[Fleecewife]

Dalmatians were I believe bred to be carriage dogs.  Did they have another function than just looking pretty as they ran along in a little pack, and making the carriage owner look rich?  For example did they also have a guard function - although as hounds I'm not sure how well they would perform there - or did they double up to catch some dinner on the journey?

[plumseverywhere]

We had a Dalmatian once.  I believe they doubled as guards.  our Dalmatian managed to turn the Vet, 2 dog training instructors and my husband and I grey - I feel that was her sole purpose in life 
Lovely dogs in the right hands though but boy do they need exercise, exercise and more exercise!

[shygirl]

apparently they were also fire dogs which followed the horse-drawn fire engines. though im not sure what their role would be?

[plumseverywhere]

apparently they were also fire dogs which followed the horse-drawn fire engines. though im not sure what their role would be?

Based on Dodie (our dalmatian) - probably to wee on the fire. She managed to wee most other places 

[Marches Farmer]

My cousin, who had a farm, os no lack of exercise for the dog, regularly got calls from up to 6 miles away asking her to collect her Dalmation.  They called it KP, because it was nuts.  I would guess the breed also had guard duties, as any dog whose master was attacked woud surely respond to a highwayman.

[bloomer]

my daughter loves dalmations, we once looked after one for a weekend for a friend, it dug up every plant in my garden destroyed everything in site and spent most of its time finding new ways to be naughty, it was beyond nuts it was psychotic!!!


sorry cant help otherwise

[Bramblecot]

Dalli's are wonderful dogs - in the right hands . 

Our Tess (RIP) would leap into the air to catch blackbirds on the wing, then swallow them alive.  Many's the time I tried to extricate a bird and ended up with just a pair of legs .  She ran down rabbits with ease without encouragement but would not step into a puddle. 

Take away the pretty spots and you have quite a large well-muscled dog rather like a dobie.  Could guard with ease - if they felt like it .

Their hairs are barbed and work their way into clothing, furniture and your feet.  Not a dog for the house-proud.
They often smile at you and suffer from self-selecting deafness

[pgkevet]

I always wanted a dally as a kid.
My first came in as a tiny pup born with a cleft palate...several surgeries while fed through an eosophagostomy tube and she got fixed up pretty well.. and then turned out to be one with congenital deafness too... so i spayed her and kept her.
She still turned out to be one of the best dogs I ever owned..learned hand signals, was great in thehouse with cats, kids and bunnies etc ..and would have guarded me with her life.

Current Dalmatian was another rescue pup.. rejected at a couple of hours old and brought up by my nurses. He's totally spoiled.. a bit willful at times and would kill cats or squirrels if given the chance..but then again is totally trustworthy with people and kiddies. Very bonded to me and always at my side on the farm. Someone lent me a quad bike and I had to buy one for him after that..his favourite thing is running alongside; he'll squeal hysterically when i get the keys out - just from excitement and happily paces the thing at 25mph

[shygirl]

They often smile at you and suffer from self-selecting deafness

i remember staying at a b&b as a kid and their dalmation used to bear her teeth and grin at you in a happy way. ha

[pgkevet]

The Dally smiley face is a handy deterrant for folk that don't know..specially when you answer the door with dog and they can't see the tail wagging...

[sokel]

I love dals.  Had 3 once mother and her son and daughter from the same litter.  Purdue the mum I used to do obedience and agility with  Mac the son I showed and  Cassie the daughter I did a bit of all 3 with
Exercise wise they could go all day and be ready to start again
Mine used to get exercised when I went out on the horse quite often doing 10 miles +  Biggest problem  I had was they used to run tucked in under the horse when I was cantering. It always worried me but nobody ever got hurt

[xnbacon]

I've seen guarding, vermin control and clearing the way for carriages listed as their jobs.  Going on my experience (of 1!!) I should say this is true.  From what I've read many seem to lack any obedience gene, certainly every other dog we've had has been more responsive to commands, although definitely not untrainable.  I think they adapt quite well to running alongside anything.  Mine took to running alongside my bike quite naturally.

[Fleecewife]

Thank you all for your lovely and funny replies.  I've enjoyed reading them and I've had my initial question answered  .  They do sound totally loopy 

We used to exercise our first Wolfhound by letting her chase the car in Tentsmuir forest.  It worked really well until she spotted a deer and disappeared after it - it was hours before she came back, but she didn't appear to have caught it 

A Dalmation's coat looks so smooth and strokeable, lovely even without its spots.  Wish I could have one but we couldn't cope these days.  Two small terriers are plenty.

[Baois Glas]

I've got 2 Dalmatians. 

They were bred to run along side the carriage and guard it, then would sleep in the stables and guard the horses. They have also been used as police dogs and pointers in the past.

They are very people orientated, where I go my Spots follow. They love their home comforts and seem to feel that are better than everyone else 

They do need plenty of exercise, and they are very bright, which can make them a challenge for some people. Their hairs get everywhere, and you can pull them off by the handful. I wouldn't say they are a breed for everyone but I love my pair and would have more, especially now I can just walk them straight on the farm and not have to fit them in the car,lol