LINY Dalmatians

Our sweet Green Collar boy has unexpectedly become available through no fault of his own. His original family didn't show up for pickup...which is unusual... and we truly hope everything is okay on their end but this handsome little guy is now looking for the perfect match. He's 8 weeks old and here's some details about him: • LUA (Heterozygous) - DNA Confirmed • Bilateral Normal hearing - BAER confirmed • First round of vaccinations • Dewormed • Microchipped • Early stages of crate training • Leash training started • Socialized with kids from ages 4-16, adults, cats, adult dogs, and daily household activity • Comfortable with baths & car rides • Vet cleared He's smart, confident, social, and ready to join a loving home. Serious inquiries only! He deserves the very best home! 🐾🏡

Let’s talk BAER! The puppies had their BAER tests this weekend, and before I share the individual results, I want to talk about what BAER actually means, some things to consider, and a few interesting points people don’t usually hear about. I know I’ve talked about BAER many times before, but the fun part about not pretending to have all the answers is that there are always new developments, new experiences, or new factors to think about. BAER is an acronym for Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response. It uses a machine that connects to small wires with tiny probes that sit just under the puppy’s skin, and little ear inserts that emit sound into each ear. That sound triggers a response that travels through the auditory pathways to the brainstem, and the machine shows those responses in real time on a screen. This test is used to determine a dog’s hearing status by checking whether the brain is responding to sound in each ear. Something most people don’t know is that while BAER is very reliable for the specific frequency range it measures, it does not test all possible sound frequencies. So when a dog is considered deaf by BAER standards, they are reliably deaf for the frequencies that were measured - but they may still respond to certain sounds outside that range, or to vibrations that humans interpret as sound responses. This is why some owners of deaf dogs swear their dog “hears” something. Until BAER ever expands to assess a broader range of frequencies, we simply won’t know which ones those may be for dogs. So why do Dalmatians need BAER testing? Dalmatians, like other breeds with the piebald/white spotting genetics, are predisposed to congenital sensorineural deafness. This occurs when melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) fail to populate the cochlea. Without these pigment cells, the structures in the inner ear that support hearing degenerate very early in a puppy’s development, which results in permanent deafness. Because this degeneration happens early, BAER testing is recommended between 5–8 weeks of age, as this window provides the most accurate picture of long-term hearing status. A question I get a lot is: “Is the BAER test reliable?” The answer is mostly, yes - but with context. According to specialists and current research, BAER is considered very reliable, especially for puppies that test bilateral normal. The only caveat is that dogs who test “normal” are rarely retested later in life, so if hearing were to change, it would likely go undocumented. Degeneration after a normal BAER result is considered rare and believed to occur only very early, but because follow-up testing is uncommon, the true incidence isn’t well-measured. For bilateral deaf results, BAER is very reliable. A dog who tests bilateral deaf is, for practical purposes, deaf. While they may still detect certain untested frequencies or vibrations, they are functionally considered deaf. Now, unilaterals - this is where it gets interesting. There is a small window early in development where some further degeneration can still occur. The degeneration of the inner ear structures associated with congenital deafness generally completes within the first several weeks of life - most often before 4–6 weeks, and occasionally up to around 8 weeks. There are anecdotal reports among breeders and some specialists of later progression, but research on that is limited, and it is not considered common. We experienced this firsthand. Last year, we had a large litter - 13 puppies. Six tested unilateral and seven tested bilateral normal. A few weeks later, some of the unilateral puppies were showing signs of hearing loss, and when we retested, they were confirmed bilateral deaf. I posted an in-depth video on this, and one of those puppies even has an Instagram page, so if you’d like to follow her, I’ll tag her below. My initial reaction was genuinely: “How is this even possible?” We followed best practices, tested within the recommended window, and did nothing that could have affected hearing outcomes. When I brought this back to the professionals, they explained that while it is uncommon, it can happen early on - and it may be under-recognized simply because most puppies aren’t retested. So yes, it is possible. Is it likely? No. And is it the end of the world? Absolutely not. I need everyone to be on the same page about this: deaf dogs do not rely solely on verbal cues. Dogs communicate and learn primarily through body language, visual signals, routines, environmental awareness, and other senses. They naturally adapt to our communication far more than we adapt to theirs. One day when I’m ready to retire, I fully plan to rescue or keep a deaf dog because I have big plans for her. Deaf dogs are truly underrated when it comes to their capabilities. Now, the results for this litter are exactly what I expected - We have six bilateral hearing puppies, one bilateral deaf, and one unilateral. They all did fantastic. They didn’t love the BAER test, but they didn’t hate it either. And to end on a fun fact -something I learned this weekend is that different dog breeds have different skin thickness. The specialist shared that she was at a conference working with a rare Mexican breed and the skin was so thick it felt like leather trying to get the probes in. How fascinating is that?

7 weeks is a milestone week for puppies! The perfect time to build confidence through short, positive experiences like meeting new people and gentle leash intro. These early foundations go a long way in helping them settle smoothly into their new homes. 🌱🐾 What’s one skill you think all puppies should learn before going to their new homes?👇

Nothing says rise and shine like 32 tiny paws ready to take on the day. 🐶✨

✨ 4 Weeks Old! ✨ Our puppies are officially 4 weeks old! 🐾 Time is flying, and this week has been full of growth, confidence, and curiosity. Here’s what’s happening in the nursery right now: ✔️ More Mobile Than Ever: They’re walking with purpose now — exploring their pen, learning balance, and starting to play in little bursts before nap time. ✔️ Personalities Emerging: Each puppy is beginning to show their own spark! We’re seeing playful, gentle, curious, and cuddly traits shine through. ✔️ Eyes, Ears & Voices: Their eyes and ears are fully open, and they’re responding to voices, toys, and each other. A few have even discovered their “bark” this week! 🐶 ✔️ Gentle Socialization: We’re continuing daily handling, exposure to soft sounds, new textures, and different surfaces to build confidence. ✔️ Teething Has Begun: Those tiny baby teeth are starting to come in, and mouthing play is on the rise. ✔️ Weaning Prep: Mama is still doing all the feeding for now, but this coming week we’ll begin introducing puppy mush and water bowls — big milestone ahead! 🍼 Everyone is healthy, gaining weight beautifully, and growing fast. The next few weeks will bring lots of firsts — new foods, more playtime, and even more personality.

Puppy rule #1: No one sleeps until the cuddle quota’s met 😆💞

From nose to tail (and every paw in between), no two Dalmatians spots are ever the same. 🐾 Their signature spots aren’t just on the fur — they’re part of their skin pigmentation. The same pigment cells (called melanocytes) that create each spot on their coat also appear in their skin, which is why you’ll find freckles on bellies, ears, and even tiny heart shapes on their toes. A little love, printed right into their DNA. 🖤🤍