Images of Famous Dogs

NAME: Sensation

Representative dog image for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. A dog named Don which had won bench championships in England in 1875 and 1876, became the symbolic image for the Kennel Club because of the 1935 steel engraving of “Sensation” by artist J. Wellstood. From 1980-1982, a head study of the dog gained popularity. (More about Sensation.)

BREED: Pointer

YEARS: Dog: 1870s.

In Kennel catalog: 1936- now.

NAME: Nipper

In advertisements for The Gramophone Company, then RCA. (More about Nipper.)

BREED: Terrier

mix

YEARS: Dog: 1884-1895.

Ads: early 1900-1977.

NAME: Lad

The author's dog in the movie Lad: A Dog; starring Peter Breck; based on a series of short stories by Albert Terhune about his real-life Rough Collie.

BREED: Rough Collie

YEARS: Dog: 1902-1918.

Book: 1919.

Movie: 1962.

NAME: Willie (formerly Punch; apparently the dog was not named after "William the Conqueror" as suggested in the movie Patton)

Companion pet for George S. Patton; the American general, devoted dog lover, acquired a terrier puppy in Europe during World War II. The dog folowed him around everywhere. The character Willie also appeared in the movie Patton.

BREED: Bull Terrier

YEARS: Dog: 1943-1955.

Movie: 1970.

NAME: Feller

Pet dog of President Harry S Truman. Since no one in the White House wanted the puppy Truman decided to give him to the White House physician. There was also Irish Setter Mike.

BREED: Cocker Spaniel English

YEARS: Dog: 1947-1961.

NAME: Checkers

Pet dog of President Richard Nixon, famous because of the Checker's speech. Also the president had dogs Irish setter King Timahoe, Terrier Pasha and Poodle Vicki.

BREED: Cocker Spaniel

YEARS: Dog: 1952-1964.

NAME: Higgins (See also character Benji)

Dog actor known mainly for his role as Benji in films and as the uncredited dog who played the character of "Dog" on the television sitcom Petticoat Junction. (More about Higgins.)

BREED: Mixed breed

YEARS: Dog: 1954-1975.

NAME: Heidi

Pet of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

BREED: Weimaraner

YEARS: Dog: 1956-1966.

NAME: Lampo

Elvio's dog in life and in the book Lampo, the Traveling Dog. The dog rode trains by himself to various parts of Italy and always returned. Station workers everywhere would tie rail ticket stubs to his collar showing where he'd been. His statue is at Campiglia Marittima Station.

BREED: Mixed breed

YEARS: Dog: 1953-1961.

Book: 1963.

NAME: Pushinka

Pet of President John F. Kennedy, a gift to daughter Caroline as a sign of friendship and a peace offering from Soviet Premier Khrushchev. The dog was the puppy of a Russian space dog Strelka and she and Kennedy's other dog Charlie had four pups together. Also there were six other dogs.

BREED: Mixed breed

YEARS: Dog: 1961-1963.

NAME: Pickles

Hero in finding the soccer World Cup trophy and a character in the British movie The Spy with a Cold Nose; about a dog is fitted with a covert listening device then passed between agents of the Russian and British intelligence branches; starring Laurence Harvey. (More about Pickles fame.)

BREED: White Collie

YEARS: Movie: 1966.

Dog: 1962-1067.

NAME: Him and Her

Pet dogs of President Lyndon Johnson. Her died at the White House in November 1964 after she swallowed a stone. Him died in June 1966 when he was hit by a car while chasing a squirrel. Also the president had Collie Blanco, Beagles Edgar and Freckles, and mongerl Yuki.

BREED: Beagles

YEARS: Dog: 1963-1966.

NAME: Axelrod

In advertisments for Flying A Service Station; owned by Tidewater Oil Company.

BREED: Basset Hound

YEARS: Ads: 1965-1966.

NAME: Nemo

Sentry dog for the 377th Security Police Squadron of the U.S. Air Force and hero war dog in vietnam; injured in December, 1966 while on duty.

BREED: German Shepherd

YEARS: War bravery: 1966.

Dog: 1962-1972.

NAME: Man Ray (See also Fay Ray)

The first dog model in the famous photos of photographer William Wegman, named after the American artist born Emmanuel Radnitzky.

BREED: Weimaraner

YEARS: Dog: 1970- 1982.

NAME: Red Dog (Originally named Tally Ho)

The dog who unites the people of Dampier, Western Australia, in the movie Red Dog; based on the book Red Dog written by Louis de Bernières which was based upon a real life dog called Red Dog.

BREED: Kelpie-Cattle Dog mix

YEARS: Dog: 1971-1979.

Book: 1993.

Movie: 2011.

NAME: Liberty

Pet dog of President Gerald R. Ford, given to the president as an 8-month-old puppy by his daughter Susan Ford and new White House photographer David Hume Kennerly. Also there was dogs Lucky and Misty. (More about Liberty.)

BREED: Golden Retriever

YEARS: Dog: 1974-1984.

NAME: Grits

Pet dog of President Jimmy Carter's daughter Amy, a gift from her teacher. The dog was given back shortly afterwards. Also there was Afghan Hound Lewis Brown.

BREED: Mixed breed

YEARS: Dog: 1978-1980.

NAME: Edgar (See also Farley)

The second family dog in the comic strip For Better or Worse; about a regular Canadian family; created by Lynn Johnston. Since 2008, the strip continues as reruns. Edgar appears in 1995 after first dog Farley died.

BREED: English Sheepdog

YEARS: Comic strip: 1979- now.

Dog: 1995.

NAME: Farley (See also Edgar)

The first family dog in the comic strip For Better or Worse; about a regular Canadian family; created by Lynn Johnston. Since 2008, the strip continues as reruns. Edgar appears in 1995 after first dog Farley died.

BREED: English Sheepdog

YEARS: Comic strip: 1979-1995.

Dog: 1979.

NAME: Jason

In advertisements for Hush Puppies, a brand of casual shoes by Wolverine Worldwide.

BREED: Basset Hound

YEARS: Ads: since 1985- now.

Dog: 1979-1990.