This is very interesting. I had always seen Dals from a far thought they were pretty but never thought much of it. I actually loved Cocker Spaniels. My Ex-husband worked with a guy that was the typical BYB'r and told him that since he had done some work for him that he could have pick of the litter? I said NO because I had a 6 yr old daughter and a 2 yr old son plus worked full time. Well, he didn't listen to me as usual and brought this 4 week old puppy home (yes I said 4 weeks old). He was the cutest thing and fit in my husbands coat pocket. It was an extremely cold winter that year so he was cold there was tons of ice on the ground and I am thinking to myself yea right he is really going to take this pup out for potty training? Of course I was drawn to him right away he was so cute but he was not going to be my dog I was too busy. After about 2 weeks the Ex was bored with him and he basically became my responsibility. My Ex named him "Spot" (so original) so I tried to find something to put on the AKC registration that would go with Spot. I named him Chief Spotted Body and he eventually became U-CD Chief Spotted Body CD, CGC. We lost him at 6 to kidney failure and he was also diagnosed with hip dysplasia at 2 but I loved him dearly and he taught me so much that I will never forget and gave me this great passion for the breed.

Well, I had this out of control 1 yr old Dalmatian named Spot that I didn't know what to do with? A friend at work had Dobermans and one was about the same age as Spot and she was getting ready to start a beginner Obedience class so she suggested that I do the same. I had also just found out that our corporate attorney's new girlfriend showed Dalmatians and he suggested that I give her a call for some Dalmatian advice. I gave her a call and she said obedience class would be a good idea so we signed up. Both Spot and I had to learn a bunch. He was not real doggie friendly not because he was aggressive but he just didn't know how to be doggish around them and he was a big boy (did I mention he was about 25 inches at the withers) so very intimidating to many of the small dogs. We worked very hard on my learning and his training. It paid off and he earned both his AKC and UKC CD titles. I decided not to move to open because of his hip dysplasia and I was afraid to jump him. Spot did very well in the ring and it was so cool to show up at an obedience trail and for people to say Oh you are here. He was a great Novice A dog and I wish he could have done more. He ranked on several of the National obedience ranking systems.

I hate to say that I have 1 favorite because they all have something favorite about them. "Spot" of course because he was the first Dal, first OB titles plus he let me learn so much on him. "Roxxie" was special in her own way (being a rescue she was so eager to please), she was my first advanced OB title holder and my first HIT winner. "Rocket" I can't say enough about how much he means to me. I think he will always be that special dog He was my first CH multi CH at that, holds a couple of advanced OB titles, my first All Breed HIT winner plus got me hooked on Agility. He has always done everything I have asked and very happy to do it. He has let both of my kids show him in juniors even when he knew more about what they should be doing then they did. Now as a Veteran he is still shining and still so eager to please. "Janet" still young so we don't know were she will end up but she was just what I wanted and more. She will always be special she is my first Bred-by CH, My first group placer and already on her way to earning those performance titles but the most favorite about her is that she is also part "Rocket" So deep down maybe "Rocket" is my favorite

I guess if "Rocket" is the favorite then he was bred by someone else.

Health of course has to be on top. I learned early on that I don't want to loose a dog as early as 6 years old besides the fact that he also had bad hips. I also don't want puppy owners to have to go through what I went through with my first Dal. I know things happen that can't be prevented sometimes and even when we do all the homework we can still get a few surprises BUT if everyone will be honest and up front and really try I feel like we can eliminate many of the health problems that we currently have within our breed. It just floors me when I see a litter announcement or hear we are going to breed so and so and the simplest of test have not even been performed on the Sire or Dam??? Next would be temperament. Dogs must have a stable temperament bottom line! Anything past these two things is just the icing on the cake so to speak.

Well, I guess it would have to be the only one that I have done so far I wish the circumstances would have been a little different but due to a family casualty on the co-breeders side we unfortunately lost the pick puppy at 8 weeks and a couple of we could wait and sees placed in pet homes. "Janet" was actually the 2nd pick from this litter. She finished in 7 weekends out by going WB/BOW at a Specialty just shy of 14 months old. Placed first in her Sweeps class at the National and 3rd in her regular class as well as made many nice cuts. She has since won multi BOB's and has a couple of Group Placings. I always wonder how well she could really do with a better handler I would consider any litter a success if puppies are placed in loving homes and spoiled rotten by people that love them more then anything and make a good representation of the Dalmatian breed.

