Right you have decided that despite the negatives a Dalmatian is still for you

Do your research, visit the shows and speak to as many Dalmatian owners as you can as different breeders have different ideas of what a good Dalmatian should look like based on their interpretation of the breed standard and the type of Dalmatians they breed, for example someone who breeds Dalmatians that stand at only 21” fully grown will tell you that this is the correct height for Dalmatians and anything taller is wrong, where as someone else who breeds taller Dalmatians will tell you that their height is correct. Apart from August there are Open shows most weekends, and there are Championship shows most months somewhere in the country, all of which are detailed on the Kennel Club website, as well as dog media. Also visit the British Dalmatian Club website and speak to other Dalmatian owners on there. Please only ever buy a Dalmatian pup from a Kennel Club Accredited Breeder, and from someone who is a member of at least one of the four UK Dalmatain clubs as they will breed by a strict code of ethics, and their pups will have been health screened in line with those codes of ethics. 

Ask yourself if you want the pup for a pet or for a pet that can be shown as well (show potential pups can cost more), if you want a show potential pup the breeder should be able to guide you. Do not believe anyone who says they can sell you a show winning puppy, as there is no such thing though there are show potential pups (A good breeder will tell you there is no such thing as a perfect Dalmatian), all pups have potential to be shown as they love to show off and be shown, but not all pups meet at least 80% of the breed standard, which ideally you want if you want to come home with a rosette or two.

Learn the breed standard, I admit that when you look at a cute fat four week old pup you cannot tell if it will meet the breed height standard but you can have a good guess by seeing the parents. What you can tell is the colour of their pupils which should have no blue in them (the iris around the pupil in a pup can be light blue or grey, turning to brown as the pup grows), you can tell if they are “patched” (a solid patch of black on a black and white Dalmatian and a solid patch of brown on a liver and white Dalmatian which they are born with so will be very visible unlike the new spots they are developing. A patch is often on the head or ears). You will also be able to tell if they have curly tails, which is a fault on a show dog but fine for a pet only. 

By five weeks their first spot pattern should be coming through, this will give you a good idea of what they might look like as adults - be warned they get spots normally up to eighteen months though some get them for the whole of their lives, so what you see at five weeks may not be what you have at six months.

At six weeks the pups should be BAER tested for hearing faults: Anyone who tells you that Dalmatians do not need hearing testing is not a repitable breeder and should be avoided. It is a breed club rule that all Dalmatian pups are tested at approximately six weeks. A good breeder will more than happily give you a copy of the pups hearing test results. Some breeders will get their pups hip scored and will happily give you the hip score as well.

By six weeks the pups should have a good covering of spots, which is a good time to decide on a pup for you as their personalities should be coming through: Your pup should be outgoing and not shy It should not have any signs of aggression. Before choosing a pup meet at least one of the parents as temperament is partly nature (inherited) and partly nurture (environment), a good breeder will not breed from an aggressive Dalmatian but it does happen, and an aggressive Dalmatian will produce aggressive pups. Naturally aggressive pups are no good if you have children in the home. There is a difference between a pup growling because it is being teased and a pup that growls due to aggression.

Try and watch your potential pup playing with its siblings: are they curious? Are they the clown? A good puppy should not shy away from the crowd, as this could show it is nervous in which case it will not make a good pet. It should not bully as this could be aggressive nature coming through. You want a pup that is friendly and loves being picked up and does not claw you. It may “mouth” you but that is just play in a young puppy and is something his / her mum would have done with them.

Never buy a “cheap” Dalmatian from an ad on the internet or local paper as a good breeder should have a waiting list for their planned pups, however as they are planned you can put your name down for their next litter, if that is the breeder of your choice. Try and look at as many litters as you can before deciding on the pup for you. Also avoid any breeder who offers to meet you half way and give you your pup at a motorway service station as this would suggest Puppy Farm and needs to be stopped. All Kennel CLub Accredited Breeders will have their details on the Kennel Clubs web site.

Never buy a puppy where you have not seen at least one of the parents; as many use stud dogs it is not uncommon for the sire to be at the home of the dam so you may only get to see the dam with her pups. Be warned if the puppy "smells" and is the only puppy in the room with an adult it might be a "farmed" pup that has been bought in to fool you in to thinking it has been bought up in a loving home - try and see the pup playing with its siblings, and be warned that adult might not be its mother but a "healthyish" adult they are using as a front.

You will see ads where a the mother or father is not registered, be warned that a pup cannot be registered if both parents are not; I often read ads at show Dal prices where it says that it is not necessary to have a registered parent, sorry but it is very important especially if you want to show your pup or if you want them to breed in a couple of years. Also do not trust a breeder who cannot show you a copy of the parents KC registration. no registered parents means the puppy cannot be registered. Also unregistered parents means the breeder is not Kennel Club Accredited and will not be breeding by the Kennel Clubs Code of Ethics.

Dalmatians are very adapatable and in the modern world adapt to both owners working full time, however if you can get someone to walk them during the day better still. Please consider before you buy a puppy where it is going to sleep, who will be there during the day for them, the environment of your home: a busy home with several children will need a quiet area to rest in. A family with children would be better with a quieter, calmer pup where as if you are on your own you might want a more boistrous pup that will act as a guard dog and bark when people they do not know come near the house. Rememeber a Dalmatian will be with you for up to about thirteen years, please allow for this when considering a pup.

You have done all the above, you have your choosen you accredited breeder, you know the breed standard and the pup you want is almost ready to go home with you. Before you hand over your money:

·     Ask to see the parents registration documents, which a good breeder will not mind. Is the breeder a member of any of the Dalmatian Clubs / Societies, if they are they are bound by codes of ethics and will not mind your questions.

·     Can you have a copy of the registration documents going to the kennel club for your new pup? Double check that your pup is going to be registered with the Kennel Club.

·     Does the breeder offer a puppy pack, and if they do what is in it?

·     What injections has the pup already had as there is often a problem with vets accepting a first injection done by another vet and you having to start all over again with them – yes a con we know?

·     Is the pup microchipped?

·     Is the pup wormed?

·     What food should they have? Avoid anyone who says "oh porriage is ok for a puppy", no it is not, and is in fact very bad for a puppy.

·     Are there any illnesses / genetic faults with the parents that you should be aware of?

·     What free insurance does the pup come with? the Kennel Club offer 6 weeks free insurance on transfer of ownership.

·     Is there a contract of sale, and are there any clauses you should be aware of regarding breeding etc?  Is is common for ethical breeders to write in their contracts that you cannot use a pup for breeding without them vetting who you are using as the stud / dam, and not to allow any breeding until your pup is at least two years of age.