Maisie and Freckles were veterans from 101 Dalmatians . For the puppies, Gero solicited breeders who already had Dalmatian litters. Many of the puppies had already been promised to families, and they were given to those homes after three weeks of training and three weeks of work. Gero stressed that no dog was bred just for the movie. The key to training puppies is to make it fun, Gero said.
Puppies are all food and play-oriented.
But getting them to repeat the same stunt again and again required trainers to reach deep in their bags of treats. Animal rights activists have protested outside Disney's studios in Burbank, California, urging the company to add a disclaimer to the film warning potential owners about the breed's personality. On the other hand, it makes them not an ideal dog to have as a pet unless you have several hours a day to run with them. Disney spokeswoman Andrea Marozas said the studio has partnerships with the Dalmatian Club of America and the American Humane Association to promote proper pet selection, care and ownership. It's like having a child, and you have to be responsible.