Did You Know? Dalmatians as Firehouse Dogs

Dalmatians were used as stable and carriage (or coach) dogs as early as the mid-1700s. Their speed, endurance, and affinity to horses made them a good fit for guarding stables and running alongside passenger coaches.

The Fire Department of New York City began using dalmatians to run alongside horse-drawn fire engines in the 1870s.

Dalmatians would clear the way by warning pedestrians with their loud barks. They would also stay with the horses and keep them calm while the firefighters did their job.

Dalmatians remain iconic firedogs, but nowadays are mainly used as mascots, for boosting morale, and sometimes in teaching fire safety to children or keeping fire halls free of rats.

Sources

2 thoughts on “Did You Know? Dalmatians as Firehouse Dogs

    1. M.E. Bond
      M.E. Bond says:

      Good question. I read that they are prone to blindness and also very active and intelligent so they need to be well trained.

Leave a Reply