They are adorable, spotted bundles of fun and with 101 of them cavorting all over the local movie screen this week, chances are that starry-kids will be demanding one for Christmas.

Reports from overseas suggest that there is already an increased demand for this breed. Local dog lovers and experts, however, are hoping fervently that parents will resist the urge to acquire a dalmatian -- or indeed, any kind of puppy -- as a Christmas present for Junior.

Pic-A-Pet manager Bryan Parkin says that, so far, there has been little interest at his store. "There has been no increase in demand and, in any case, dalmatians have never been one of the more popular breeds. Of course,'' he concedes, "the movie could change all that!'' He says that the approach at Pic-A-Pet is to try and match customers with dogs. "We find there is a need to educate the customer on the different breeds of dogs. If someone came in and said they wanted a Dalmatian, we would try and find out what they actually know about this breed and the reality of owning a dalmatian. After we have talked to them about their expectations they often have a complete re-think and end up with a completely different breed than they had perhaps planned.'' Dr. Andrew Madeiros of Ettrick Animal Hospital says that the biggest mistake made by people is that they fix their minds on a certain kind of dog without having any idea of what a particular breed was originally bred for. "Working dogs, such as border collies, or Dalmatians, for example -- who were bred to run alongside horse and carriages -- require a great deal of exercise. But people often select a breed that's totally inappropriate to their lifestyle. A big dog is not a good idea in a cramped apartment or, you may find that if you work all day, adequate exercise could be a problem.'' Although some dogs are quite happy to pop out three times a day for a short walk round a small yard, Dr. Madeiros points out that bigger and more active breeds need a large exercise area in which to burn off excess energy.

"I think also, that people often fail to consider the expense of owning a dog, or indeed, any animal,'' he says. "Medical expenses can be considerable, just keeping up with routine requirements such as vaccinations, spaying, neutering or, in the event of an accident, you could end up with a hefty bill.

Long-haired dogs require a lot of grooming and that can also be expensive. If your dog has puppies, there is more expense and if she has to have a Caesarean, it could cost $300 or more.'' All too often, owners become disillusioned if their dog barks incessantly or shows signs of an unfriendly disposition: "This usually goes back to training. If you're at work all day, you have absolutely no hope of training a puppy. In any case,'' he adds, "a dog is essentially a pack animal and was never meant to be left tied to a tree or locked up in a kennel -- they need to be with people and that means you have to have time to be with them. There is no way that anyone can go to work and leave a puppy on its own for eight hours!'' He also advises strongly against `compensation' buying: "Don't get a puppy if you have just got divorced, or just had a baby. And if you're thinking of getting a dog you should consider how your life is likely to change over the next decade. Are you planning to have children, for instance? If so, there are some larger breeds that are perhaps not such a good idea to have around young children and their friends, especially if the dog has become used to your undivided attention! All these things have to be considered!'' Serving as shelter chairman on the SPCA committee, Dr. Madeiros sees both ends of the problem. "People tend to dump dogs before Christmas because they're going away, or whatever, and a lot of people come looking for animals for Christmas. The SPCA is very selective about adopting animals out at this time of year.'' Veterinarian nurse and receptionist Jane Taylor, who advises the public on the acquisition of puppies and on their care and training says, "First of all, if a person decides that he really does want to buy a Dalmatian puppy, I would advise that if they are unable to find a reputable breeder in Bermuda, they should contact a kennel club overseas which will then advise them on the most responsible breeders.'' Mrs. Taylor says that dalmatian clubs in the US are "very concerned'' about the renewed interest in the breed as a result of the film. "This has happened with other breeds featured in films and on TV and it's not necessarily in the dog's interest!'' Dalmatians or no, Mrs. Taylor says that, unfortunately, people do tend to buy puppies as presents. "This is what we would call `impulse' buying, but acquiring a puppy is a life-long commitment. In any event,'' she points out, "you could hardly choose a worse time than Christmas to acquire a puppy and, in fact, many breeders will not release pets for adoption until the festive season is over.'' She notes that coming into a new home represents a very traumatic moment in a puppy's life: "They are going through the transition of leaving their mother, their litter mates and the breeder. This is a time when a puppy needs so much love and attention and yet Christmas is the one time when a family is very busy with family gatherings, family outings and so on, and children are usually over-excited to start with!'' She points out that it is irresponsible to go off to parties when a new puppy is trying to cope with strangers in an alien setting. "It's essential,'' she adds, "that people sit down quietly and decide whether they really want this cute little puppy which is going to turn into a dog. When they are no longer quite so cute they may not be wanted, so they tend to end up at the Humane Society -- or, even worse, they are dumped.'' Those cute Dalmatians are not the easiest of pets to care for From Page 49 In Mrs. Taylor's opinion, it is unfortunate for any breed to become "the flavour of the month. Dalmatians are not the easiest breed to raise and care for. They can suffer from bad skin, an heredity form of deafness (which makes them very difficult to train) and from urinary problems, all of which can mean a lifetime of special care. They are lovely dogs, but they are not for everybody.'' This is a view shared by Peter Head, who has now owned two Dalmatians, the latest being Domino who, sadly, died just two weeks ago. "Any dog is a big responsibility and takes up a lot of time and effort and, maybe, Dalmatians more than most,'' he says. They require a lot of exercise and certainly can't be locked up all day! When a dog gives you as much love as Domino did, you have to give that back, too.'' While Mr. Head thinks that, in some ways, `animal' movies can have a beneficial effect on children, he does worry that people, after seeing `101 Dalmatians' will acquire a puppy of their own for all the wrong reasons. "A puppy is not a toy -- it's a member of the family and there has to be a commitment by the other family members for life. You have to take them out when it's pouring with rain as well as when the sun is shining. Dalmatians grow to be big dogs and all big dogs need a lot of exercising. This is not easy in Bermuda as there are so many restrictions as to where you can take your dog, so that's another thing to consider. And,'' he continues, "it's no use for a parent, even if it's said with the best of intentions, to tell their children that they have to be `responsible' for their new pet. Children are not mature enough to be entirely responsible for any pet. Having a puppy is a very serious business and sacrifices have to be made. You can't, for instance, decide that you're too busy at work to go home at 5 p.m., or go off to a party straight from the office if you have a dog, because a dog cannot be left to fend for itself. Of course,'' he adds, "they are certainly worth all the trouble and inconvenience. You get back more enjoyment in the end than you could ever give.'' Anyone planning to import a puppy from overseas is strongly advised to contact the Department of Agriculture regarding import permits and information on Bermuda's strict regulations regarding the importation of dogs.

SPOTS OF TROUBLE -- Pongo and Perdy, two of the canine stars of Walt Disney's `101 Dalmatians'. Local dog lovers are cautioning people in this season of giving to think twice before giving their children a pup of their own.

MAN'S BEST FRIEND -- Peter Head, pictured with his "wonderful'' Dalmatian, Domino.