Q: Why do firehouses have Dalmatians?
Do they have some uncanny sense to detect fire?
Answers and Views:
Answer by breybrey003
Dalmations were used to guide the horse-drawn fire "wagons" through the streets before automobiles were invented. They have just been a help to firefighters since then. =)
Photo Credit: Dawn Endico/Flickr CC
Answer by Davis B
No, their main job was to pace their horses, they were trained to protect the horses when they were in the stables. In the 1800's they were a pride of ownership, because of their running abilities. A dalmation can run 50 mi. before it's tired. This is on a daily basis since the 1800s. They're were known as " coach dogs" for their ability to run great distances at a smooth pace. Thus a great nickname "as coach dogs". Yet they show more than that.
Answer by piziestas
Many of them used to be deaf. The load clanking didn't scare or bother them. I remember reading this in books when I was young.
Answer by HDB
It all began in the days of stagecoaches. Horse theft was so common back then that many stagecoach drivers strung a hammock between two stalls at night, then slept behind their horses to guard against thieves.
But, if the driver owned a Dalmatian, he could sleep in the house or the stagecoach hotel. Why? Because it was observed that Dalmatians formed an amazingly tight bond with horses. When they became close as with a team, no stranger would dare lay a hand on them.
Once the knowledge of this trait spread, more coach drivers went to great lengths to get Dalmatians to watch their teams. In fact, this practice became so common that Dalmatians were first called "coach dogs". They were used by coach drivers centuries ago in England, Scotland and Wales.
"Dalmatians have always gotten along well with horses," says
Esmeralda Treen of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a recognized authority on the breed. "Horses are gregarious and feel the need for company. You can't leave them alone too long. Dalmatians take to horses and become 'companions'. Back in the stagecoach days, the 'Dals' would run alongside the coaches, or under the rear axle of
the moving coach. They'd keep up with the team as far as it ran, sometimes over 20 or 30 miles a day. "
When the coach reached the inn, the coachman left the dog to guard the team as well as luggage in the coach," Esmeralda explains. "IF the coachman stayed to guard, a robber would sometimes distract him in conversation while others pilfered the goods. They couldn't pull that ruse on the Dal, since they're very alert dogs."
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, but they also 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 horses are gone from the fire stations today, but the
Dalmatians aren't. 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.
Answer by rabies68
The Dalmatian has been the fire dog since the fire department used horses. Dalmatians were bred for endurance and stamina. Dalmatians are not fast dogs but are able to run for long periods of time without rest. Dalmatians were trained to escort the horse-drawn engine to the fire scene and prevent stray dogs from interfering. The spotted Dalmatians were easy for the horses to distinguish from the other dogs. Once at the fire scene Dalmatians would continue to protect the horses from other animals.
Answer by bluebonnetgranny
to find the fire hydrant.
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