Looking back
Dalmatians have short, white eyelashes to match their short white (and black or liver) coats. Frodo had a somewhat piratical look. Strangely, there was another Dalmatian in our road at the time who was called Pirate and who had an even more pronounced eye patch.
Dalmatians are pure white at birth. The spots develop in the first six to eighteen months. Some Dalmatians are born with coloured patches. The fur on such patches is coarser than the rest of the silky coat. At one time, decades ago, such puppies were destroyed at birth, but now it is realised that they are perfectly normal and make very good pets. They can never be show dogs, that's all.
I wondered what had been happening in this domain ten years ago. Why ten years? I don’t really know. It doesn’t seem possible that ten years have passed. Sometimes it seems like yesterday, while at other times it feels like another lifetime.
So, here is the link to Frodo the Faller – he really was a trooper and a great favourite with all who knew him, including many vets.
He's beautiful. Aren't there rules about dalmatians' spots - like at least one on the tail and same for ears - is the eye patch one of those rules?
ReplyDeleteThere are rules for spots, but they're pretty silly and mostly ignored these days. Spots should be 2 to 3 cms in size!! It's more to do with size and conformation of the dog.
DeleteCan’t sign in, but I get what you mean about time.
ReplyDeleteAC
DeleteDoes time really pass quicker with age? It certainly feels like it some days.
DeleteI think it was a terrible shame to destroy puppies of any breed just because their coats weren't quite right. If they can't be show dogs, simply sell them to a family who wants a puppy and doesn't care about the coat colour or pattern!
ReplyDeleteExactly, and that's what happens these days.
DeleteHe’s adorable!! My childhood dog was born in 1983, and was bred to “look like Snoopy”. Not sure how that would work in a real life dog, but ours was “one of the leftovers” and she made the best pet. I adored her.
ReplyDelete'Show quality' isn't always best quality. It all comes down to how a puppy is treated.
DeleteReflecting on the past decade can be surreal—some moments feel so close, while others seem like a distant dream. Frodo clearly left a lasting impact
ReplyDeleteHe certainly did.
DeleteSuch a beautiful dog, and he had to endure so much with his health issues. May he forever rest in peace. It makes me think, too, that I don't think I have ever seen anyone walking a Dalmatian (a park near my house attracts a lot of dog walkers) in my area.
ReplyDeleteIt's not a breed one often sees and not one for the faint-hearted. Dalmatians need a lot of exercise.
DeleteYour photos and memories of Frodo are priceless.
ReplyDeleteHe was very special - but then, I could (and do) say that about all our pets.
DeleteLovely yet bittersweet memories of Frodo ... xxx
ReplyDeleteHe was a lovely boy.
ReplyDeleteWhat a handsome face he had. No wonder he was "top dog" for you.
ReplyDeleteI do miss him - we all do.
DeleteFrodo looks like a sweet dog.
ReplyDeleteHe was a real sweetie, with those he knew and trusted.
ReplyDeleteDalmatians are not beginner dogs! They need a good bit of training and a whole lot of exercise. They were bred to run many miles a day behind coaches. KC, our late Dalmatian, was all muscle and will. We'd had dogs before so she worked out with us to an old age. But that movie gave the impression that they're easy, cute pups. Ending in many in shelters.
ReplyDeleteA lot of careful breeding has almost eliminated congenital deafness, but I met a young, boisterous deaf Dalmatian at the vet one day. The owner was clearly out of her depth, with a deaf dog and a lively toddler. Heartbreaking.
DeleteDuring the thirty years we had Dalmatians, my husband was a daily cross-country runner and I was a dedicated walker.
Oh goodness, he was so cute.
ReplyDeleteHe was a lovely boy.
ReplyDeleteFrodo was a sweet dog and thank you for the information on Dalmatians. Our sweet pooch was a mix between a black lab and a Dalmatian. She was overall black but had a white spotted blaze on her chest and paws. She was our joy for 15 years.
ReplyDeleteA lovely look back ...
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you back in 2015 so I appreciated the link.
Frodo forever in your memories and in your hearts.
All the best Jan
he looks like a show dog to me! so handsome..
ReplyDeleteHe's beautiful and your post makes him memorable.
ReplyDeleteThe story of Frodo the Faller is both fascinating and poignant—Dalmatians have such striking features, and it’s amazing how their coats evolve over time. The historical shift in how puppies with patches are treated is a reminder of how perspectives on animals change for the better. Reflecting on the past, whether a decade or a lifetime ago, often brings a mix of nostalgia and surprise at how time slips by.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I’ve just shared a new post—you might enjoy it: www.melodyjacob.com. Hope it offers something meaningful.
In the 90th my best friend a few houses fromnours had a Dalmatien. It was 3uch a good dog. Unfortunately one evening he had gobbled doown his food so quickly that his stomach turned over and the vet could only put him asleep. That was terrible I had seen him an hour before when he brought me his ball !
ReplyDelete