Dogs in History

A pathway lined with evenly spaced small white flowers on both sides, leading through a grassy field with trees in the background.

Meet the dogs who shaped history — from ancient legends to modern heroes. Some of these dogs are famous, others long forgotten, but all played a part in the human story.

Their stories live here and are grouped into six themed categories.

Each tale will surprise you, move you, and change the way you think about dogs and history.

A new story every Friday, about a dog worth remembering.

1. Ancient Dogs

2. Dogs in Art and Literature

3. Dogs in Myth and Religion

4. Dogs of Royals and Rulers

5. Famous Dogs

6. War and Working Dogs

All stories

Dogs in History 02/06/2025 Dogs in History 02/06/2025

Cerberus: The Dog Who Guarded the Underworld

Rubens painted the underworld’s watchdog on a panel he never meant anyone to look at and got one detail right that almost every artist since has gotten wrong.