Welcome to Moen Lake Dalmatians! Founded, in 2017 in beautiful Rhinelander, Wisconsin, when a kid in elementary school wanted a dog that would get along with the family’s squirrels, bunnies, chipmunks, swans, ducks, geese, and other neighborhood dogs and kids. 

At Moen Lake Dalmatians we are dedicated to breeding beautiful purebred dogs whose health, appearance, temperament, and ability are true to their breed. Our first Dalmatian was purchased deaf and we soon then fell in love with this breed. We are on a mission to eradicate deafness and the HUA (High Uric Acid) gene that our first male Dalmatian (Ace Frehley) has to live with. UPDATE: No puppies from our litter are HUA so far. Our Dalmatians have only produced other LUA Dalmatian puppies and we are so proud and happy!!! We subsequently purchased another male Dalmatian (Chaz) who is a heterozygous LUA (Low Uric Acid) Dalmatian. He was not deaf and to be our Ace's partner in crime and lifelong playmate as we live on a lake and they both love the water. After two years with these wonderful Dalmatians, we decided we would breed our studly male, Chaz, with a LUA (Low Uric Acid), DNA tested female, with no deafness in her litter and Grand Champion bloodlines. After a long search we found our Xena! She exemplifies all the great qualities this breed has to offer. At Moen Lake Dalmatians, we believe that Professional Dog Breeding should be undertaken with a high degree of ethics. We give careful consideration to health issues, temperament, and genetic screening, as well as to the individual care and placement of puppies in responsible homes. We work in conjunction with Good Dog in the sale of our puppies. Moen Lake Dalmatians in Wisconsin | Find your Dalmatian Puppy | Good Dog We also believe the motto of the responsible breeder of purebred dogs is "BREED TO IMPROVE." Choosing Dalmatians whose bloodlines will strengthen weaknesses and emphasize good qualities. We hand raise our puppies under the Puppy Culture guidelines with lots of socialization so you'll have the peace of mind knowing that your dog will be ready to go out into the world without any problems. I have studied at the American Kennel Club Canine College, am well versed in DNA and proper health testing, and our breeding program is certified by the AKC as a (Breeder with H.E.A.R.T.) AKC Bred with H.E.A.R.T. Program – American Kennel Club. Our Dalmatians have undergone extensive health and DNA testing to make sure we breed up to the standard or surpass it. Guide to Good Dog’s Health Testing Levels They are OFA CHIC Certified and each have their CHIC numbers and test results available for anyone to see here CHIC Program | Orthopedic Foundation for Animals | Columbia, MO (ofa.org). They have and will continue to be tested for hip dysplasia, eyes (CAER), hearing (BAER tested), Thyroid (Autoimmune Thyroiditis), Hyperuricosuria (GenSol Diagnostics), and have a DNA profile through the AKC with no genetic defects (DNA profile posted under each dog on our site), and have wellness exams regularly. Our puppies are guaranteed to be in good health and free of communicable diseases when you receive them. Puppy will have a three year health guarantee of genetic conditions and defects. Immunizations and deworming will be current, a veterinarian record, a 4-generation AKC pedigree of parents and a copy of DNA results from GenSol Diagnostics for Hyperuricosuria (HUA/LUA) will be provided to all new puppy owners. Also included in the price of our puppies is prepaid AKC Registration, AKC Reunite microchips and a prepaid lifetime enrollment in AKC Reunite's Recovery Service which will include collar I.D. tags. All puppies will be BAER tested for hearing and you will have those results. Also a free month of pet insurance will be provided. We are committed to every puppy in our litters for its entire life span for advice or support. If for some reason you cannot take care of your Dalmatian, we will take him/her back no questions asked. DO NOT abandon to an animal shelter.

Finding the right mating pairs should be taken into consideration when breeding. Practicing these common sense maxims can be very complex because you must weigh all the factors that contribute to the Dalmatian's traits and appearances. This is an area where research and the advice and experience of other breeders are invaluable source of information. We are aware that Dalmatians, like ALL dogs, are subject to many hereditary defects, some of which are potentially crippling or fatal. Our goal is to produce Dalmatians that are not affected by the major known hereditary diseases occurring in our wonderful breed. To be an effective breeder, you should have a basic understanding of the science of genetics. Everything about your prospective puppies' health, soundness, looks, and temperament will be determined by the genes passed on by their parents, and by their parents before them.

