If you want a dog who requires full family involvement, one who challenges you to stay one step ahead in the training process, and one who resembles a lively two or three year old, then the Dal is for you.

On the other hand, if you want a very quiet type dog who never gets into trouble who never has to be told "NO", who constantly tries to please the owner, then the Dal puppy is not for you. Perhaps though, a well behaved older dog who is through all the dreadful puppy stages, may fill your needs. Many people who want a Dal but don't want to go to all the trouble of a puppy, find that they can adopt an adult dog and they have gained a wonderful family member.

Here are some things you should think of when considering a dog (Dal) of any age:

• Do you and the family have time for a pet?
  It's okay if both of the adult members in the family work, providing there is time for the dog in the evenings. I'm sorry, but it just isn't practical to have a puppy alone all day and then spend the evenings away from home. In these circumstances dogs become bored, lonely, and ultimately, destructive to home around them.
• Do you have a fenced yard?
  It's true that Dals are house dogs but they need a place to run off some of the energy thay have. If you don't have a fence how will you handle that need for exercise, how will you handle the 5 a.m. toilet visit, do you enjoy walking in the rain or snow?? The chain in the backyard is not good because they leave the dog exposed to attacks by other animals (or humans who do not mean well.) Dogs who are not in a fenced in yard can wander off and become lost, strayed, stolen, or hit by a car. Could you deal with those situations if they happened?
• Are there any allergies in your family?
  If so, then a Dal is not for you, because they do shed.
• Do you have children under the age of 5 years?
  If so, please think carefully about bringing a puppy into the house. We have found that one of these three things usually happen
  
  • Puppy is too much for kids.
  • Kids are too much for puppy.
  • The combination of both is too much for mom.

  Most common of all don't despair though, because this is a situation were a well behaved adult dog who is used to kids, could fit in very well something I have seen happen many times.

• Do all family members want a dog the size of a Dal?
  It seems this should be an obvious thing, but many times it isn't. Many times just one family members wants a Dal and the others want a much smaller dog (and kids may be uncomfortable with a larger dog). The one who will suffer in this situation is the dog, so please try to compromise on a dog who will fit what everyone wants. The complete AKC Dog Book which you can get in any library is a good source of information about the breeds.
• Do you rent your home/apt., or share with someone?
  If so, the landlord/roomate must approve the pet. Also, stop and think for a second of what might happen if you have to move. Will finances support looking for another place where you can have your pet, or looking for a roomie who is willing to share with your four footed friend?

These questions are designed to make you stop and think long and hard before you bring a dalmatian into your life-or any dog for that matter.

A good responsible breeder (of any breed) works hard to produce healthy puppies with good temperament and they will want those puppies to go to good homes where they will stay all their lives. Nothing upsets a breeder more than to get one of their babies back because "We have to move or it's not convenient to take the dog" or "My wife just can't cope with a dog this size (or the dog and kids)" or "He's just too active and we're sick of walking him and when he's out on the chain he barks all day."

Another angle to consider is the financial one. Whatever the price you paid for your puppy, that price was for a cute, healthy, problem free baby. If you allow that puppy to learn bad behavior, become too much for children, develop bad outdoor habits, all these things will make it difficult to find a new home for the dog under any circumstances, let alone re-coup the origioal money you paid.

ADOPTING AN ADULT DOG
There are many people who want a Dalmatian but either cannot cope with raising a puppy or find that their lives are not convenient for a puppy to fit in. Under these circumstances an adult Dal may be the answer. Many breeders frequently have adult dogs who are looking for good homes. These dogs are available due to a variety of reasons. It may be a dog the breeder planned on showing, but then changed their mind, it may be a dog who has finished his or her championship and is retired from the show arena, it may be a dog that the person bred and sold as a puppy who's family was not able to keep him. The age of these dogs can vary from a year to any age upwards. Good health, being a loving trust worthy companion that can always be relied on, along with the breeder's guarantee that the dog can come back to them if the home does not work out. Most of the time there is no money involved in thee placements, but occasionally some litter or stud arrangements can be worked out if that is what the person doing the adopting wishes.

A GOOD BREEDER
No matter if you have decided to buy a puppy or look for the right adult, choose a good responsible breeder to help you in this. Look for someone who knows the breed, is willing to give advice and be honest about the breed. A good breeder knows how to evaluate their puppies for quality, temperament and (very important in Dals) hoe to test for deafness. You should expect a healthy, friendly pup who has had shots (up to date) and been wormed.

Go visit the breeder home, meet their adult dogs, talk to the person, form a good relationship before you buy your pup. When the litter is born, visit at times and just watch the litter grow and develop. After 4 weeks of age, when deafness testing is complete, you should be able to pick out the pet type markings in the litter and put a deposit on your pup. People looking for a show pup must wait longer for structure and other things to become more obvious.