Why are dalmatians fire dogs

Dalmatians are suspected to have originated in the Dalmatia region of Croatia, although their exact origin story is still unknown.

They were bred to be coach dogs, or dogs who work alongside horse-drawn carriages to guard the horses and carriage. Dalmatians have long been used to trot along next to carriages and to keep the horses in line. Dalmatians have also been used for hunting, herding, and catching rats Ripley, They are tenacious, intelligent, protective, loyal, and highly energetic.

Because of these characteristics, they are not great dogs for your typically family home. They require a high amount of mental and physical stimulation, including up to 2 hours of daily exercise PDSA. Dalmatians can also be weary of new people, and if not properly socialized, not great around kids.

After the surge of popularity in the s, many Dalmatians ended up in shelters or rescues because many families realized these dogs were hard to keep.

Due to overbreeding during their heightened popularity, Dalmatians are also prone to a number of health issues including allergies, deafness, hip dysplasia, and epilepsy PDSA. In the proper home, however, Dalmatians can make great companions especially for highly energetic people who like to run and hike.

Historically, fire dogs would ride along to the fires and protect the horses and carriage while the firefighters put out fires. More recently, fire dogs serve as companions to firefighters, mascots at fire stations, ambassadors for fire safety, and excellent rodent hunters to keep fire stations vermin free Sharpe, Horse-drawn carriages first started being used as fire vehicles around It was around this time that Dalmatians were adopted as official fire dogs because they had the skills to be successful in the role Sharpe, Dalmatians were chosen to be fire dogs because of their history as coach dogs.

Dalmatians were bred to work alongside horses and to trot next to horse-drawn carriages. Their natural instincts are to protect the horses and the carriage from threats which allowed firefighters to focus on protecting the public from fires without worrying about their horses and equipment being stolen. The New York City fire department began using Dalmatians as fire dogs around They became so popular and celebrated as fire dogs that the Westminster Dog Show started recognizing fire department Dalmatians in Sharpe, Many people who have worked with Dalmatians say the dogs are very fond of horses and are good at working with them, especially at keeping them calm.

Once fire stations started using horse-drawn carriages as their vehicle, Dalmatians seem like the perfect choice of coworker.

Not only could they easily keep up with the carriage, but they could also work to calm and control the horses. Horses would get nervous at fires, and the Dalmatians would actively work to distract them while the firefighters were busy. Once the knowledge of this trait spread, more coach drivers went to great lengths to get Dalmatians to watch their teams. They were used by coach drivers centuries ago in England, Scotland and Wales. When horse numbers grew here in the New World, the number of Dalmatians grew with it for the same reason they were popular in the Old Country.

And, since every firehouse back then had a set of fast horses to pull the pumper wagon, it became common for each group of firemen to keep a Dalmatian. Again, the spotted dogs not only guarded the firehouse horses, they kept them company during their long, boring waits between fires. And, when they took off for a fire, the dog would run alongside the pumper.

The tradition has been carried on, and it may be as much for the looks and appeal of these beautiful dogs as it is for their nostalgic tie to yesteryear. While all the facts are well founded, there is a common but false rumor that these spotted dogs that breed enthusiasts would like dispelled. One of the most effective fire-fighting tools in the middle of the 18 th century was the steam pumper- a machine that consisted of a boiler which was able to use steam to force water out of hoses and onto a fire.

Besides being known for forming strong bonds with horses, in the early s, it was observed that Dalmatians were perfectly suited for travelling long distances. English aristocrats soon picked up on the practice of having Dalmatians follow their carriages and the dogs even became something of a symbol of social status- the more Dalmatians that ran alongside your carriage, the wealthier you must be.

The horses were also a bit leery of being so close to burning buildings when it came time to stop. Can you blame them? Not only that, but once they were back at the fire house, the Dalmatian were often trained to sniff out and kill rats and other vermin—kind of like having a barking cat that was far less lazy than a meowing mouse-catcher.

According to Cheryl F. There are various reasons why the Dalmatians served as stable and carriage also known as coach guards. Peters as saying in a Field and Fancy article. He will follow his master all day on foot, or after a carriage, and will be interested in everything that is going on. The ongoing curiosity about Dalmatians even led to a Harvard study to understand how the dogs were drawn to their coach positions. According to Steinmetz, certain dogs would automatically gravitate toward certain positions, whether it was the back or right under the horse.

Due to their expertise as carriage dogs, it was logical that Dalmatians would serve well running with fire carriages. FDNY began utilizing Dals as early as the s.