We’re not the only ones who love our furry friends. Many presidents, dating all the way back to George Washington, had a love for dogs too! We wanted to introduce you to our past president’s best friends.
| President | Dogs |
|---|---|
| George Washington 1789-1797 |
During Washington’s presidency, it was common to own hunting dogs. Our first president owned 10 hound dogs named Taster, Cloe, Tipsy, Tipler, Forester, Captain, Lady Rover, Vulcan, Sweetlips and Searcher. |
| John Adams 1797-1801 |
The second president had two dogs named Juno and Satan. The breeds of both are unknown. |
| James Monroe 1817-1825 |
Maria Monroe, James’ wife, had a spaniel breed. |
| John Tyler 1841-1845 |
A Greyhound named Le Beau was often seen on the White House lawn during John Tyler’s presidency. |
| Millard Fillmore 1850-1853 |
Although Fillmore didn’t have a dog, he was a founding member of the Buffalo chapter of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. |
| James Buchanan 1857-1861 |
Along with a pair of bald eagles, Buchanan also owned a Newfoundland named Lara. |
| Abraham Lincoln 1861-1865 |
Fido, a retriever/shepherd mix, lived with the Lincolns for 5 years in Springfield, Illinois. |
| Ulysses S. Grant 1869-1877 |
A Newfoundland named Faithful lived at the White House during Grant’s presidency. |
| Rutherford Hayes 1877-1881 |
Rutherford Hayes enjoyed many animals including two German Shepherds named Hector and Nellie, and one English Mastiff named Duke. |
| Grover Cleveland 1885-1889 |
Frances, Grover’s wife, loved dogs and cared for a Cocker Spaniel, Dachshund and a Poodle named Hector. |
| Theodore Roosevelt 1901-1909 |
Along with horses and ponies, Roosevelt also owned a Bull Terrier named Pete; a Chesapeake Retriever named Sailor Boy; a Terrier named Jack; a mixed breed named Skip; and a Pekingese named Manchu. |
| Warren Harding 1921-1923 |
An Airedale Terrier named Laddie Boy and an English Bulldog named Old Boy were famous pets of Warren Harding. |
| Calvin Coolidge 1923-1929 |
Many dogs lived at the White House in the 1920s including a Terrier named Peter Pan; an Airedale Terrier named Paul Pry; three Collies named Rob Roy, Ruby Rough and Bessie; a Shetland Sheepdog named Calamity Jane; two Chow Chows named Tiny Tim and Blackberry; a Bulldog named Boston Beans; and a mixed breed named King Kole. |
| Herbert Hoover 1929-1933 |
Hoover owned mixed breeds named King Tut and Pat. He also had purebreds, including 2 Fox Terriers named Big Ben and Sonnie; a Collie named Glen; an American Eskimo Dog named Yukon; an Irish Wolfhound named Patrick; a Setter named Eaglehurst Gillette; and an Elkhound named Weejie. |
| Franklin Delano Roosevelt 1933-1945 |
Roosevelt continued the tradition of having many dogs in the White House. His dogs included Major, a German Shepherd; Meggie , a Scottish Terrier; Winks a Setter; Tiny, an Old English Sheepdog; President, a Great Dane; Fala, a Scottish Terrier; and Blaze, a Mastiff. |
| Harry S. Truman 1945-1953 |
President Truman only had two dogs, an Irish Setter named Mike and a Cocker Spaniel named Feller. |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower 1953-1961 |
Heidi, a Weimaraner, was Eisenhower’s one and only furry friend. |
| John F. Kennedy 1961-1963 |
Along with a slew of ponies, cats and birds, the Kennedys had a Poodle named Gaullie; a Welsh Terrier named Charlie; two mixed breeds named Pushinka and Wolf; a Cocker Spaniel named Shannon; and a German Shepherd named Clipper. |
| Lyndon B. Johnson 1963-1969 |
LBJ loved Beagles and owned three named Him, Her, and Freckles. He also had a white Collie named Blanco and two mixed breeds named Yuki and Edgar. |
| Richard Nixon 1969-1974 |
Who could forget Checkers the Cocker Spaniel? Nixon also had a Poodle named Vicky; a Terrier named Pasha; and an Irish Setter named King Timahoe. |
| Gerald Ford 1974-1977 |
President Ford’s Golden Retriever, Liberty, had a litter of puppies while at the White House. |
| Jimmy Carter 1977-1981 |
The Carters had an Afgan Hound named Lewis Brown and a Border Collie named Grits. |
| Ronald Reagan 1981-1989 |
Rex, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, lived in the White House from 1984-1989. His high profile helped popularize the breed. |
| George H. Bush 1989-1993 |
President Bush’s dog, Millie, a Springer Spaniel, was the First Pet to write a book. She had puppies while living in the White House. All the dogs went to good homes. |
| Bill Clinton 1993-2001 |
Buddy, a Chocolate Labrador Retriever, arrived in the middle of Clinton’s presidency in 1997. |
| George W. Bush 2001-2008 |
Spot, another Springer Spaniel, and daughter of former President George H. Bush’s dog, Millie, was a best friend of George W. Bush. Miss Beazely, a Scottish Terrier was given to First Lady, Laura Bush, by the President, in 2005. New Jersey Governor, Christie Whitman, gave Barney, another Scottish Terrier, to Laura Bush as a gift. |
| Barack Obama 2009-Current |
Bo, a Portuguese Water Dog, was a gift to the Obamas from Senator Kennedy and his wife. |
