Richard M. Nixon - Setter, Terrier and Poodle
37th president Richard M. Nixon was a big animal lover, especially when it came to dogs. During his administration, he had three pups, all of different breeds and adopted at different times. He had an Irish Setter called King Timahoe, or Tim for short (named after the Irish village his family descended from), a Yorkshire Terrier called Pasha, and a French Poodle called Vicky. Luckily for him, all three dogs got along extremely well and were frequently seen by the then-president's side. That being said, Vicky is said to have been happiest when she was alone with Nixon while he worked at his writing desk.
Interestingly, King Timahoe had been trained by a Spanish trainer, so he was often spoken to in Spanish by those around him, unlike his brother and sister.
Bill Clinton - Labrador Retriever
Bill Clinton adopted a three-month-old chocolate-colored Labrador Retriever at the end of 1997 from Maryland. He named him Buddy after his much-beloved great-uncle Henry Oren "Buddy" Grisham, who had passed away shortly before the adoption, and Buddy was also deeply cherished by the Clinton family. However, he met his end only four years later when the family was away in a tragic car accident. He was rushed to an animal hospital, but, sadly, he didn’t survive the severe injuries.
Still, chocolate Labrador Buddy, who was a certified good boy and a loyal companion, left a lasting impression on Clinton, his children, and the guests of the White House.
Bill Clinton - Stray Cat
When Bill Clinton moved into the White House, he did so with his pet cat called Socks. Socks was an adopted stray cat that the Clintons welcomed into their family after an encounter that saw the black and white cat leap into the arms of the Clinton’s daughter Chelsea. They named him after his white paw fur pattern that made it look as though he was wearing little white socks. Initially, he was the only pet in residence in the White House, but once the Clintons adopted their beloved Chocolate Lab, he was forced to share the estate with another four-legged furball.
The White House pets never saw eye to eye, right up until the Clintons made the decision to send Socks to live with Clinton’s secretary, Betty Currie.
John Quincy Adams - Alligator
The sixth president of the United States, John Quincy Adams, appears to have been quite the animal lover behind closed doors. But he didn't opt for your typical house pet; instead, he kept an alligator in the White House. Gifted to him in 1825 during a tour of the United States by French nobleman and revolutionary Marquis de Lafayette, the gift of an alligator was warmly received and promptly kept in one of the bathrooms of the sprawling stately residence—specifically the East Room, which was then still undergoing refurbishment.
The then-president is said to have been so fond of his majestic reptile pet that he would happily shock unprepared visitors to the White House with the sight of it sitting in a bathtub!
Barack Obama - Portuguese Water Dog
When Senator Ted Kennedy gifted Barack Obama an adorable Portuguese Water Dog, he hardly expected that he and his family would fall so in love with the breed. The family had previously been looking for a hypoallergenic pooch due to Malia's allergies and were more than open to accepting a shelter dog if they should have found a suitable one. In the end, they named their beloved male pup Bo and, in 2013, decided to adopt another Portuguese Water Dog, a female, whom they called Sunny.
Famously, Obama addressed his daughters in his 2008 victory speech, stating, "Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House."
Joe Biden - German Shepherds
President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, are famously big on dogs, and they moved into the White House in 2021 with their two beloved German Shepherds, Major and Champ. Unfortunately, Champ passed away shortly after moving in at the age of 13. While Major became the first shelter dog to take up residence in the stately home, he was later moved to another residence that was quieter and better suited to his lifestyle.
The Bidens have since adopted another adorable German Shepherd puppy, whom they've named Commander, and who seems to be adjusting well to the busy White House residence.
Joe Biden - Tabby Cat
The Bidens aren't just fond of dogs—they're also cat people, as it turns out. Back in 2022, the Biden family adopted a handsome tabby domestic short-haired cat and named her Willow. The adorable fur baby used to live on a farm owned by Rick Telesz and was named after Jill’s hometown in Pennsylvania, Willow Grove. Jill spotted her during a campaign event and felt an instant bond with the tabby. She asked Telesz if it was possible to adopt her, and before she knew it, Willow was living in the White House.
She has quite the cheeky personality, as Joe Biden has noted; she “has no limits” and “in the middle of the night, climbs up and lays on top of [my] head.”
Andrew Johnson - Mice
Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the United States, served between the years of 1865 to 1869. He wasn't known for being especially attached to your typical household pets, and when he took up office, he didn't enter the White House with any animals. He did, however, develop a keen interest in the white mice he found scurrying around the estate during his impeachment. During this time, he took to calling them "the little fellows."
