Finding A Dalmatian
What is a reputable breeder and how do I find one?
The least a person serious about preserving and improving the breed should do is join the AKC Parent Club. In the case of Dalmatians, that is The Dalmatian Club of America, Inc. (DCA). DCA Members must sign an agreement to abide by a set of ethical guidelines that, among other important consideration include:
- health testing dogs used in breeding programs,
- ensuring that all dogs in their my care are provided nutritious food and fresh water, appropriate shelter, human companionship, exercise, socialization, and veterinary care to ensure optimum mental and physical well being
- selling dogs under a contract that spells out their expectations of you as an owner and what they will do for you as the breeder. One of those things is that they will always take the dog back if for any reason you are no longer able to keep it.
It breaks my heart every time I hear a story about someone who bought a puppy from a puppy mill or "backyard" puppy mill and had a bad experience. There are a lot of people out there breeding dogs that should not be bred and/or overbreeding their girls just to make a buck. Please look for a breeder who at least is a member of the AKC Parent Club! Most parent clubs have websites and/or Facebook pages. If you want to verify that your breeder is legit, you can contact the parent club to ask if they are a member.
You can learn a lot more about what should go in to your selection of a breeder at the DCA site here.
AKC Marketplace is probably the best source to use to find available litters of puppies. However, beware, the Marketplace only tells you that the dogs are AKC registered. Anyone who registers their dogs with AKC may advertise there whether they are reputable breeders or not. ALWAYS find out if your breeder is a member of the AKC parent club.
There is also a Facebook group where DCA members often post their litters or available adult dogs. Dalmatian Resources - Available Dogs and Puppies
What about rescuing a Dalmatian?
There are a number of excellent rescue organizations who focus on Dalmatians. They are experts on the breed and work tirelessly to match personalities of rescued dogs with families wanting to adopt.
A few of our favorites include:
Willing Hearts Dalmatian Rescue (PA)
Dalmatian Rescue of Southwest Virginia
Dalmatian Rescue of Colorado
There is a full list on the DCA site here. All of them are good and most are able to place dogs outside their geographic area.
A few of our favorites include:
Willing Hearts Dalmatian Rescue (PA)
Dalmatian Rescue of Southwest Virginia
Dalmatian Rescue of Colorado
There is a full list on the DCA site here. All of them are good and most are able to place dogs outside their geographic area.