Therefore, the selection of the mating pairs should not be made solely on the basis of the dog's or Dam's looks (or temperament or soundness, etc.), but should be based on an understanding of how the animal's genes contributed to its looks and of how those genes are passed on and expressed. That is why it is essential for us to study the pedigrees of our mating pairs of Dalmatians.
The more knowledge we have as we make our selection, the more likely we are to produce a litter with the qualities we desire.

We are and have to be well-versed in the genetic problems that affect the Dalmatian breed. Genetic defects can occur in any breed and can affect any system in the body. Some genetic diseases may occur in many breeds; others occur in only one or a few breeds.

The following is a brief explanation of how genetic defects may be inherited and expressed:

Diseases that follow a dominant pattern of inheritance need only one abnormal gene. That is, if only one parent is affected, the condition will show up in each successive generation. Some individuals may be only mildly affected with the condition, making it difficult to detect. In such cases, the condition can mistakenly be thought to skip generations.
 
Diseases that follow a recessive pattern of inheritance occur in homozygous individuals, meaning dogs with two abnormal genes. Dogs with one mutant and one normal gene are heterozygous, and they are carriers of the condition. They appear normal but can pass their gene to their offspring. Recessive mutant genes can be passed through many generations before emerging in the offspring of two dogs that carry the same genetic mutation.                                        
 
Polygenic disorders result from the cumulative action of a number of different genes. The exact number of genes involved and their individual functions are difficult to determine, and the pattern of inheritance tends to vary from family to family.
 
Polygenic inheritance can sometimes mimic either dominant or recessive inheritance, and this feature may lead to erroneous conclusions regarding the type of underlying genetic abnormality.
 
Chromosomal anomalies: Defects in chromosome number and structure; can also cause genetic diseases. Dogs normally have 39 pairs of chromosomes on which genes are located. Major abnormalities in chromosome number and structure can produce serious defects.

All of our puppies will come DNA tested and screened for any abnormalities. Vaccinations and worming will be up to date. We stay in touch with everyone, we want to hear if anything is wrong and how things are going, good or bad. We feel a strong sense of responsibility for helping to bring these spotted bundles of joy into the world. If something is wrong...we will take back the puppy, no questions asked. Health of the puppy is guaranteed when you take it to it's furever home. We will strive to make sure that the puppy goes to an owner who will provide it with the same love and devotion for life that we have. This means careful screening and evaluation of each person or family interested in getting a puppy. We want you to learn all the pros and cons of ownership as prospective puppy owners as this breed is one that needs a lot of attention. 

Before you decide to get a Dalmatian because of a movie, make sure you do your research. Only certain people can handle this breed (as well as other breeds) and you need to have a LIFETIME commitment if you’re planning on getting one. Getting one just because “it’s cute and I want it” is not a good enough reason. If you’re seriously interested and you’ll be a FIRST TIME Dal owner, I recommend living in a house. You can live in a apartment, but Only VERY FEW people can handle an energetic breed in an apartment. They need room to run and if you aren’t going to have the motivation more than 5x’s a day (assumption of how many times they’ll have to go) to take them outside to go potty or to the dog park to play, then I don’t think this is the breed for you. You can’t stop doing it mid way either, it’s an everyday effort.

*Info on the breed for first time owners*

This breed is highly energetic and need not only a lot of attention, but socialization and a lot of walks. Literally, I’m not kidding! Although they’re smart, they’re very stubborn and WILL be destructive if bored, locked up in a kennel for a long time and will become fearful of others if not socialized. If they’re not socialized, they will become shy of others and dogs and be more protective of their owners which can result in issues.

Dalmatians need a low purine diet (HUA Dalmatians) otherwise it will cause problems with not only an upset stomach, but can develop urinary stones for this breed is well known of. To prevent stones, they need water available 24/7. Which does mean more potty breaks! Which is why we are trying to breed only LUA Dalmatians. All puppies will be tested before you get them so you know whether it's a LUA or HUA Dalmatian. We also have a great feeding method that has worked wonders for our HUA Dalmatian that we will share with you if you happen to get one. (See Recipe) Our local veterinarian has told us that our Dalmatians are the healthiest dog he's ever seen, and we take great pride in that!

