Dalmatians through history

Excellent watchdogs who work well with horses, Dalmatians were once used to guard the coach houses of grand residences. By the Regency period, they had become a status symbol, often running alongside the carriages of the great and the good. Later in the 19th century, these skills equipped them well for the more heroic task of bounding ahead of horse-drawn fire engines to clear the way. In the 20th century, they became the dog of choice for many celebrities, including Pablo Picasso (above), who owned several throughout his life.