Ask Mike: Dalmatians and firefighters
Hey Guys,
Like a lot of little kids, I once had aspirations of becoming a firefighter. Among the benefits that I saw: cool uniforms, a big truck that made loud noises, and a Dalmatian to play with whenever I wasn’t busy being a hero. Even then I somehow “knew” that firefighters had Dalmatians. Now, (many) years later, I set out to discover how the dog and the public servants became forever linked.
There are no shortage of sites regarding the historic partnership between the dogs and firefighters. And contrary to the old joke, firefighters don’t employ Dalmatians to help find the nearest fire hydrant. PublicSafety.net explains that back in the day when fire wagons were pulled by horses, fire departments used Dalmatians to run ahead of the horses and help clear a path. They were a very important member of the team and the tradition stuck.
OK, but why Dalmatians and not, say, greyhounds, Labradors, or poodles? According to Texas City Firefighters Local 1259, the answer has a lot to do with the dog’s ability to relate to the horses. Dalmatians tend to have a natural calming effect on horses, a necessary trait when running through crowded streets to a towering inferno.
And the benefits don’t stop there. Dalmatians are also fiercely loyal and great guard dogs. They were known to keep a good watch on the fire wagons while the firefighters slept. It’s also been reported that the dog’s coloring makes it easier for horses to spot (pun intended) while galloping to a fire.
While they may sound like the perfect dog, many sites are quick to point out that they aren’t for everyone. For one, they have tremendous amounts of energy. So if you live in a small place, you’d be wise to pick something a little less rambunctious.
Got your own favorite breed of dog? What is it and why? Go ahead and leave a comment below.
Thanks for reading,
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Thanks. That was an interesting article.
Aww thats so lovely, dogs really are mans best friend! I myself own a Shitzu X Maltese and he is just lovely!
Huh? Cmon….. you r OK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
K?
Hugs
A good discription of my favourite breed.
Dalmatians are amazing dogs. I had one, named Domino. She was the most loyal dog I’ve ever seen. One of the major problems with Dalmatians, however, is that deafness is common. Fortunately, they are very smart dogs and can learn simple commands through basic sign language. My dog knew 10 commands in sign language before she went blind from old age. Viva Dalmatians!
doggone good story and true too
I think dalmations are cool dogs
And off topic, but are there any additional blogging jobs available on Yahoo? I somewhat get paid to write, but I would love to further my writing experience.
I grew up a fire department brat, both my uncle and my father retired from the force in ’88. All those years there wasn’t a Dalmatian to be found! But hey, playing at the station, and riding on the trucks was pretty kewl! They are a great breed, but it’s true about the deafness, and they can be a somewhat aggressive breed. What kind of dog did we have? A Dachshund, of course…lol!
Great story, and it brought back a lot of old memories…thanks for the morning smile!
Great artical, I have a male dalmation Banjo and 2 kids 6yrs and 20 mnths, he is the babys best friend and they play all day outside, he jumps over her like a champion show jumper and she lies all over him. Very protective to my family and yes has a lot of energy to burn off everyday or he digs big holes in the garden.
Black Mouth Cur. Best dog for any purpose. Hunting, guarding, companionship. Gentle-mouthed with children, lots of energy and very loving. Must be walked 3 miles a day, if it doesn’t have a big yard and a playmate.
They also used them to find the Hydrants!!!!
Nice theory, but how did the dogs know where the fire was?
My favorite dog and my best friend I saved from the pound until he died, was a mix between a doberman and a chow-chow. He had the marking of the doberman and even the body style, he was just a bit less ‘defined’ (kinda on the fat side) and had longer hair then a doberman, but shorter then a chow-chow.
He was a great dog, even though both breeds tend to be more on the aggresive side, he was one of the friendliest dogs I’ve ever had… and he wouldn’t wag his tail, he would spin it in circles.. I really miss him.
Dalmatians are also the correct size and agility to go in between the carriages that they used to accompany prior to their “fire dog” days. I have horses and I have never seen a horse not learn to accept a Dal. I love riding with my horses and the Dal. They are wonderful riding companions.
Very correct article. Prior to their fame with fire engines, Dalmatians actually ran with carriages (often with royalty), often 20 miles a day, then they would protect the horses at night. They were great ratting dogs, so for city fire departments, they were a natural fit.
Dalmatians need lots of love, exercise and attention, given everything they need they will be a loving and wonderful companion. Without those they can become nervous, agitated and rely on their instincts.