The then-president would even leave food and water out for them each night, and supposedly believed that he had earned himself their trust and confidence.
George W. Bush - Scottish Terrier
George W. Bush lived in the White House for two terms from 2001 to 2009, and he did so with his beloved dogs by his side. His first dog, Barney, a Scottish Terrier, was adopted soon after the presidential election of 2000 and given by the Bushes as a gift to his wife, Laura. Four years later, Bush gifted yet another Scottish Terrier to his wife, whom they named Miss Beazley. It can be risky business introducing a new dog to the household when one already exists, but these two got on better than they could have hoped.
People loved Barney so much that the White House actually created a website for him, which is still available to browse today, featuring videos of the Scottish Terrier around the estate.
Woodrow Wilson - Sheep
The White House has even been home to its own flock of sheep. But on this occasion, they weren't brought in because the president had an affinity for farm animals. During the First World War, the White House had to make budget cuts, and one of the things that had to go was their lawn-trimming service. Instead, Wilson had the genius idea of bringing a flock of sheep to graze on the grass and keep the lawn short and manageable.
But just because they served a practical purpose on the grounds of the White House doesn't mean that the president wasn't fond of them. He even named the one that favored chewing tobacco "Old Ike."
Martin Van Buren - Tiger Cubs
Martin Van Buren was the eighth president of the United States from 1837 to 1841. Similarly to his presidential predecessor, he was gifted exotic pets by the Sultan of Oman, Kabul al Said. The then-president is said to have been so fond of his adorable tiger cubs that he fought with Congress long and hard for them to be legally accepted as living with him in the White House. He wanted them to take up residence on the property just like regular cats or dogs!
In the end, the president lost his battle with Congress as it was deemed unacceptable for the tigers to live at the White House. Instead, they took up residence in the Washington Zoo.
George Bush - English Springer Spaniel
George H. W. Bush lived in the White House with his family from 1981 to 1989, which included his beloved pet English Springer Spaniel called Millie. Called "the most famous dog in White House history," Millie was mentioned in the president's 1992 speech when he stated, "My dog Millie knows more about foreign affairs than these two bozos," referring to his then-opposition candidates. She went on to have a litter of six puppies in 1989, delivered by a U.S. Army veterinarian, and two of her puppies would later become presidential pets.
The brown and white English Springer Spaniel sadly passed away at the age of 12 after battling pneumonia, but her puppies lived on and carried forward her legacy.
John F. Kennedy - Pony
John F. Kennedy lived in the White House in the early sixties with his family. He was gifted a pony by then-Vice President Lyndon Baines Johnson, and his daughter Caroline took a particular interest in the animal. The Kennedys famously named the pony Macaroni, and the beloved four-legged horse became a cherished member of the household. So much so that she was actually photographed for a Life magazine feature. She spent some of her time living with the family in their main White House residence, and some of the time living on their estate in Virginia.
Caroline was said to be such a charming animal that musician Neil Diamond even wrote his famous song, "Sweet Caroline," about the Shetland gelding pony!
Andrew Jackson - Parrot
Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, followed in his predecessors' footsteps by keeping animals in the White House. He was known for his frequent use of foul language, making his acquisition of a talking parrot all the more ironic. When he was elected in 1830, he made sure to move his parrot, named Poll, into the residence with him. Apparently, Poll picked up much of his owner's profanity, which frequently caused problems.
The parrot even outlived the president and, by some accounts, was present at the funeral, where it is said that Poll was shrieking expletives so loudly that he had to be removed.
Ronald Reagan - Bouvier Des Flandres
When Ronald Wilson Reagan took office in 1981, he did so without any household pets. But soon after he and Nancy Reagan moved into the White House, they acquired a Bouvier des Flandres herding dog. They named the adorable black pup Lucky after Nancy's mother, Edith Luckett (Lucky) Davis, and all seemed to be well. However, Lucky proved to be too large for the Reagans as time went on. Nancy once stated that Lucky started as a small “ball of fluff” but soon became “the size of a pony.”
Lucky was eventually sent to live at the Reagans' Santa Barbara estate, where it was determined that both he and the Reagans would be more comfortable.
Ronald Reagan - Stray Cats
The Reagans weren't just dog people—they also loved their pet cats. Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy had two cats, Sara and Cleo, who spent most of their time living on their ranch in Santa Barbara, California. They were tortoiseshell-fur-coated cats, otherwise described as red and black in color, though the patches of red are usually a mix of ginger and cream shades. Their interesting coat colors revealed their genders, as tortoiseshell cats are almost always female.
