Carriage dog

Common card · No. 433726

A carriage dog or coach dog is a type of dog bred and trained to trot alongside carriages to protect the occupants from banditry or other interference. They were usually owned and used by the wealthy or traders and merchants. The dogs were trained to attack highwaymen, giving the humans time to respond to the robbers. When the Dalmatian breed was introduced to England in the 18th century, they quickly became the carriage-dog breed of choice. Because of this, "carriage dog" became synonymous with "Dalmatian". The British Carriage Dog Society exists to preserve "the working heritage of the Dalmatian as a coaching dog." Previously any breed with long legs and some weight in the body had been used. The number of dogs accompanying any coach could be an indicator of the occupants' wealth or status: some well-situated people would run six or eight dogs. Coach dogs were kennelled in the stables, and bonded with the horses as pups. A more civic usage was as fire-engine escorts, helping to clear...

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