A Guarantee You Can Actually Rely On

At Royal Dalmatian Puppies, we believe that a health guarantee should be more than a paragraph of fine print buried at the bottom of a contract. It should be a clear, honest, and enforceable promise — one that reflects the care, testing, and ethical breeding practices that go into every litter we produce. Our one-year genetic health guarantee is designed to protect you, the buyer, against the most serious hereditary conditions known to affect the Dalmatian breed. It is written in plain language, it is backed by documentation, and it is honored without hesitation.

We can offer this guarantee with confidence because we do not cut corners. Every breeding dog in our program is health-tested, every puppy is examined by a licensed veterinarian before placement, and every litter is raised in a clean, loving, and enriched home environment. The result is a puppy that is not only beautiful and well-tempered, but genetically sound. When you bring a Royal Dalmatian into your family, you are not taking a risk — you are making an informed decision supported by verifiable data.

Guarantee Summary

What Is Covered

Our guarantee specifically covers the most significant hereditary and genetic conditions that can affect Dalmatians. These are the conditions that responsible breeders test for and breed away from — and they are the conditions we stand behind. If your puppy is diagnosed with any of the following within the first year of life, you are protected.

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  Hereditary Deafness (BAER-confirmed): Complete or partial deafness in one or both ears that is determined to be of hereditary origin and confirmed by a licensed veterinary neurologist or audiologist.
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  Hip Dysplasia: Diagnosed by a licensed veterinarian and confirmed by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or PennHIP at a severity level that requires surgical intervention.
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  Elbow Dysplasia: Confirmed by OFA or equivalent radiographic evaluation and requiring surgical correction.
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  Hyperuricosuria (HU) / Urinary Stones: Genetically confirmed predisposition leading to the formation of urate stones requiring veterinary treatment or surgical removal.
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  Congenital Heart Defects: Structural cardiac abnormalities present at birth and confirmed by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist.
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  Hereditary Eye Conditions: Including but not limited to hereditary cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), confirmed by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist.
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  Von Willebrand's Disease: A hereditary bleeding disorder confirmed through genetic testing and clinical diagnosis.
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  Other Documented Hereditary Conditions: Any condition for which both parents carry a known genetic marker and which is confirmed by a licensed veterinarian as hereditary in origin.

What Is Not Covered

We believe in being completely transparent about the boundaries of our guarantee. While we stand firmly behind the genetic health of our puppies, there are circumstances and conditions that fall outside the scope of our coverage. These exclusions are standard in the industry and exist to protect both the buyer and the breeder from claims that are unrelated to hereditary health.

• Conditions resulting from injury, accident, neglect, or abuse after the puppy leaves our care.
• Illnesses or conditions caused by exposure to infectious diseases (e.g., parvovirus, distemper, kennel cough) after placement.
• Parasites, including fleas, ticks, worms, giardia, and coccidia, which are environmental and not hereditary.
• Cosmetic or cosmetic-related issues, including bite alignment, coat length, or marking patterns.
• Conditions that are common, minor, or self-limiting, such as transient diarrhea, minor allergies, or uncomplicated upper respiratory infections.
• Any condition that was disclosed to the buyer in writing prior to purchase, including known carrier status.
• Claims made without proper veterinary documentation or without following the required examination timeline.
• Damage or illness resulting from failure to follow our recommended nutrition, vaccination, or care protocols.
• Spaying or neutering performed before the age of 18 months, which can affect growth and joint development.
• Any condition diagnosed after the twelve-month coverage period has expired.

Note: This list is not exhaustive. The complete terms and conditions are provided in the written contract you receive at the time of reservation. We encourage every buyer to read the contract carefully and to ask us any questions before signing.

How to Make a Claim

We have designed our claims process to be straightforward and stress-free. If you believe your puppy has a condition covered by this guarantee, please follow these steps in order. We are here to help you every step of the way — you will never be left to navigate this alone.

Buyer Responsibilities

A health guarantee is a partnership. For our guarantee to remain valid, the buyer must fulfill certain reasonable obligations that protect the health and well-being of the puppy. These responsibilities are not burdensome — they are simply the hallmarks of responsible dog ownership.

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  Veterinary Examination Within 72 Hours: Your puppy must be examined by a licensed veterinarian within three days of pickup or delivery. A written report must be provided to us.
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  Core Vaccinations & Deworming: You must follow the vaccination and deworming schedule recommended by your veterinarian and provide proof of completion.
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  Preventive Care: Your puppy must receive year-round heartworm prevention and regular flea and tick control as recommended by your vet.
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  Proper Nutrition: You must feed a high-quality, balanced diet appropriate for your puppy's age and size. We are happy to provide brand recommendations.
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  Spay/Neuter Timing: If you are not contracting with us for breeding rights, your puppy must not be spayed or neutered before 18 months of age. Early altering can affect joint and bone development.
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  Prompt Reporting: Any suspected health issue must be reported to us within 7 days of diagnosis. Delayed reporting may affect your ability to claim.

Why We Can Offer This Guarantee

Many breeders offer vague guarantees that are difficult to enforce or that contain so many exclusions they are practically meaningless. We can offer a strong, clear, and enforceable guarantee because we have done the work that makes it possible. Our breeding dogs are not just pets — they are tested, titled, and carefully selected for genetic soundness. We know their pedigrees going back multiple generations. We know their health clearances. We know their temperaments. And we know that the puppies we produce are among the healthiest Dalmatians you will find anywhere.

Over the past eight years, we have placed more than one hundred puppies in loving homes across the country. In that time, we have had an extraordinarily low rate of genetic health issues — not because we are lucky, but because we are deliberate. We do not breed dogs that have not been cleared. We do not breed dogs that have produced affected offspring in the past. We do not breed for quantity. We breed for quality, and that quality is what allows us to stand behind every puppy we sell.

If you have any questions about our health guarantee or our breeding practices, we encourage you to reach out. We are always happy to talk about what we do and why we do it. Transparency is not just a policy for us — it is a core value, and it is the reason so many families trust us with one of the most important decisions they will ever make.