Dalmatians first came to firehouses as ratters to kill vermin in stables and firehouses. Because of their coach experience, they were soon running alongside, and eventually riding in the fire engines. To this day, many firehouses in Great Britain and the USA have Dalmatians. Be sure to have an attachment such as a Springer for your bicycle, if you bike with your Dalmatian or any dog. If your dog is only on a leash, he could get tangled in the bike, injuring both of you.
Dals also like to swim, and make good running partners as well, especially for distance runners.
There are even road dog competitions in keeping with their early use as carriage dogs. During the competitions, the dogs accompany horses or carriages for distances of 12.5 or 25 miles. They can be good flyball, Frisbee, agility or backpacking dogs, depending on the nature of the individual dog. Dalmatians are people oriented dogs that like to spend lots of time with their families. They love to play, especially as puppies.