Dog: Dalmatian

Origins: Believed to hail from Dalmatia, a coastal area in Croatia by the Adriatic Sea. Developed in Britain.

Size: Large. Around 60cm tall at the shoulder.

Physical Appearance: Distinctive black or liver-brown spots on a white, short-haired coat.

Characteristics: Energetic, outgoing, affectionate, friendly, has great stamina.

Special Facts: The Dalmatian is known as a “firehouse dog” because the breed was traditionally kept by firemen at stations, starting from the days when fire engines were still drawn by horses. This was in turn a result of Dalmatians being popular among European stagecoach owners and drivers because they got along well with horses. They would run along side the coach, remain close when the coach was stationary, and would defend the horses against horse thieves and aggressive dogs.