Did firefighters ever actually uses dalmatians?

Not only were Dalmatians great with the horses, they were also used to attack other fire company's. Back in the day all fire departments were volunteer and they were paid by insurance companies for putting out fires. So in cities with multiple fire companies they would fight for the “plug” (hydrant). read more

Dalmatians were actually first breed as attack dogs so they served a dual purpose for those early fire companies. Actually, still today, volunteers take great offense to other companies jumping runs in their territory. read more

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. read more

Thus, horses often used to be stolen or were scared using other animals. Dalmatians actually protected those horses from other dogs or animals. They also accompanied running horses with matching speed. Since then, Dalmatians have become symbols of status and speed. Firefighters traveling in horse wagons always used to carry along a Dalmatian for their horse’s protection. read more