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From Washington鈥檚 Foxhounds to Obama鈥檚 famous Portuguese Water Dogs, presidential dogs are as traditional as baseball and apple pie. Almost all of our presidents have shared the White House with a dog, and often more than one. These presidential dogs became as much a staple of the capitol as the rest of the First Family and 鈥渟poke鈥� more than words ever could about the nature of our leaders.
In January 2021, Joe Biden鈥檚听two German Shepherd Dogs Champ and Major restored the tradition of presidential pups to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. To celebrate the lives of First Pets, we take a look back at some of the most famous four-legged friends in American history.
George Washington
George Washington, the 鈥淔ather of Our Nation,鈥� is also the father of American Foxhounds. In 1770, Washington imported a number of hounds from England, and in 1785, the Marquis de Lafayette gave him some French hounds. Washington maintained and carefully bred these hounds, and they became the ancestors of today鈥檚 American Foxhound. More than 30 hounds were listed in Washington鈥檚 journals, including Sweet Lips, Drunkard, Tipler, and Tipsy. Washington didn鈥檛 invent American Foxhounds single-handedly, but he was a key player in the breed鈥檚 development.
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson became interested in Briards听while serving as minister to France. He purchased a pregnant female, named Buzzy, and started his breeding program. Lafayette also sent Jefferson two more Briards to help protect the sheep at Monticello. There is no record of them living at the White House.
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt owned a Saint Bernard named Rollo, a Pekingese named Manchu (belonging to the President鈥檚 daughter Alice), a Chesapeake Bay Retriever听named Sailor Boy, his son Kermit鈥檚 Manchester Terrier called Blackjack, and a Bull Terrier named Pete, who ripped the pants of a French ambassador.
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover听owned a Wire Fox Terrier named , a Norwegian Elkhound called Weejie, an Irish Wolfhound named Patrick, and a Belgian Malinois named .
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt鈥檚听Scottish Terrier Fala reportedly received more fanmail than many presidents. FDR also had a Bullmastiff named Blaze, two Irish Setters named Jack and Jill, a Bulldog named Pal, an English Setter named Winks, another Scottish Terrier named Meggie, a German Shepherd Dog named Major, and a Great Dane named President, which must have made things confusing in the White House.听
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower owned two Scottish Terriers named Caacie and Telek, and a Weimaraner named Heidi.
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy owned a Welsh Terrier named Charlie, an Irish Wolfhound aptly named Wolf, a German Shepherd Dog named Clipper, and an English Cocker Spaniel named Shannon. a Standard Poodle named Gaullie. The family also owned听, a mixed-breed dog who was a gift from Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev.
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon听owned a Cocker Spaniel named Checkers, a Yorkshire Terrier named Pasha, a Poodle named Vicky, and an Irish Setter named King Timahoe.听
Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford听owned a Golden Retriever named Liberty and her puppy, Misty.
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan听owned a Bouvier des Flandres called Lucky, and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Rex. He also had four other dogs that lived on his ranch 鈥� a Golden Retriever, Irish Setter, Belgian Sheepdog, and Siberian Husky.
George H.W. Bush
George Bush听owned an English Springer Spaniel named Millie (the 鈥渁uthor鈥� of a dog memoir called 鈥溾��) and Ranger, one of Millie鈥檚 pups.
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton owned a Labrador Retriever named Buddy.
George W. Bush
George W. Bush owned an English Springer Spaniel named Spot (daughter to Millie), and two Scottish Terriers named Miss Beazley and Barney.听
Barack Obama
Barack Obama听welcomed two Portuguese Water Dogs, Bo and Sunny, into his family after his inauguration.
Joe Biden
Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, restored the tradition of presidential pets to the White House on Jan. 20, 2021, with their two German Shepherd Dogs: Champ, 12, and Major, 2. Joe Biden promised Jill he would get a dog after the 2008 election if Barack Obama won. Jill Biden then attached pictures of different dogs to the seats of Biden鈥檚 campaign plane for him to see. He acquired the puppy from a breeder in Pennsylvania, and he was named Champ (born October 2008) by his granddaughters.
Major (born January 2018) was the first rescue dog to reside in the White House. Champ passed away peacefully at the age of 13 in June 2021, and Major was eventually rehomed. In December 2021, the Bidens welcomed a named Commander.
Thank you to the and websites for many of these wonderful photographs.