It is now May of 1999. Below these few words you will find an older, more innocent version of this introduction to dalmeadow. It was written before we discovered that not all people involved in the dalmatian breed consider the love and appreciation of their dog or dogs to be an end in itself.

Our Club carries as it's motto

"Founded in 1943, we exist to increase the popularity of the Dalmatian in Australia, to encourage pedigree breeding, to urge universal adoption of the standard and to foster increased showing of the breed. Membership is open to all who are interested in Dalmatians"

Now with the benefit of 50+ years hindsight we would replace 'popularity' with 'appreciation' and 'showing' with 'knowledge'. These are not minor changes but we think this short statement would then more closely reflect our responsibility to the Dal.

David Spence
May 1999

Our first dalmatian was Lacey, bought as a pet for son Simon who is now eighteen. She died aged nearly twelve about two months ago. She was much loved and introduced us to shedding, grins, wandering, gluttiny and shedding. She sleeps in our orchard with a deaf pup from our last litter and next to a friend's beloved Rottweiler.
 
When we first moved to our current home we inherited some geese. Lacey devoured all six in one afternoon of unsupervised activity - then complained bitterly when dinner was withheld that night. I loved her style.
 
Daughter Jenny aged twelve then, decided that Golden Retrievers were also great so we added Jesse to our family. We continue to maintain an affection for both breeds - the quietness and solemnity of the one breed offsetting the champagne of the other - you guess which!
 
I cannot remember how we got involved in the show world - I think it was Pam who got the bug and started wondering about how this and that was done 'if one were to show one's dog'... - Didn't see it coming and don't regret it now.
 
I will spare you the inevitable ups and downs of a new exhibitor - except to say that we found most exhibitors extremely helpful and concerned about our lack of knowledge. Some still remain firm friends.
 
We started thinking about the possibility of importing a dog just for fun. We had talked several times with an English couple - Brian and Joy Venables and when they mentioned a trip to England we approached them to see if they would be willing to look around on our behalf with a view to importing a pup.
 
Brian came back singing the praises of a brother and sister shown in puppy class - "he won on the day but I think, really, that the bitch is better". So with that advice and a contact we stumbled upon Washakie Dalmatians UK - and we now have a son each of the brother and sister - and a grandson/great nephew of both plus several offspring - 11 in all - and of course some Goldens.
 
The brother and sister in question (puppies at that stage) are now known as Ch & Am Ch Washakie Dancing Brave and Ch Washakie Indian Summer. Between them they account for a large share of the major results of the past four years. The grandson/nephew is by Ch Tommy Brock - now approaching 20 CC's. His father Ch Salsusa Black Jack is by Ch Theakstone Tamerlane. So we consider ourselves very fortunate - and I consider Brian to be a very good judge.
 
So we showed our dogs, success one day desolation!! the next - as is normal. We are more interested in the impossible dream of breeding a good Dal than the pursuit of 'tupperware trophies'.
 
We have not produced the 'ultimate Dal' - and the longer we are involved, the more pompous it seems as an aim. I think now that we will be content to leave the breed as we came to it - not introducing to Australia unwanted factors - but just breeding Dals of good temperament, who approach our Breed Standard.
 
So far we have had some good results and some bad, including deafness, patching and one litter exhibiting entropian. When I approached a very respected breeder about our experiences she said "..., if you breed for long enough you will experience all the woes - and anybody claiming to have never bred this or that is inexperienced, lying or just plain incompetent. The important thing is to learn from your mistakes not hide them."
 
We continue to think that was good advice.