Why are Dalmatians fire dogs?

The Fire Department of New York City, which began using Dalmatians as fire dogs in 1870, can take some credit for making this breed famous as fire dogs. Their speed, endurance and affinity for horses made Dalmatians ideal for fire dog jobs. They were mascots for firehouses, guarded firefighting equipment, and ran ahead of the firefighting carriages to make sure horses could get through. 

In 1910, the Westminster Dog Show developed a category specifically for Fire Department Dalmatians. The category lasted for 30 years before being discontinued, but the correlation between Dalmatians and fire dog jobs remains today.