Joe Biden will bring ‘first dogs’ Major and Champ, but Donald Trump was the first White House resident without a dog in 100 years – plus 8 other presidents’ pets

Nov 19 , 2020

President Barack Obama running with his dog Bo, President Bill Clinton walks his puppy Buddy at the White House, and President George W. Bush walks off Air Force One carrying the family pets Barney and Miss Beazley. Photos: Agence France-Presse/The White House, AP, Agence France-Presse

Barack and Michelle Obama’s dogs were so famous they had their own official schedules, while George W. Bush’s dog was the puppy of his father’s – here’s why dogs are the most popular presidential pet

Among the many grand traditions of the White House, one of them is furry, four-legged, and has a reputation as “man’s best friend”.

Out of the USA’s 45 presidents to date, 32 of them apparently agreed on one thing – their preference of pet, each having at least one dog in the West Wing. This easily makes dogs the most popular president’s pet.

The first to have a dog during his presidency was George Washington, and the last was Barack Obama, who had two dogs. When President Donald Trump and first lady Melania moved into the White House, they became the most recent first family to not have a dog since William McKinley more than 100 years ago. But president-elect Joe Biden is poised to reset the tradition of dogs in the executive mansion.

One of Biden’s German shepherds, Major, will be making history as the first shelter dog to live in the White House. He’ll be following in the footsteps of Biden’s other dog, Champ, who spent eight years in the former vice-president’s residence at the Naval Observatory in Washington.

Here are of some of the most adorable and well-known canines to grace the Oval Office.

Herbert Hoover had a Belgian shepherd named King Tut, who would patrol the gates of the White House on a nightly basis. He also helped Hoover get elected, appearing in a campaign photo.

President Herbert Hoover and first lady Lou Henry Hoover actually had several dogs, but King Tut was the most famous. Photo: Presidential Pet Museum

Franklin Roosevelt’s German shepherd, Major, used to chase the White House maids around.

President Franklin Roosevelt with his dog Fala. Photo: AP/Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

Roosevelt also had a Scottish terrier named Fala that would often accompany the president on his travels.

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