As stated before, this breed can be stubborn and a handful, but with positive training and sweet voices coming from the owners, they will thrive in training. Please take note that this breed is sensitive and so yelling at your dog will not benefit them.

They need a lot of exercise and socialization. If they don’t get enough exercise, they will become destructive. If your Dalmatian doesn’t get the socialization he/she needs, there can be fearful aggressiveness that could take place. Even with people it’s important they socialize or they will be more protective of their owner. Puppies also should stay away from dog parks until they get their 12 week booster vaccine.

If you will be working really long shifts like 10-12 hour shifts every day, then I suggest putting your dog in day care if you plan to get one so they don’t tear up your house and aren’t sad. Don’t get one unless you’re going to put 100% into keeping them for the rest of their life. A dog going home to home is not good for their mental health and can cause behavioral issues.

Back when the first movies came out, a lot of Dalmatians ended up in shelters because owners couldn’t handle this breed and the shelters were over packed resulting in a lot of euthanized dogs. PLEASE don’t get a Dalmatian unless you know that you can take care of these spotted bundles of joy for their entire lives. They sure do bring us happiness!

LUA vs. HUA

LUA-Low Uric Acid (N/Hu, N/N):

LUA starts for low uric acid, which really just means normal uric acid. Dalmatians with one or two copies of the LUA (or normal uric acid) gene are unaffected by the genetic defect called hyperuricosuria/High uric acid. Only one copy of the normal "N" gene is necessary for the dog to be free from hyperuricosuria. LUA Dalmatians have normal levels of uric acid and they are not prone to forming the kidney and bladder stones and other problems that be caused by hyperuricosuria. LUA Dalmatians can eat a normal diet. LUA Dalmatians are the result of an outcross project and were accepted into AKC in 2011. N/Hu Dalmatians, if bred, will have a 50/50% chance of passing on either the HUA(Hu) or LUA (N) gene to their offspring. N/N Dalmatians, if bred, will pass on the LUA (N) gene to 100% of their offspring.

HUA-High Uric Acid (Hu/Hu):

Most Dalmatians are HUA. Up until 2011, all AKC registered Dalmatians were HUA. HUA means high uric acid. These dogs are prone to forming kidney/bladder stones and they need a diet low in purines, lots of water and frequent potty breaks to prevent this problem. By following the instructions owners can greatly decrease the chances of a Dalmatian forming stones. HUA Dalmatians are genetically recessive for the hyperuricosuria defect, therefor, if two HUA (Hu/Hu) Dalmatians are bred together, 100% of the offspring will be HUA. Only by breeding with a N/Hu or N/N LUA Dalmatian can a HUA produce LUA offspring.
 

LOW URIC ACID DALMATIANS
         What is a Low Uric Acid (LUA) Dal
      All Dalmatians have a ‘fixed’ genetic defect that prevents them from metabolizing urates correctly.  This defect in the Dalmatian breed was discovered in the early 1900’s and means that ALL Dalmatians (except the few that are part of the LUA breeding program) have high uric acid in their urine.   Uric acid is the soluble (liquid) form of urates.  The uric acid (urates) in Dalmatian urine is from 10 to 20 times higher than all other breeds of dogs.
 
How does the high urinary uric acid (urates) affect the Dalmatian?  Most of the time there is no effect seen whatsoever.  Some careful owners will notice that the urine of their Dalmatian is “cloudy” (due to the high urates), especially common in puppies where the urine is more concentrated and in the cold weather.  We know that a number of factors can decrease the solubility (liquid phase) of uric acid.  With water restriction, or on some diets high in purine proteins, the concentration of uric acid increases, and the solid urates can actually come out of solution in the urine to form crystals, clumps or even stones in the bladder.
 
It is this last thing – urate stones – in the Dalmatian that is the major problem.  Fortunately, about 85% to 90% of all Dalmatians never have a problem with urate stones.  In fact, the vast majority of female Dalmatians never have stone related problems even if they do have high urinary uric acid and urates.  Why are the girls different?  Anatomy!    
 
