Why do firefighters have dogs with them on the job?

Answer 1

The dog most often used on a firetruck is the dalmatian, which is known as the "carriage dog" (the "carriage" is the fire truck). The dalmatian is one of the bravest and easiest dogs to train.

The only reason a dog would be found in a firehouse is as a pet. There are such things as arson dogs but dalmatians are mainly kept around for tradition.

Answer 2

Firefighters began to use dalmatians because they needed good guard dogs. In the days of stagecoaches, they were a good guard against horse theft. Because the fire service relied heavily on horses, dalmatians were a great fit. Dalmatians developed a strong bond with horses, kept the horses calm, and they were loyal and protective.

Later on, Dalmatians were a common sight in the streets of London, running ahead of the horse-drawn water carts to clear the street for the horses.

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And now, something from the lighter side:

They can always find the fire hydrants, and they are easily spotted.

Answer 3

In the time of firefighting with horse-drawn wagons, dalmatians cleared the streets for the oncoming pumpers. When the fire alarm sounded, the dalmatians were first out of the firehouse, barking in the streets to announce the approaching firemen's coach.

In the 18th century, the Dalmatian was called a coach dog as it bonded well with horses and helped protect them, particularly against theft. Once the knowledge of this trait spread, more coach drivers went to great lengths to get Dalmatians to watch their teams

Answer 4

If you're referring to the Dalmation? It's a very interesting background! In today's fire departments, we do not use dogs any longer. But originally, fire apparatus were towed by horses. In order to calm the horses and protect them from being taken or wandering off on a fire scene, the dogs kept them in line. They allowed the firefighters to go do their job instead of tending to the horses.