. Of course, the litter should be AKC registered, and companion animals will usually have a limited registration or spay/neuter contract. Responsible breeders are very careful where they place their pups and keep in contact with the buyers for many years. Click here for more information about What Is A Good Breeder.

The Dalmatian Club of America has a national breeder referral service and litter listing service that can be found on our web site at http://thedca.org/referral.php or telephone 207/527-2141.  The American Kennel Club also has a breeder referral program at their web site www.akc.org.

Responsible breeders require spaying or neutering of companion animals because they do not want to see the indiscriminate or uninformed breeding of Dalmatians, which could lead to a degradation of the breed's quality and reputation. Only the top quality show specimens should be considered for breeding, and the rest of the litter should be spayed or neutered. Spayed or neutered dogs make wonderful pets, and the owner never has to worry about a female coming in season or the male becoming an unintentional father.

All reputable breeders will have done hearing testing of the puppies and both parents. The parents and ancestors also frequently have had general canine screening tests, such as OFA, CHIC, CERF, thyroid, etc. The breeder will have assessed the puppies' temperaments to best match each one to its future environment.

Yes, a written contract is expected of a responsible breeder. This includes the A bill of sale,” the health guarantee, a statement about AKC papers, and any spay/neuter requirements.

No reputable breeder will sell puppies through a pet shop. Pet shops tend to get their dogs from puppy mills, which are large commercial breeding establishments which cannot possibly give the personal care to properly raise and socialize a litter and provide long-term guidance to every owner. Pet shop puppies should certainly be avoided.

Because of the Dalmatians high uric acid excretion, they should not have an excessive amount of protein in their diet. Commercial dog foods are usually well tolerated, but extra proteins, such as meat and table scraps, should be avoided.

Older Dalmatians can make wonderful pets. There may be a period of adjustment to a new home, but they quickly bond with their new owners and learn their new routines and environment. Acquiring an older Dal has the advantage of avoiding the sometimes-challenging puppy stages of chewing and housebreaking.

Some Dalmatians who are no longer wanted by their owners become “Rescue” Dalmatians. Dedicated volunteers try to find a better home environment for the abandoned dog. While not every “Rescue” dog is appropriate for every environment, and some dogs with severe health or temperament problems would not be suitable for any placement, “Rescue” provides a wonderful opportunity to acquire a loving Dalmatian who needs a better home.

There are many books on Dalmatians, the foremost being “The Official Book of the Dalmatian” by the Dalmatian Club of America. The web site of the Dalmatian Club of America, www.thedca.org is full of valuable information about the Dalmatian and the Club. Go to a dog show in your area and meet the Dalmatian fanciers and breeders there. Feel free to ask questions and get to meet some of the Dals in person. The web site of the American Kennel Club www.akc.org also has a wide variety of canine information.

For more information about the book click here:
The Official Book of the Dalmatian.