Yarrowfell Dalmatians

Jaffa's Puppies

Jafa with the puppies - 2 days old

On Thursday 26 December 2002 Jaffa, Aust Ch Yarrowfell Romancer CD AD ET, went into labour and delivered 5 puppies (4 by caesarean). The sire of the litter was Gizmo, Ch Trailblazer Dancemaster ET, owned by Debbie Blyton.

Pictures of each of the puppies as they have grown up:

3 February 2003
12 January 2003, the first time the puppies tried baby cereal
28 December 2002

28 December - 2 days old

The times and weights of the puppies are:

							BAER test result
Number	Time	Weight at birth	Sex	Colour	Name	Comments	Left	Right	Official Name
1.	0550	8.5 oz	Male	Bronze	Bronze		Normal	Normal	Deetoo
2.		10.75 oz	Male	Green	Juniper	Ceasarian	Normal	Normal	Digital
3.		12.5 oz	Male	Mustard	Keene	Ceasarian	Normal	Normal	Deja Vu
4.		10 oz	Male		Spot	Ceasarian	Deaf	Normal	Dandy
5.		10.5 oz	Female	Lavender	Yardley	Ceasarian	Normal	Normal	Damascene

28 December - 2 days old

The names come from a piece of coloured wool we tie around the neck of each puppy at birth. This allows us to keep track of the growth and development of each pup until they get their spots (Dalmatians are born covered in white hair only). This method of naming puppies has led to some interesting adult names - the mother of this litter is called Jaffa because she had orange wool around her neck from birth, while the grandmother was called Lilac.

We have a policy of testing all our breeding stock and every puppy from every litter for deafness using the BAER hearing test. Click here for a page with detailed information on BAER testing and why we do it. The puppies are tested after they have been microchipped for identification. This ensures that the results of the test can be unequivocally linked to the relevant puppy. An example of the certificate issued to each puppy is shown on the left - copies of the actual certificates are available on request. We publish the results of all our testing hoping to encourage other breeders to do likewise. If you are buying a puppy from a breeder and they are not BAER testing the puppies, ask why not? The test is now inexpensive and available in three states in Australia, and does not harm the puppy if conducted correctly. Some breeders will argue that their puppies have been home tested - remember this is unreliable and will not diagnose puppies that are unilaterally deaf.

28 December - 2 days old

We maintain a waiting list of prospective owners of puppies (some people have been on it for two years), and all new owners are extensively "vetted" before we let them have one of the pups. This involves, at the very least, visiting our farm prior to the birth to see the fully grown dogs, discussions on what to expect from a Dalmatian and how to train them, and a commitment to undertake basic obedience while the puppy is growing up. As someone once said who went through this process "It's like trying to adopt a child getting a puppy out of you!".

This is a pedigree for each of the puppies in the litter:

Ch Trailblazer Dancemaster ET
2100004470

Washakie Northern Dancer (Imp UK)