BAER Testing in Dalmatians: What It Is, Why It Matters, and What to Ask Your Breeder

If you are researching Dalmatians — whether you are looking for a puppy, studying the breed, or simply curious about what responsible breeders do — you will encounter the term BAER testing. It comes up in every serious conversation about Dalmatian health, and for good reason.

Deafness is the most significant hereditary health concern in the Dalmatian breed. It is more common in Dalmatians than in almost any other purebred dog. And unlike hip dysplasia or thyroid disease, which develop over time and can be observed, deafness is invisible. A deaf dog behaves normally in most situations. A unilaterally deaf dog — one that hears on one side only — can be nearly impossible to identify without a test.

BAER testing is that test. Understanding it is essential for anyone who cares about the breed.

BAER stands for Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response. It is a neurological test that measures the electrical activity in the auditory pathway — from the ear through the brainstem — in response to sound stimuli.

The procedure is straightforward. Small electrodes are placed on the dog's scalp and near each ear. A series of clicks is delivered through earphones, one ear at a time. The equipment records the brainwave response to each click. If the auditory pathway is functioning normally, a characteristic waveform appears. If there is no response, the dog is deaf in that ear.

The test is painless, takes only a few minutes per dog, and requires no sedation in most cases. It can be performed on puppies as young as five to six weeks of age — old enough for the auditory system to have matured, but before most puppies go to their new homes.

Crucially, BAER testing evaluates each ear independently. This is what makes it irreplaceable. There is no other reliable way to determine whether a dog is deaf in one ear versus both.

The answer lies in genetics — specifically, in the relationship between pigmentation and the inner ear.

Dalmatians carry the extreme piebald gene (sw), which produces their characteristic white coat with colored spots. This gene affects not just coat color but the distribution of pigment-producing cells called melanocytes throughout the body. In the inner ear, a structure called the stria vascularis depends on melanocytes to function. Without them, the hair cells of the cochlea — the sensory cells responsible for converting sound into nerve signals — degenerate within the first few weeks of life, causing permanent sensorineural deafness.

This is not a defect unique to poorly bred dogs. It is a consequence of the same genetic mechanism that produces the breed's distinctive appearance. Every Dalmatian carries the piebald gene. The question is whether the melanocyte distribution in any given dog's inner ear is sufficient to support normal hearing.

Research published through the Dalmatian Club of America and the work of Dr. George Strain at Louisiana State University — the foremost researcher on canine deafness — has documented the following approximate rates in the Dalmatian breed:

• ~8% of Dalmatians are bilaterally deaf (deaf in both ears)
• ~22% are unilaterally deaf (deaf in one ear)
• ~70% have normal bilateral hearing

That means roughly one in three Dalmatians has some degree of hearing impairment. These are not rare edge cases. They are a significant portion of the breed population.

Certain physical traits correlate with higher deafness risk:

• Blue eyes — Dalmatians with one or two blue eyes have a substantially higher rate of deafness than those with brown eyes. A blue eye indicates reduced pigmentation in the iris, which often correlates with reduced pigmentation in the inner ear.
• Heavily patched dogs — Dogs with large solid-colored patches (distinct from normal spots) tend to have lower deafness rates than dogs with very little pigmentation.
• Blue-pigmented dogs — Dogs with blue (dilute) pigmentation rather than black have elevated deafness rates and are shunned by preservation breeders not for cosmetic reasons, but because the dilute gene compounds the pigmentation deficit already present in the breed.

These correlations are statistical, not absolute. A blue-eyed Dalmatian may hear perfectly. A brown-eyed Dalmatian may be deaf. The only way to know is to test.

Bilaterally deaf dogs — those with no hearing in either ear — are identifiable relatively early. They do not respond to sound, startle easily when touched unexpectedly, and sleep through noise that would wake a hearing dog. Most reputable breeders do not place bilaterally deaf puppies in pet homes; they are typically humanely euthanized at a young age or placed in specialized deaf-dog rescue programs with experienced handlers.

Unilaterally deaf dogs are a different matter entirely. They hear normally through one ear. They respond to their name, react to sounds, and pass every casual observation test. Without BAER testing, they are indistinguishable from bilaterally hearing dogs.

Why does this matter for breeding? Because a unilaterally deaf dog bred to another carrier can produce bilaterally deaf offspring. Responsible breeders do not breed unilaterally deaf dogs — not because those dogs cannot live full, happy lives as pets, but because introducing a known deafness-associated gene into a breeding program is an avoidable risk to future generations.

This is why BAER testing both parents before every litter is non-negotiable for preservation breeders. It is not enough to test once. Dogs are tested before each breeding to confirm their status has not changed and to maintain a current, verifiable record.

At HatTrick Dalmatians, every dog in our breeding program is BAER tested. We test at a veterinary clinic. Results are submitted to the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), which maintains a public database of BAER results alongside hip, elbow, thyroid, and eye certifications.

When you look up a HatTrick dog on the OFA website at ofa.org, you will find their BAER result listed alongside their other health clearances. The result will read either:

• Normal — bilateral hearing confirmed in both ears
• Unilateral — hearing in one ear only
• Bilateral deaf — no hearing in either ear

We only breed dogs with a Normal BAER result. This is not a preference. It is a requirement.

Puppies from our litters are BAER tested before they go to their new homes. Every buyer receives a copy of their puppy's BAER certificate. You will know, with certainty, your puppy's hearing status, and why we can guarantee hearing status.

When you contact a Dalmatian breeder, these questions will tell you quickly whether they take deafness seriously:

1. Have both parents been BAER tested? The answer must be yes. Both parents, not just one. A bilaterally hearing sire bred to an untested dam is not responsible breeding.

2. Are the results on file with the OFA? Ask for the OFA numbers and look them up yourself at ofa.org. Results should be publicly listed. If a breeder says they tested but has no OFA record, be skeptical.

3. Are the puppies BAER tested before placement? Responsible breeders test the entire litter before puppies go home. You should receive a certificate for your specific puppy.

4. What is your policy on unilaterally deaf puppies? A thoughtful answer here — whether they place them as pets with full disclosure, or do not breed carriers — tells you a great deal about the breeder's values.

5. How long have you been BAER testing your dogs? Preservation breeders have been testing for decades. It is not a new practice for them.

If a breeder cannot answer these questions, or tells you BAER testing is unnecessary, or says their dogs "have never had hearing problems," walk away. Casual observation cannot detect unilateral deafness. Only the test can.

A word on bilateral deafness, because it comes up: deaf Dalmatians can live rich, full lives in the right home. They are trained with hand signals and vibrating collars. They bond deeply with their owners. Many deaf dog owners describe the experience as profoundly rewarding.

But placing a bilaterally deaf puppy requires honesty, preparation, and the right match. It is not something to discover after the fact. A buyer who did not know their puppy was deaf, who was not prepared for the training demands, and who has no support from their breeder is in a difficult position — and the dog pays the price.

Transparency and testing prevent that outcome entirely.

BAER testing is not optional for responsible Dalmatian breeders. It is the foundation of any serious health program in this breed. The test is inexpensive, painless, and definitive. There is no excuse for skipping it.

When you choose a Dalmatian from a preservation breeder who BAER tests every dog, you are not just getting a piece of paper. You are getting certainty — about your puppy, about the parents, and about the commitment of the person who bred them.

That certainty is worth everything.

All HatTrick Dalmatians breeding dogs are BAER tested with results on file with the OFA. Every puppy is individually BAER tested before placement. Contact us to learn more about our health program or to join our waitlist for an upcoming litter.