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The First Pooches-White House Dogs

Statistics show that one of three American households have a dog but if your house is The White House, that ratio increases dramatically.  More than half of our presidents have enjoyed the companionship of a dog.

George Washington turns out not only was a founding father but a breeder of hunting dogs.  He bred his own black and tan dogs with the French Fox Hound to create a new breed:  The American Foxhound.

Abe Lincoln adored his dog Fido.  A Labrador-hound mix, Fido was ratttled by commotion and loud noises.  Lincoln feared the pup would not cotton to life in Washington, DC.  He found a family in Springfield to care for his dog and Lincoln helped by picking up the tab for Fido’s care. Ironically, just days after the president was shot, a drunken man killed Fido.  Details are murky.

Our 33rd president, Harry S. Truman coined the famous phrase, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.”  I’d like to say that Truman’s long life could be attributed to his love of dogs, but at least two of his pups were re-homed, presumably because they were “inconvenient”.

In addition to dogs, goats, ponies, raccoon and birds at one time have called the White House Home.

Many thanks to the Smithsonian Institute and the National Archives for these digital images.

abe-lincoln-and-fido_0  
carter_grits Grits, Amy Carter's Dog
fdr_fala Fala, Franklin Delano Roosevelt
ford_liberty_ovaloffice Liberty and Gerald Ford
fordboysdayparade_pioneerwagon Gerald Ford and boyhood friends won a prize for their Pioneer Wagon entry in a parade
hardings_airdale_laddieboy Laddie boy, Warren Harding
hayes_duke Duke and President Hayes
johnson The Johnson's and dog
kennedy_dogs Khruschev gifted the Kennedy's with a puppy
Obama family welcomes new puppy. RESTRICTED Bo and Obama
oldbush_millie Millie and George Bush
reaganandrex Reagan's Rex
roosevelts_jack_kermit Kermit and Teddy Roosevelt
truman Terrier and Truman

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