Which breed did the English call a coach dog?

The Dalmatian was the breed the English called a coach dog.

The name reflected the breed's traditional association with horse-drawn carriages. Dalmatians were valued as carriage dogs because they could run alongside coaches, guard horses and passengers, and help clear a path through crowded streets. Their stamina and distinctive spotted coat also made them highly visible beside a vehicle.

English sources used several related names, including Coach Dog, Carriage Dog, Spotted Coach Dog, and Firehouse Dog. Thomas Bewick's A General History of Quadrupeds, published in 1790, referred to the breed as “Dalmatian or Coach Dog.” The breed became especially fashionable in Britain during the Regency period, when it was associated with fashionable travel and stable yards.

Dalmatians later became famous for accompanying horse-drawn fire engines, which explains the enduring image of the breed in firehouses. They were also hunting and companion dogs, not merely carriage ornaments. The breed's historical origin is linked to Dalmatia, a region on Croatia's Adriatic coast, although much of its modern development took place in England.