Frequently Asked Questions

1. Brief history

The exact origin of the Dalmatian is unknown. Their name is linked to the province of Dalmatia on the Adriatic coastline, from where they are believed to have accompanied gypsies to England where the modern Dalmatian was developed. In England , thanks to his endurance ability, natural affinity with horses and protective loyalty, the Dalmatian became known as a “Coach Dog”, lending style and security to the carriage of the well-to-do. The transition from coach dog to firedog was a natural one during the days when fire engine pumpers were horse drawn. Dals have also been used for retrieving, tracking and herding and of course as loving companion. They come in two colours black and liver (chocolate) spotted.

2. General Demeanor

* A fun loving, active, somewhat boisterous dog that loves to please and craves human affection and attention. They love to be included in what ever you are doing.

* They are very intelligent (tending to think for themselves), and because they can be rather strong willed, need firm, consistent discipline right from day one. Despite some ill-informed opinion, Dalmatians are well suited to obedience/agility/tracking work and there are many currently doing very well in training and competing at trial level.

*They are protective of their owners and property, but aggression should be considered as poor temperament in the breed and rare in well bred dogs.

* They are a loyal and loving family dog, however because of their size and exuberant nature, they are possibly better suited to the family with older children rather than toddlers. All dogs and young children should always be carefully supervised.

3. Health Issues

As a registered breeder we are bound by a code of practice and Ethics. We take a responsible attitude, breeding selectively to minimise, if not eliminate, defects and hereditary diseases within the breed. It is for this reason that we strongly recommend going only to registered breeders when looking to buy a puppy, giving you access to expert knowledge of the breed, and some recourse if problems do develop.

a. Deafness :

* The most common problem would undoubtedly be deafness. Research in the U.S. suggests that approx. 30% of puppies are born with some deafness – 8% bilateral (both ears) and 25% unilateral (one ear) South Australia does not have the facilities to test for deafness, so we are unable to give you a certificate of hearing. However, we carefully observe our puppies here from a few weeks old to ascertain hearing.

b. Urinary stones

* The next would probably be Urinary Stones and other conditions associated with the high production of Uric Acid such as skin allergies and gout. These problems can usually be overcome with proper diet. Information regarding correct feeding to minimize the possibility of your Dally developing stones is given at time of purchase.

4. Price

You can expect to pay from $600 for a pet, up to about $800 for a breeding or show prospect. A $100 refund applies from Topspot Kennels at 6 months of age on receipt of a Certificate of desexing

5. Should I get a Dog or Bitch?

Both sexes are equally as loving and intelligent. Dogs tend to be a little stronger and bigger than bitches. An undesexed dog will lift his leg on unwanted possessions! An undesexed bitch can attract all the dogs in the neighbourhood and be messy while in season.

6. Should I Desex My Dalmatian?

YES!!! Unless you plan to breed or show, you are much better to desex your dog. The unspeyed bitch runs greater risk of mammary tumors, but if desexed before her first season, the risk of these tumors developing is dramatically reduced. Likewise, a desexed male is highly unlikely to develop testicular cancers. It may also assist his temperament and trainability and if performed before 12 months of age and will minimise wandering and the need to mark everything he passes.

7. Should I Breed My Dalmatian?

Did you purchase a pet? Did you buy with the intention of showing or breeding? Did you get the best specimen in the litter? What is your purpose in breeding – are you working to improve the breed or just planning on ‘pup'ulating the world? Do you know enough about all the genetic problems the breed is disposed to? How about those in your particular lines? Be assured that desexing your Dal around 6 months will be much better for their long term health. Breeding is not for the unprepared and can be horribly expensive and fraught with potential heartache. Please be smart and do the right thing for your dog and yourself!

8. How Long Do They Live?

Kept in optimum conditions and barring problems, you can expect to have your Dally around 10 – 15 years.

9. Do They Need A Special Diet?

Dalmatians love to eat and are prone to gaining weight. A fat Dal is not only unattractive, but very unhealthy. Optimum weight for a Dal is about 30 Kilo depending of bone structure. Because of their susceptibility to kidney stones Dalmatians need a low purine diet and some foods may cause skin irritation.

10. What About Grooming?

Despite their short coat, Dalmatians shed constantly! Cold pressed oils in their foods and a good brush down with a stiff brush can help. Some shampoos can cause allergic reactions and care should be taken to select one suitable for animals with sensitive skin.

11. What Type Of Activities Do Dalmatians Like?

Anything you do! If introduced at an early age, most Dals are keen on swimming. Walking, running and endurance activities are high on their list. Most of all - they love to have fun!

12. The Dalmatian Club of South Australia

President

Chris Spencer Ph: 08 8388 8272

chris_spencer@bigpond.com

Secretary

Ms Lisa Vann Ph 08 82851182 Lisa.Vann@unisa.edu.au

Website www.dalmatianclubofsouthaustralia.com