Many children are going to fall in love with the cute puppies in the new live-action Disney movie, “101 Dalmatians,” which opens today.

If Mom and Dad give in to the kids, or succumb to the Disney marketing flood, which includes everything from puppy-picture candy bars to spotted purses, they could be in for a shock: Dalmatians can be difficult family dogs.

Many people give up on them, especially at about 6 months, when that cute puppy turns into an energetic, destructive teen-ager.

The movie is expected to create a buying frenzy among a public infatuated by the handsome white dogs with black or liver-colored spots, which can cost anywhere from $250 (for pups with less than perfect coloring) to about $600.

Experts and average pet owners alike are trying to dampen the impulse with tough talk about unpleasant realities.

“It’s a very tough dog. I wouldn’t recommend it for families with children. They tend to be nippy,” said Dorothy Gregoire of Arundel.

“People should really research. … They [Dalmatians] require a lot of attention, they’re high energy and require a lot of exercise,” said Theresa Dube of Biddeford.

The Pine Tree Dalmatian Club plans to pass out leaflets to inform moviegoers about the breed. At the invitation of Flagship Cinemas in Falmouth, members will hold a demonstration Saturday and answer questions after that day’s shows. Club members will distribute leaflets at as many theaters as they can.

While Dalmatians have many desirable traits — they’re good guard dogs, fearless and smart — they’re also stubborn and slow to mature, said Pet Quarters Manager Dave Mann of Bangor, who sold the dogs for a former employer.

“They’re only for people who are fully aware of what they’re getting into,” Mann said.

The dogs mature physically long before they mature mentally, “so they get big before they get smart,” Mann cautioned. Pet owners with the patience to endure the extended puppyhood can expect to reap rewards in the end, he added.

Annette Langevin of Arundel fears that a population boom will lead to neglect and abandonment, and an increase in genetic defects — such as deafness and urinary tract problems — associated with the breed.

“I’m scared,” said Langevin. “We’re going to have more people breeding their bitches to sell puppies and make money.

“These people don’t know what they’re doing. They sell to anyone who comes along with money. And a year or so later, we’re going to get calls from people who don’t want them anymore. That’s the scary part.”

Tricia Kenny, a staffer at the Bangor Humane Society, refers to pet fads as “my worst nightmare.”

The staff is bracing for an onslaught of unwanted Dalmatians in the coming year. “It’s anticipated,” Kenny said.

The shelter gets Dalmatians of all ages, she said, often exhibiting symptoms of their inbred medical problems, the most common of which is deafness.

Theisa Arnold, a breeder from Bradford, believes that Dalmatians have gotten a bad rap.

“They’re labeled as very hyper. I mean, some are,” said Arnold. “But they’re loving, they’re good around kids.

“You really need to give them a chance. They need a lot of attention. If you pay attention to them, they calm right down,” she said..

Back in October, Arnold’s two dogs, dam Cisca and sire Pongo, had a litter of eight pups.

“This is the fastest we’ve ever sold a litter,” Arnold said, adding that the dogs were sold in a couple of weeks.

Recommendations to would-be buyers?

“Make sure you ask a lot of questions,” said the breeder. “We took [Cisca] to obedience school. I recommend that with some of my buyers.”

Owners say they love Dalmatians for their exuberance, looks, athleticism and protective nature, but acknowledge that those qualities come with many drawbacks.

Tempermentally, Dalmatians are high-strung. Originally bred as carriage dogs and long associated with firefighters, they are not particularly good around children.

Gregoire describes her dog Chelsea as “jealous, almost human. She gets very jealous if kids are around … She’s actually nipped at kids. It happened only once, but I watch her very closely.”

Dalmatian club members advise potential buyers to deal with responsible breeders.

“If we sell them a dog, they have to be interviewed. Be prepared to stay a couple of hours,” said Langevin. “And they never leave us with a puppy the first time … I’ve turned down as many people as I’ve sold to.”

Wanda Clukey, manager of the Pet Menagerie at the Bangor Mall, said Dalmatians are perennially popular — regardless of Disney’s movie release dates.

“Whenever we get one in, within five days it’s sold,” Clukey said. “They’re especially popular with kids. Dalmatians are one of the first breeds kids recognize.”

Though she agrees they can be high-strung, Clukey says that their behavior has a lot to do with how they’re raised.

“It’s how you handle them when they’re little,” she said. “They’re not bad dogs. You have to be the pack leader — and let them know it.”

NEWS reporter Dawn Gagnon contributed to this story.