HOW MUCH (TROUBLE) IS THAT DOGGIE FROM THE MOVIE?

Byline: Helen O'Neill Associated Press 

They look so irresistible scampering across the screen, little Patch and Pepper and Lucky and the rest of Disney's spotted brood, melting hearts across America as they flee the villainous Cruella DeVil.

But ``101 Dalmatians,'' which opened Wednesday, really has two endings: the movie version that leaves the little spotted bundles safe and snug, and the real-life one that begins with the cry, ``Can we get a puppy for Christmas?''

``When the kids come out of the theater and ask for a puppy, buy the stuffed variety,'' says Julie Lux, spokeswoman for the Dalmatian Club of America. ``A dog is for life, not for Christmas.''

Yet, in true Disney fashion, expect a blizzard of black spots this holiday season as Dal dizziness sweeps the country, with the image of the dotted doggies on everything from underwear to coloring books.

Expect a lot of puppies, too.

Chris Jackson, national rescue coordinator for the Dalmatian Club of America, tells of a breeder who was stopped recently by a stranger while walking her Dalmatian outside a Maryland shopping center.

``He had a 7-month-old Dalmatian in season and wanted to use her dog to breed lots of puppies for the movie,'' Jackson says. ``The stories we are hearing are horrible.''

Jackson predicts her job - finding homes for stray, abandoned and unwanted dogs around the country - will be pretty horrible in about six months, when the thrill of a Christmas pup has long worn off.

``When parents realize that this is a large dog, a boisterous dog that needs a lot of attention,'' she says. ``When the 3-year-old keeps crying because the dog is knocking her over and it didn't do that in the movie. That is when we will start getting the calls.''

Pet store operators say they are already getting more calls about Dalmatians, and although puppies cost between $300 and $600 and can grow to 70 pounds, they expect orders to jump in the weeks before Christmas.

The problem is, while Perdita and Pongo might be the perfect canine couple on screen, real-life Dalmatians are notoriously demanding.

The smooth-haired puppies that are born snow white (black or chocolate-colored spots emerge within two weeks) sometimes grow up hyperactive, difficult and sickly.

Dalmatians shed profusely and are prone to deafness and kidney stones. Bred originally as carriage dogs for royalty, they demand a lot of time, attention and exercise. They can tear up the house if confined or ignored.

Not the ideal Christmas gift.

Worried that puppies will end up abandoned or mistreated, many reputable breeders are simply waiting out the holiday season, says Donna Marcel, editor of the monthly Dog World magazine.

``The puppies that are bred as a result of the movie will be from the backyard breeders and puppy mills with no concern for the dogs' health or for where they will find homes,'' she says.

Marcel pointed to other fad pets that became popular after a breed's screen success. Collies have never outgrown their connection to ``Lassie,'' the movie ``Beethoven'' boosted sales of St. Bernards, and the TV show ``Frasier'' did the same for Jack Russell terriers. And there was an earlier run on Dalmatians after the 1991 re-release of the 1961 Disney animated movie.

``The media hype definitely has an impact,'' says Weezie Ray, store manager for the International Kennel Club in Paramus, N.J., adding that her store tries to screen would-be buyers. ``A Dalmatian is not the best family dog.''

Disney, which used 230 English-bred Dalmatian puppies for the movie - shot on location in Britain - is distributing brochures about responsible pet ownership at its theme parks.

The credits will also contain a message about the care of the animals on the set. Ultimately though, Disney says it can't be held accountable for irresponsible owners who buy a dog just because they fall in love with the movie variety.

``Unfortunately there is very little we can do about unscrupulous breeders,'' says Terry Curtain, a publicist for Disney's Buena Vista Pictures. ``But there is no real evidence that the film will create a demand for the dog. Dalmatians are a popular dog and the demand already is there.''

Dalmatian tips

The American Kennel Club and the Dalmatian Club of America offer the following tips on buying and caring for Dalmatians:

Buy from a reputable breeder, who will ask about your lifestyle and how the dog will live. Dalmatians, originally bred to run behind horse carriages, need lots of daily exercise.

Puppies should be purchased after 8 weeks old. Cost ranges from about $300 to $600.

Try to meet the mother of the puppy and ask the breeder if it has been screened for hereditary diseases. One in every 12 Dalmatians is born deaf. Dalmatians also have a genetic tendency to develop kidney stones, making it necessary for some dogs to have special diets or medication.

Dalmatians shed profusely; regular brushing is required to avoid a ``snow storm'' of pet hair in the house.

For more information, call the kennel club in North Carolina at [phone] for a free dog buyers education packet.

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3 Photos

Photo: (1--Color) Dalmatians can grow to 70 pounds and will shed profusely if not brushed often.

(2--3) The dogs shown in ``101 Dalmatians,'' with Joan Plowright, above, may tempt youngsters, but real Dalmatians demand lots of exercise.

Hans Gutknecht/Daily News

Box: Dalmatian tips (See Text)