Just taking a look at the long list of all the US presidents’ dogs throughout history that have set paw through the front doors of the White House shows that we really are a nation of dog lovers.
The US has had a total of 47 presidencies, with 45 individuals serving as president – and of all 45 presidents, 33 are said to have been dog and animal lovers.
Here are some of the most popular US presidents’ dogs throughout history…
US presidents’ dogs
1. George Washington’s dogs
George Washington wasn’t just one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was also one of the founding fathers of American Foxhounds, as, amongst others, the first president of the US had a particular penchant for breeding this majestic hunting dog.
It’s believed that Washington was an avid breeder of this type of scent hound, which is known for its powerful sense of smell. So much so, in the 18th century, it’s said that he owned at least 36 of them – with each having an iconic name, such as Sweet Lips, Scentwell, and Vulcan.
Washington also had blank and tan coonhounds called Drunkard, Taster, Tipler and Tipsy and a greyhound called Cornwallis.
2. Thomas Jefferson’s dogs
The third president of the United States also had a fondness for pets – and not just the four-legged kind.
Along with falling in love with Briard Sheepdogs, which are a large, herding dog breed originating from France, it’s said that Jefferson was also the keeper of a bird, two bear cubs, and a herd of sheep.
It’s believed that Jefferson started a breeding program after purchasing a Briard named Buzzy while serving as a minister to France. However, there are no records of Jefferson having kept dogs in the White House while serving his time as president.
3. Theodore Roosevelt’s dogs
The 26th president of the US, Theodore Roosevelt, was known for becoming the youngest president at age 42, but he was also famed for his love of animals.
During his time in the White House, he made room for a whole variety of pooches. These included Sailor Boy the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Jack the terrier, Skip the mongrel, small black Pekingese named Manchu, and Pete, a bull terrier who gained a reputation for biting the legs of visitors – so much so that he was sent to live in the Roosevelt home in Long Island.
Roosevelt also opened up his doors to a small bear named Jonathan Edwards, guinea pigs named Admiral Dewey, Dr Johnson, Bishop Doane, Fighting Bob Evans, and Father O’Grady.
He also had Eli Yale the blue macaw, Peter the rabbit, and there was a family cat called Tom Quartz. Roosevelt still holds the crown for having the most pets as a president.
4. Herbert Hoover’s dogs
Herbert Hoover was another president who shared a love for dogs. Along with his much-loved Belgian Malinois, who went by the name of King Tut and was featured in his 1928 presidential campaign, Hoover and his wife were also the proud pet parents Buckeye), a wirehaired Irish Wolfhound (Cragwood Padraic) and then Cragwood Padraic II, following the previous dog’s death.
Amongst others, Hoover also welcomed Cragwood Seamrog, best known as a Shamrock, who was another wirehaired Irish Wolfhound through his doors, and Inglehurst Gillette, a Gordon Setter.
5. Franklin D Roosevelt’s dogs
Franklin D Roosevelt welcomed a number of pets into the White House during his presidency, but perhaps his best-known pooch was Scottish Terrier, Fala.
Fala originally went by the name of Big Boy, but he was renamed Murray the Outlaw of Falahill after a Scottish ancestor.
Fala is said to have slept at the foot of Roosevelt’s bed and had a bone brought up for him every morning on the president’s breakfast tray.
During his time as president, Fala was often pictured during historic moments with famous people. For example, he was seen sitting at the foot of the president’s feet during the August 1941 Atlantic Conference.
Roosevelt also had a number of other dogs, including a German Shepherd called Major and a Scottish Terrier named Meggie. Then there was Winks, a Llewellin Setter, and an Old English Sheepdog named Tiny.
6. John F Kennedy’s dogs
During Kennedy’s three years in the White House from 1961–1963, there were many pets walking (or flying) through the doors. These included ponies, horses, ducks, hamsters, a canary, and a cat named Tom Kitten.
His pet dogs included Pushinka (a mixed-breed dog), Charlies (Welsh Terrier), Clipper (German Shepherd), Shannon (English Cocker Spaniel), and Wolf (Irish Wolfhound). Jacqueline Kennedy also had a poodle named Gaullie.
7. Richard Nixon’s dogs
An outstanding law student and a lieutenant commander in the Navy during World War II, during his time in the White House, Nixon welcomed three dogs into his home.
This included Pacha (Yorkshire Terrier), Vicky (miniature poodle) and King Timahoe (Irish Setter), who was called Tim for short and was a birthday president from his staff.
8. Ronald Reagan’s dogs
The 40th president of the US, Ronald Reagan, and his wife Nancy were certainly dog people.
Reagan had four dogs that lived on his ranch, Rancho del Cielo. This included a golden retriever, Irish Setter, Belgian Sheepdog, and a Siberian Husky.
But it was just two dogs – a Bouvier des Flandres called Lucky and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Rex – who resided in the White House.
9. Bill Clinton’s dog
Bill Clinton was known for many things, from the longest economic expansion in American history to the lowest unemployment levels in 30 years. But pet lovers will (perhaps) best know him for his beautiful dog named Buddy.
The chocolate-colored Labrador Retriever was welcomed into the White House in late 1997, and was often pictured right by Clinton’s side.
The Clintons also had a cat named Socks.
10. Barack Obama’s dogs
Barack Obama promised his two daughters, Sasha and Malia, a puppy, no matter whether he won or lost the 2009 presidential campaign. So in 2009, after securing 67.8% of the electoral vote, a Portuguese Water Dog, Bo, was welcomed into the White House after his inauguration. Sunny, another Portuguese Water Dog, came along in August 2013.
Obama was often pictured living life at the White House with his dogs never too far away. Whether it was running down the East Colonnade with Bo or playing rugby together during a break from his meetings.
11. Joe Biden’s dogs
When Joe Biden won his seat in the White House, together with his wife Jill, they restored the tradition of presidential pets by bringing three fur friends with them into the grounds in January 2021.
The Biden family’s two German shepherds, Champ and Major, as well as a cat, were free to roam the White House during the president’s tenure.
However, in June 2021, Champ passed away peacefully at the age of 13, and Major was eventually rehomed. In December 2021, the Bidens welcomed a new German Shepherd pup named Commander, who was eventually sent home for reportedly biting a security guard.
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