Dalmatians as firehouse dogs have become so common in books and movies that it’s practically a stereotype. It turns out that Dalmatians actually really do have a strong history in the firehouse, and they used to have some purpose, too.
Before fire trucks, there were horse-drawn carriages. One of the most effective fire-fighting tools in the middle of the 18th 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. The fire brigade’s horse-drawn carriages would be loaded up with the machine, the horses would be hitched up, and the vehicle would tear off down the road.
When fire fighters were racing off to fight the flames, they didn’t have time for the horses to spook nor to slow down for all the pedestrians using the road, which is where the Dalmatians came in.
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As a former owner of a Dalmatian, I can say with 100% certainty they are as dumb as a bag of rocks. Adorable? Yes. But they are first class stupid. Give me an Austrailian Cattle Dog any day.
And all this time I thought the dog was there to keep drunks from stealing beer stored in the fire truck cooler.
Dad had 2 Dals during the 50’s & 60’s. Smokey & Sparky.They were not too bright… Dad loved them both as He loved all dogs.I had heard that they have bad hearing and that is why they were used by firefighters.The loud siren did not bother the Dals.
English breed, used as show dogs only to run along side coach and horses in the 17 th 18 th century ,they looked good but are useless at anything else
I heard about the deaf thing, too.
By a Dalmation owner.
English breed named after Dalmatia? Seems kinda odd.
My very portly (rather obese) neighbor has more than a few dogs. The youngest is a Dalmatian. The wife fell in love at the Puppy store and brought it home. The only exercise it gets daily is a short potty break several times a day. Cross the street and back. Occasionally another neighbor takes it for a short run. This dog is terribly neurotic. I feel so sorry for it.