They might even use Rottweilers or Dobermans for combat or guard duty.īut, it is almost always the Dalmatian when it comes to choosing a dog for a fire station. For example, the police and military will see the same desirable traits in German Shepherds as Belgian Malinois and other related breeds. There is some variation in the breeds of dog used in other branches of public safety. Essentially, if you have a canine colleague working for food and shelter you’ll find a way to put them to work. They were also put to work on guard duty at the station and to act as rat catchers. They might not have had the same amount of lavish attention as their descendants today, but they would still have been part of the crew. There is no doubt that this dog would have been seen as a companion at the station too. They also had other duties when not out on a call. As long as there were horse-drawn carriages there were Dalmatians to run alongside. That means over 300 years where dogs were working with crews in some manner. It was the New York fire department that popularized the use of Dalmatians in the late 1700s. The Dalmatians would follow along and guard the equipment and horses.ĭalmatians were carriage dogs in Europe long before they were fire dogs in the US.įire crews simply saw the potential of the animals within the profession and applied the animal’s special traits to their own needs. It all seems slow and primitive by today’s standards, but it was a long way from borrowing buckets of water from neighboring houses. Crews would attend fires with horse-drawn carriages to bring all the right equipment to the scene. To understand the role of the Dalmatian in all this, we have to remember that firefighting equipment and methods were a lot different. Back then, the animal had much more of a practical role and was a great aid. The Dalmatian has been a part of the fire service since the 1700s. What is it about the Dalmatian that makes it such a good fit for the role? Dalmatians as loyal companions for firefighters Why are they associated with fire protection and what roles did they have? How has this progressed over the years into the current role?Īlso, I want to look at the breed characteristics of this animal. In this article, I want to talk about Dalmatians and their role in fire service history. Is this because of tradition, specific traits of the breed or a little bit of both? While some stations will take on other breeds, the Dalmatian is still one of the most popular choices is firehouses today. In fact, the public has now come to expect each fire station to have its own dog. Dalmatians and the fire service have always been associated with one another, and this beloved spotted dog has become a popular mascot at fire stations across the country.
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