Dogs in History
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.
Mandrakes, Dogs, and the Screams of Legend
Discover how dogs helped harvest the devil’s herb – Mandrakes. A curious root with human-like limbs and potent medicinal properties.
The Dog Who Upstaged James Bond
The unnamed dog that wandered into a shot during the filming of Thunderball in Nassau was cut by the editor — then personally reinstated by the producers — and has been in the film ever since.
The Beagle Brigade: The Last Line of Defense
When Hardy the beagle sat down next to a suitcase at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in October 2018, he triggered a national alert about a disease that had already wiped out a quarter of the world’s pig population.
Queen Elizabeth II and Corgis: A Lifelong Love Affair
Discover the heartwarming story of Queen Elizabeth II's extraordinary lifelong bond with her beloved Pembroke Welsh Corgis, from her first childhood pet to their iconic appearances and lasting legacy.
A Pompeii Pup: The Dog Beneath the Lovers
A calm Molossian dog appears in a Pompeii fresco. His quiet presence revealing how Romans saw their dogs as guardians, companions, and symbols.
The Dogs of The Little Folks of Animal Land
Step aside, TikTok and Instagram pets. Meet the Edwardian pups that were striking poses in costumes over 100 years ago, long before hashtags were a thing.
Laika: The Space Dog Who Passed the Test
The Soviet space program shut three Moscow strays in shrinking boxes, spun them in centrifuges and played them the roar of a rocket engine, then watched to see which dog complained least.
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.
The Knife Grinders and Their Warmhearted Helpers
France's knife grinders worked face-down over the wheel for twelve hours. A dog on their legs made the winters survivable.
