This is a very long history. Dalmatians love their owners fiercely and have a strong desire to be near them. Therefore, they started out running alongside horse drawn carriages, guarding whoever or whatever rode within. This skillset saw them welcomed to follow fire carriages too, and well, it was a match that stuck! Even once fire stations moved on to mechanical trucks, the position of the dalmatians as a “fireman’s best friend” remained. That’s why they are the classic fire station dog!