The most famous presidential pups in history

Dogs and US Presidents have usually gone hand-in-hand, as you can see in this photo of President Bill Clinton and his dog Buddy. But not everything has been so easy or straightforward. Read on for a photo history of presidential pups!

Joe and Jill Biden have had a rough stint being dog owners since Biden became president. In 2021, their favorite pooch Champ passed away. They had two other German Shepherds living with them, Commander (shown) and Major, who proved too aggressive to adapt to the White House and had to be banished.

Also notable was Donald Trump, the first president to enter the office petless since Thomas Jefferson, who kept a mockingbird and some bear cubs during his presidency. As his ex-wife Ivana Trump said in her memoir, they had a poodle at one point but "Donald was not a dog fan."

When Obama ran for president, he promised his two young daughters that they could get a puppy if he won the elections. The president kept his word, and shortly after moving into the White House, Bo, a hypoallergenic Portuguese water dog, joined the family. The new pup must have been a great addition to the family because they later adopted another furry friend named Sunny.

In 2021, the Obamas announced with sadness that Bo had died of cancer. They were grateful that the dog had been able to spend much time with the family during the lockdown in 2020.

George W. Bush's furry friend became incredibly popular during his time at the White House. The Scottish Terrier had such a huge fan base that an official website was made just for him. Someone also came up with the idea of creating the "Barneycam" by tying a camera around Barney's neck to take videos of his daily life at the White House. Bush supporters loved these glimpses into the pooch's day-to-day, and the videos became surprisingly popular.

During Bill Clinton's second term as president, the Clinton family welcomed a new pet into the White House to join their cat Socks. The family adopted a Labrador Retriever named Buddy, who was absolutely adorable. Unfortunately, Buddy and Socks the cat did not become the best of friends. The ex-president reportedly said, "I did better with the Palestinians and the Israelis than I've done with Socks and Buddy."

George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara Bush were well known for being dog lovers. Although the ex-president had many dogs over the years, it was a Springer Spaniel named Millie that won over Bush's heart and was his favorite. Millie had a litter of puppies, one of whom joined Bush's son, George W. Bush, at the White House during his time as president.

Ronald Reagan had a total of six different dogs during his time at the White House, but his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Rex was his favorite. Curiously, it was reported that the dog had a sixth sense, and every time the animal got close to the Lincoln Bedroom he would bark. Many believe that the Lincoln Bedroom in the White House is haunted. Perhaps the dog could sense the spirits of presidents from the past, or maybe he could see who the presidents of the future would be and got scared!

Jimmy Carter and his family didn't have any dogs when they first moved to the White House. Carter's daughter Amy really wanted a pet, so her public school teacher gave her a Border-Collie mix puppy, which the family named Grits in honor of their southern heritage. The dog didn't always act in the manner that a first-dog should: reportedly, he often did his "business" on the White House carpets.

The presidential pet of Gerald and Betty Ford was a Golden Retriever named Liberty. The 8-month-old puppy was a gift to Ford's daughter Susan. The ex-president spoke to the press often and fondly about the dog during his time in office. Ford claimed that the dog had taken over the White House, and there were many photos of Liberty with Ford in the Oval Office, playing on the lawn, and even swimming in the pool. Some say that when Ford wanted to get out of a conversation while at work in Oval Office, he would signal his beloved pet, and she would come over and distract the guests.

Richard Nixon had several dogs while living in the White House, but a Cocker Spaniel named Checkers was probably his most well-known pet. The dog was a gift from one of his supporters during his campaign for president, and Checkers became famous when Nixon delivered his “Checkers Speech” in September of 1952. The speech, which was aired on television, was Nixon’s response to accusations of the inappropriate use of campaign funds. What caught most Americans’ attention was when the former president stated that he would not be giving the dog back no matter what happened with the controversy.

President Johnson had a total of six dogs while at the White House. One of his favorites was Yuki, which means "snow" in Japanese. The dog, a mixed-breed mutt, was found by Johnson's daughter at a Texas gas station. Yuki lived with Luci, Johnson's daughter, until the pooch won over the President on a visit to the White House. The pair were pretty much inseparable, and Johnson loved to sing with Yuki howling along with him.

John F. Kennedy was the youngest president to take up residence at the White House. The Kennedy family had many pets and plenty of dogs. The most notable canine that the Kennedys had while at the White House was the white mixed-breed named Pushinka.

Pushinka, which means "fluffy" in Russian, was a gift from the Soviet Union leader, Nikita Krushchev. The dog was the offspring of Strelka, one of the first dogs to survive going to space. As they were at the height of the Cold War, Pushinka was inspected upon arrival to the White House by the Secret Service. They needed to make sure the innocent-seeming pup wasn't a spy dog sent by the Russians.

The Hoovers had eight dogs during their time in the White House. King Tut became President Hoover's most well-known pet after he had been photographed together with the president. Herbert Hoover wasn't known as the most approachable president, and he used his dog King Tut to improve his image. A picture of Hoover and King Tut was published across America. The rebranding of the president worked, and the public saw him as less uptight, and more of a friendly dog-lover.

Photo: Herbert E. French, via Library of Congress / Wikimedia

Calvin Coolidge's favorite pet was a white Collie named Rob Roy. He'd been gifted to him by Grace Coolidge in 1922 after she had seen collies performing in the circus and fallen in love with the breed. Rob Roy was known as a noble and stately dog that led Coolidge to the Oval Office each morning. The former president is said to have loved his dog so much that sometimes he even ordered his guests to hand over their food to the beloved pet.

Photo: Howard Chandler Christy, via Whitehousehistory-org / Wikimedia

Warren G. Harding's Airedale Terrier was probably the most spoiled dog in White House history. He was the first presidential dog to appear regularly in the press. Laddie had his own carved wooden seat to attend cabinet meetings, a portrait made of him, and lavish birthday parties for the dog and his furry friends. Laddie Boy was a loyal dog, and upon the president's death, he howled for three days straight.

Photo: Library of Congress

President Carter wasn't the only president to have a misbehaving dog at the White House. Teddy Roosevelt had a dog named Pete, who was a real troublemaker. Pete was a Boston Bull Terrier who was lacking in manners. On more than one occasion, the dog bit important guests visiting the White House. The most famous incident was when Pete bit French Ambassador Jules Jusserand's pants and caused them to rip. This caused political tension, and the French government even issued a formal complaint regarding the episode.

Image: Alas! Poor Pete! Is this to be his fate?/ Library of Congress Manuscript Division/Brook, Robert E. 1907-07-30

Abraham Lincoln's family dog Fido is the only dog on this list who did not reside in the White House. We felt we had to include him though, as the president's pup was so well-known that 'Fido' became a common way to refer to a dog. The reason Fido didn't join the family at the White House was the dog's nerves. Fido didn't like crowds and loud noises. Lincoln felt the dog wouldn't adapt and had friends take him in and care for the animal during his time at the White House. Maybe some future presidents should have followed suit.

Photo: F.W. Ingmire, via dreamdogsart.typepad.com, Wikimedia

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