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      • What Do You Know? DCA 2025 DCAF Fundraisers
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    • Get a CHIC Number on Your Dalmatian
    • Add Your Dalmatian to the OFA DNA Repository
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    • Volunteer
DONATE TODAY
  • ABOUT DCAF
    • Our People
    • Founders
    • Donor Lifetime Giving Levels
    • Our Impact
    • Board Meetings
  • DalmatiAn Health
    • CHIC
    • James W Smith Memorial Health Clinics
    • Hearing
    • Urinary Stones
      • Lua Dalmatians
    • Copper Storage Disease
    • Other Health Conditions affecting Dalmatians
  • Research
    • Current Studies
    • Past Studies
    • OFA DNA Repository
  • Education
    • Breeder Resources
    • Betty Garvin Seminars
    • Links to AKC & CHF Educational Webinars
  • Rescue Support
    • Should I Rehome My Dalmatian?
    • Affiliated Dalmatian Rescue Organizations
    • Recently funded rescues
    • Emergency Plans for Your Pets
  • How to Help
    • Make a Donation
    • Current Fundraisers
      • What Do You Know? DCA 2025 DCAF Fundraisers
    • LIFETIME GIVING LEVELS
    • Endowment Fund
    • Heritage Society
    • Get a CHIC Number on Your Dalmatian
    • Add Your Dalmatian to the OFA DNA Repository
    • Participate in Current Studies
    • Volunteer
Home Dalmatian Health

CHIC

Dalmatian CHIC Core and Other Tests

DALMATIAN HEALTH CLEARANCES and THE CANINE HEALTH INFORMATION CENTER (CHIC)

The Dalmatian Club of America (DCA) joined the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) program in 2004. The Canine Health Information Center, also known as CHIC, is a centralized canine health database jointly sponsored by the AKC/Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF) and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

CHIC Mission Statement:
  • To provide a source of health information for owners, breeders, and scientists, that will assist in breeding healthy dogs
For more information about the CHIC program, visit the OFA CHIC website.
Health testing our breeding stock and relatives and registering the results in the OFA CHIC database is one of the best ways to ensure the future of our breed. Use the data to help make the best breeding decisions possible based on past generations. It’s up to us to help provide the healthiest Dalmatians we can for future generations.
Dalmatian CHIC Requirements
To receive a CHIC number and certificate, your Dalmatian must have test results for at least three tests on record in the database:
  • Hip Dysplasia - Results accepted from OFA (OFA, OVC, or PennHIP)
  • Hearing - BAER results accepted from OFA
Choose at least one of the following tests for the third requirement.
  • Eyes - Results accepted from Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) Certification
  • Thyroid - Results accepted from OFA (by an approved lab only)

Application forms for the required tests are available on the OFA site.

Be sure to sign each form to release the results for public access in the CHIC database.   DCA and DCAF strongly urge all owners and breeders to make all the test results publicly available.

  • CHIC numbers are only issued for dogs with all required test results publicly available.
  • OFA application fees for full litter B.A.E.R. and James W Smith Health Clinic tests are only covered for publicly available results.

Register your Dalmatian’s BAER forms/tracings, Hip results, and Thyroid with OFA and/or CAER test results with CAER. The information will automatically be entered into the CHIC database, and a CHIC number and certificate for your dog will be sent to you.  

  • A dog must have a permanent identification via a tattoo or a microchip to be enrolled in the CHIC program.
  • DCAF covers full litter B.A.E.R. application fees for DCA Member breeders.
  • DCAF offers the James W Smith Memorial Health Clinics each year during the DCA National Specialty. Eye exams and Thyroid tests are offered whenever possible at discounted prices and DCAF covers the OFA application fees.
DCAF Futurity CHIC Bonus
  • DCAF encourages breeders to secure CHIC numbers on all dogs BEFORE they are used for any breedings. We incentivize this by offering a cash award bonus to winners of the DCA Futurity Stakes offered annually at the National Specialty.
  • DCAF offers the following special prizes for winners of the Futurity. These prizes shall be awarded only if the Sire and Dam are CHIC listed.
  • DCA MEMBER BREEDER(S) OF THE BEST IN FUTURITY winner shall be awarded $500.00 in aggregate by DCAF.
  • DCA MEMBER OWNER(S) OF THE SIRE OF THE BEST IN FUTURITY winner shall be awarded $500.00 in aggregate by DCAF.
  • DCA MEMBER OWNER(S) OF THE SIRE AND BREEDER OF THE BEST JUNIOR OR SENIOR THAT DOES NOT WIN BEST IN FUTURITY shall be awarded $200.00 in aggregate each by DCAF.
How CHIC benefits you and the Dalmatian:
  • 1. Breeding Information: Permanent identification and central data storage provides breeders with a reliable source of information about dogs they may be planning on using in their breeding program. The data is publicly available to anyone on the OFA website.
  • 2. Buyer's Information: Breeders can provide copies of CHIC records for the new puppy owners and other breeders or refer them to the CHIC database for accurate information about results of their health testing.
  • 3. Research Information:
  • Parent Clubs - Can access CHIC data on their breed to help determine health research priorities and evaluate the participation and effectiveness of testing programs and incentives they have established.
  • Breed Research - Scientist need accurate information on multiple generations of dogs in order to conduct research that can benefit breeds and eliminate genetic diseases. The CHIC database can serve as a resource for these scientists.
  • All Breed Research - Researchers are able to utilize the information for epidemiological studies that can enhance our knowledge of health issues affecting all breeds of dogs.

Help DCAF continue to encourage participation in the CHIC database!

Donate

Questions regarding the CHIC program may be addressed to:

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
c/o Eddie Dziuk or Dr. Greg Keller
2300 East Nifong Blvd.
Columbia, MO 65201
(800) 442-0418 
Website: https://ofa.org/

A non-profit charitable Corporation
For the Health of Dalmatians and all canines…

The Dalmatian Club of America Foundation (DCAF) is a non-profit charitable Corporation devoted to advancing the health and quality of life for Dalmatians and all dogs through supported research, rescue and education.

We welcome your support

Donate

The Foundation has received from the IRS 501 (c) (3) nonprofit status and is registered under EIN 61-1280243.

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Copyright Dalmatian Club of America Foundation.

Contact us

  • Corresponding Secretary
    Deby Harber
  • 19353 S 81st W Ave
    Mounds, OK 74047
  • 918-630-5747
  • harberDCAF@gmail.com

TREASURER (for Donations)

  • Cheryl Bryant
    DCAF Treasurer
  • 1319 Gabriel Court
    Mount Vernon, IA 52314
  • 319-551-5406
  • dcaf.treasurer@gmail.com

Donation form for those who prefer to mail a donation

Quick Links

  • Breeder Resources
  • CHIC
  • OFA DNA Repository
  • Affiliated Dalmatian Rescue Organizations
  • Current Studies

How To Help

  • Make a Donation
  • Current Fundraisers
  • LIFETIME GIVING LEVELS
  • Endowment Fund
  • Heritage Society
  • Add Your Dalmatian to the OFA DNA Repository
  • Participate in Current Studies
  • Volunteer

Rescue Support

  • Should I Rehome My Dalmatian?
  • Affiliated Dalmatian Rescue Organizations
  • Recently funded rescues
  • Emergency Plans for Your Pets
  • About DCAF
  • Dalmatian Health
  • Research
  • Education
  • Rescue
  • How To Help
Copyright Dalmatian Club of America Foundation.