Deafness occurs in approximately 12% of Dalmatians and the Dalmatian Club of America (DCA) has worked actively to reduce that percentage. Reputable breeders do NOT breed test puppies at 6 weeks old using a BAER test to determine if hearing is bi-laterial (both ears) or uni-laterial (one ear). This advance in testing and responsible breeding practices have done wonders in working towards solving this problem.
Dalmatians can also have black spots or liver spots (a choclate brown color). They have soft smooth coats and shed all year long.
I have had two dals, both have had amazing horse instinct. Horses that chase or kick at other dogs are calmed by dalmatians, they are a perfect match.
Dalmatians can earn a ‘Road Dog’ title, which is a 12 mile ride on horseback (for owner), where dalmatians work off leash performing various commands. It is a testament to both their intellegence, natural horse ability and endurance.
That part about dalmations having a calming effect on horses seems to make sense when you consider today the Budweisr Clydesdale team seems to always have a dalmation with them.
I just come and see afraid of ban
The Number One Dog has got to be a MASTIF…my friend had 2, and yes they are huge, but THE most loving gentle dogs I’ve ever been close to.
Hi there…
My favorite breed of dog has to be the dachshund. Loyal, friendly, and absurdly cute, it has all the charm to make it fall in love with you. At first, I didn’t like dachshunds at all, but when I adopted mine, I couldn’t not love it!
They are stubborn and they love humans….:)
~~~Cindy
i really doubt the dogs cleared a path.
I mean, it’s not like they had scanners the dog could listen to, or even a GPS.
I suppose he could follow the scent of the fire, but he might end up at a bar b que.
unless the fire was at the dog food factory or a dog breeders and the fire was in the females in heat building.(i would use the proper term, but silly yahoo would ban me).
more likely, the reason was the more popular one you somehow managed to miss.
before firefighters used horses,they were used to guard the carriages from bandits. they ran along as guards.
when firefighters started using pumps big enough to be pulled by horse, the dalmatians were a natural choice to run along side.
whether as crowd control or just a pet
odds are, they were already living with the horses when the horses were purchased by firefighters, so they started running when the horses went to a fire, thinking they were guarding a carriage again.
Nice little article and pretty accurate as well!
I’ve raised many dalmatians over the years — the worst thing to ever happen to the breed was Walt Disney!
My dog, Raider, is great with kids, although that is somewhat unusual. He also “marches” with our local volunteer fire department. They do take a firm hand, however.
I am glad someone finally has given the Dalmatians the recognition they deserve. I grew up with a deaf Dal and she was the best guard dog ever, but was also so gentle with us kids.
This article is very accurate about them and why they are always considered the “firehouse dog.” And plus, the dogs aren’t idiots, I am sure they were able to smell the fire and could tell where to go. I mean, hasn’t anyone heard of the rescue stories that animals do? They are much smarter than you think.
Dachshund are my favorite dog 2nd to Dalmatians as they are truly loyal dogs.
Border Collie! Crazy smart, love to herd, and extremely loyal!
)
Not to mention they’re insanely fast!
Cool to give dalmations a “job” as they are a high strung breed among other ones that needs “work”.
I personally have owned a black lab, a german shepard mix, a border collie mix now. Out of those the border collie mix has the most personality. He is super smart, knows what to do when he gets in trouble to suck up just right (lol) and he listens as if he’s studying what you are saying , with his head cocked to one side and eyes staring back at you.
I like his sassy but silly personality, it just is unforgettable. He is the most intuitive I’ve met also. He has alot of energy which can be hard to take but once he alerted me (by barking and sitting at my legs when I was standing up getting ready for work)to a faulty light fixture that started to smoke. I had to shut the circuit breaker off, remove the bulb and work on it later when I got home. It was his quick reaction that avoided a fire I feel. None of my other pets ( I have the shepard mix at the same time) pay that close attention to things going on at home. He’s always attentive, alert. Hw is quiet and playful outdoors also.
Golden retrievers – smart, goofy, smiley, puppylike until the day they die. Will chase that stupid frisbee for hours. Will greet everyone they meet as their dearest friend, whole body a-wagging.
Great article!
My favorite dogs are West Highland Terriers. (Scotty dogs). They’re so cute, lovely eyes, mischevious, clever and funny (:
Also, I love St Bernards, ever since I saw “Nanna” on Peter Pan.
my favorite dogs are Pomeranians, i like them because they are smart and they live for a long time
The info on the Dalmation was very interesting.
It seems like I have some fellow Doxie lovers out there. I’ve always had Dachshunds, as a child and as an adult. I now have 1 mini Doxie and 1 half toy poodle and half mini long hair Doxie. I love them both to death!! I am disabled and they both sleep with me and every step I take they both are right with me. Very loyal and loving, good choices for someone who needs companions.