In male Dalmatians the small caliber of the urinary tube in the penis serves as a ‘choke point’ for the passage of u
ate stones.  Urinary obstruction from urate stones affects male Dalmatians 9 to 10 times more commonly than females.  Overall, about 20% to 30% of all male Dalmatians will suffer from urinary blockage during their lifetime due to the high urinary uric acid, which leads to urate stone formation.  This condition is painful for the dog (and the owner) and is a true veterinary emergency. 
 
Fortunately through the concerted efforts of Dalmatian breeders, owners and fanciers, methods have been developed to manage the high urinary uric acid (especially in male Dalmatians), to avoid stone formation and urinary obstruction.  The bottom line for the male Dalmatian owner is to be sure their dog has access to plenty of water because it helps to decrease the concentration of urates, that they are fed with foods low in purine proteins (~21% protein content), that the food is always provided soaking wet (not dry), and that their dog is given plenty of exercise with opportunities to pee frequently.  These principles are intended to reduce the concentration of urates in the urine, and to keep the bladder emptied.
 
The fundamental principle of the LUA Dalmatians is that you can’t suffer from urinary obstruction due to urates (uric acid) if you don’t have the urates!  The LUA (low uric acid, or sometimes called NUA, normal uric acid) Dalmatians do not have the 10x to 20x higher urinary uric acid seen in all other Dalmatians.  Instead, the LUA Dalmatians have normal levels of uric acid just like all other breeds of dogs.   You can’t build urate stones without urates! 
 
How did the LUAs come about?  In the late 1970s a geneticist, Dr. Robert Schaible with extensive scientific expertise and a love of the Dalmatian Breed, decided to try to do something about the “fixed” genetic defect.  He bred one Pointer (male) to one Dalmatian (female) only one time.  He got some funky looking spotted dogs in the first generation.  But he persisted in many subsequent matings and always used Dalmatians and only Dalmatians afterward.  This single Pointer gave the “normal” gene for uric acid metabolism that the Dalmatians needed and was never used again.  After more than 14 generations and well over 10,000 Dalmatians in a pedigree, the present day dogs – LUA Dalmatians – look like and act like Dalmatians!  In fact, by pedigree analysis, they are 99.998% Dalmatian.
 
In 2007, Dr. Danika Bannasch at the University of California (Davis) under a grant funded by the National Institutes of Health and others, identified the actual gene that the Dalmatian is missing.  It is a transporter gene that all other dogs have, except those who form urate stones.  Dr. Bannasch also developed a genetic test so we can determine if a puppy has one copy of this gene (heterozygous – has low uric acid, but can produce both low and high uric acid puppies) or two copies of this gene (homozygous – has low uric acid and all puppies produced will also have low uric acid).
 
       There are less than 100 LUA Dalmatians in existence today, compared to the thousands of regular Dalmatians in the US, and tens of thousands worldwide.  While the LUAs provide real hope for curing the problem of urinary obstruction due to urate stones that afflicts so many male Dalmatians, it is going to take many years before these dogs the LUAs are fully incorporated into Dalmatian breeding programs across the US and around the world.
 
        In the meanwhile, there will continue to be many fine Dalmatians bred who will have the fixed genetic defect in uric acid metabolism.  Fortunately, many dedicated breeders and owners have developed methods to manage the high urinary uric acid so as to minimize stone formation and urinary blockage. 
 
        As Dalmatian breeders, we consider it an ethical and moral obligation to make every reasonable attempt to improve the health of our beloved Breed.  We are proud to be incorporating the LUA Dalmatians into our own Moen Lake Dalmatians breeding program.   
 
For additional information about LUA Dalmatian, please go to:
 
www.luadalmatians.com
 

Feel free to rate us or post your Dalmatian pictures @ Moen Lake Dalmatians | Facebook or just click the Facebook icon below. We also have an owners group on Facebook for all of our Moen Lake Dalmatian owners to connect and post photos and videos.

Moen Lake Dalmatians in Wisconsin | Dalmatian puppies | Good Dog