The Dalmatian’s affinity for horses led them to their well-known name "Coach Dog" or "Carriage Dog." Their ability and agility to run between the carriage wheels and the horses hoofs and their stamina to run great distances made them ideal for traveling long and far with a coach. They guided the horses through the streets and guarded the occupants of the coach against the notorious highwaymen. This ability to run with horse and carriage is the reason the Dalmatian was so widely used with the fire carriage of yesteryear. They would carefully and aptly guide the firemen through streets of busy traffic. In addition, it was observed that Dalmatians formed an amazingly tight bond with horses, this also aided in calming the Horses at the fire scene, this too was a very much needed trait of the dog. Today, with no horse-drawn carriages for fire trucks, the Dalmatian has become the firehouse mascot. Contrary to popular belief, the Dalmatian was not used because he could see through smoke or because he liked the color red, but because he was a useful tool in guiding the carriages.