The History of Firehouse Dogs

Bright red gleaming fire trucks and Dalmatians just go together. Ever wonder why?

In the late 1800's fire wagons went from being pulled by hand to horse drawn. Sturdy, fast horses were needed to do this job. This was a boon to firefighting but it created two new problems. One - these horses were very desirable - to horse thieves that is! And two - the smoke, sirens and general chaos upset the horses greatly.

In come the Dalmatians to the rescue! For more than 200 years prior to this in England, Dalmatians had been used by coachmen to befriend and calm the horses of carriages owned by the aristocracy.

History had already established that Dalmatians had a natural affinity with horses, and form lasting bonds of friendship with them. These very strong dogs were able and willing to run long distances and were extremely loyal. They were used as protection for not only the horses, but also as a deterrent to thieves. It was a natural fit for the newly created horse drawn fire brigades.

Dalmatians have other notable qualities that endear them, to this day, to firefighters worldwide. They are excellent at catching rats and other vermin - which was a real problem in early firehouses. Their outstanding and unique good looks made them a valued asset for the early carriage owners and continues to enchant us now.

Myths about Dalmatians - which need to be dispelled once and for all please:
- they like the color red, so firehouses keep them around (most dogs are color blind)
- they are deaf, so the sirens don't bother them
- they are courageous and can see through smoke and fire - and will run into a burning building and pull someone out (these dogs were not ever intended for use this way - although it has happened)

Dalmatians have had many names throughout history - here are a few:
Coach Dogs, Carriage Dogs, Spotted Carriage Dogs, Plum Pudding Dogs, Fire House Dogs, Dalmantiner, Dalmatinac, Dally's, and Dal's.

Oh, and by the way, firefighters, breeders and owners would like everyone to know that the breed name is spelled with a "tian" at the end - and not the common misspelling with "tion"!

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Karen Guido writes for BreedersClub.net
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