I guess I would have to say because I am very competitive and don't give up easily. Honestly the sport of dog showing is not for the faint of heart or the bad sport no matter the venue you compete in. In performance you can train and train and if your dog has a bad day not get that Q. The dog can't tell you he didn't feel like doing it today but you smile and hope it works out next time. The same goes for conformation showing as well. You hear so many poor sports complain about how this was decided before we got here and he just puts up handlers ect. ect. Maybe this happens and maybe it doesn't but you go and try to show your dog the best you can and on those rare occasions when you do win top honors then it makes it all worth it. Just remember it is suppose to be fun and if it is not fun then you need to quit.

Not sure in what area you are talking about or just overall? So I will hit on a couple Temperament seems to come and go? Seems we go a few years and you hear rave reviews about how temperaments in Dals are wonderful and then we go a few years and you hear temperaments are dreadful??? I don't know if this contributes to the current stud dogs being used frequently or what but it is something we should always watch out for. I have also noticed in the last couple of years that most Dalmatians do not know how to move out and show that beautiful reach and drive. I don't know if it is because so many people live in town and dogs are confined to smaller spaces and the dogs don't know how to use it and the rings the show superintendents stick us in are about Chihuahua size so the dogs really never get going or what but I sure don't like to see a ring full of Dalmatians the move like Min Pins it is just awful. Another thing is the toplines. I sure see a lot of Dals that look a lot like Whippets. Even though I love Whippets (and so do my Dals) that is not what a Dalmatian should look like. I could go on and on but I guess these would be the top three I have seen that make me stop and pay attention.

On temperament (and everything I guess) we need to not make our breeding decisions based on just the fact that a dog has won a lot. We should look at what is behind the dog as far as health, temperament ect. then look at what we have behind the bitch we want to breed. If the bitch has something that you feel is fixable then by all means don't breed her to a dog that has the same problem. Base your breeding decisions on what can make the breed better not just possibly produce another winner. So what if no one has ever heard of that Stud dog you chose for your bitch if you like him and he has what YOU want then use him.

I can't say that I have had just one mentor. I have been lucky enough to be surrounded by a very knowledgeable Dal community. I was thankful that Lori Finlayson had enough trust in me to let me take "Rocket" (but she knew I was very competitive and don't give up easily), Bless SueMac for looking at the litter and to say this is the dog you better put with a novice not that one, and to Nancy Werhane for always being there to help that novice person that had no idea what in the world she was doing in the beginning and for always encouraging me to keep trucking along. I will always be so very thankful to Sally Lakness for giving me the opportunity to co-breed my first litter with her and for letting "Janet" be my girl. I have met many wonderful, helpful, and knowledgeable people over the years that have been there to answer my questions and offer advice. I may not always use it but I am always open to suggestions.

To the pet buying public I would like to say PLEASE PLEASE do your homework before buying any pet to bring into your home. The dog breeds have many different things about them and some may fit into your lifestyle better then others. Try to buy from reputable breeders that think their dogs are family. Make sure that your new puppies parents have been tested for whatever health problems effect their breed. Dalmatians should be checked for hearing (also known as BAER testing), Hips (also known as OFA), eye tested (also known as CERF) ask about allergies and thyroid would help as well as meeting the parents if possible so you can check out the temperaments.

To the breeders I would like to say that there is no excuse for not making sure we are putting GREAT pets into these pet homes. We should not breed an animal that has allergies so bad that they spend half of the year red and bumpy, never OFA anything so we really don't know if they have been passing on dysplasia or not. That is not fair to the person that really just wants a good pet for the family to spoil. I have had so many people come to me that say I just want a healthy dog with a good temperament.

I guess I probably covered most of it above but I can't express enough that winning isn't everything and this is coming from one of the MOST competitive people you will ever meet