Sara and Cleo were initially stray cats before the Reagans adopted them into their family's California vacation home, where it is said that the Reagans housed even more stray cats.
Gerald Ford - Golden Retriever
38th president Gerald Ford was given an adorable 8-month-old Golden Retriever by his daughter Susan in 1974, and she was much beloved by the then-president. She was frequently spotted sitting beside Ford in the Oval Office and was even mentioned by Ford during a speech, where he stated, "This puppy has really taken over the White House. In fact, you may have seen some of us laughing up here during dinner. As I reached in my pocket to get a match to light my pipe, look what I pulled out of the pocket — some dog biscuits."
Liberty even made herself useful during long meetings, as Ford could signal her to greet the guest with a wagging tail and allow for a natural pause in conversation.
John F. Kennedy - Welsh Terrier
John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie both grew up with dogs in their respective homes, so it's not all that surprising that they also adopted an adorable Welsh Terrier into the White House. They actually had several dogs, but Charlie, the Welsh Terrier, was said to be a personal favorite. He had been the first dog they adopted during their time in the White House, which might have played a part in his favoritism.
While he was much loved by Kennedy, the then-president is said to have found Charlie’s insatiable desire to play fetch with a stick a bit on the annoying side.
Jimmy Carter - Border Collie Mix
Jimmy Carter served as the 39th president of the United States between 1977 and 1981, but when he first took office, he didn't have any house pets with him. However, when his daughter Amy's teacher gave the Carters a Border Collie mix pup soon after they entered the White House, they embraced the pup with open arms. While this started out great, unfortunately, it didn’t last long after the Carter family introduced a cat into the White House. In the end, the arrangement didn’t work out, and Grits was sent to live elsewhere where he would feel more relaxed.
Apparently, the family did end up adopting another dog into the White House, but they opted for a dog of the Afghan Hound breed instead.
Franklin D. Roosevelt - Scottish Terrier
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States, is the longest-serving president in history, so it's no surprise that he had his fair share of pets while living at the White House. He famously loved dogs, and his best-known canine companion was a little Scottish Terrier named Fala. Given to the president as a Christmas present, Roosevelt loved to take Fala with him wherever he went and even taught him a few tricks. Roosevelt once faced controversy when it was reported that he had accidentally left Fala behind while touring the Aleutian Islands and had to retrieve him at great expense to taxpayers.
His speech addressing the false claims saw Roosevelt state, "I am accustomed to hearing malicious falsehoods about myself... But I think I have a right to resent, to object, to libelous statements about my dog."
Dwight D. Eisenhower - Parakeet
The 34th president of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower, served from 1953 to 1961, and about a year into his term, he adopted a pet parakeet named Gabby. There is a bit of mystery surrounding Eisenhower's relationship with the bird, mainly because he didn’t talk about her much. Allegedly, she wasn’t much of a talker either. However, it’s understood that she was dearly loved, especially by Eisenhower's grandchildren. When Gabby passed away in 1957, she was buried on the White House grounds.
In fact, Gabby was so cherished by the family that one of Eisenhower’s grandsons reportedly made more than one trip to the White House just to visit her grave.
Harry S. Truman - Cocker Spaniel
When a supporter sent the 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman, a Cocker Spaniel puppy, he decided to keep him. He named the puppy Feller, but it is believed that the dog was eventually sent to live elsewhere. That being said, Truman was known to have been fond of dogs since he was a child, as evidenced by the fact that the family later adopted another dog called Mike, an Irish Setter. Having also once stated, “Children and dogs are as necessary to the welfare of the country as Wall Street and the railroads,” he revealed his profound love and respect for canine companions.
There is another quote, "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog," that is usually attributed to the former president, but there is some debate as to whether he really said it.
Herbert Hoover - Belgian Shepherd
The 31st president of the United States, Herbert Hoover's most famous dog was King Tut, a Belgian Shepherd police dog who lived with him at the White House. King Tut moved into the presidential suite when Hoover took office and was known as Hoover's favorite of all his pets. However, he found it hard to adjust to the new living quarters. As a result, Hoover decided that it would be best for King Tut to move back to the house in Connecticut where he was raised.
When King Tut passed some years later in 1929, the Hoover family delayed letting the public know as they were worried about receiving more dogs as presents!
Chester A. Arthur - Horses
The 21st president of the United States was Chester A. Arthur, and his presidential term lasted from 1881 to 1885. He assumed office after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, and when he did, he brought his only pets, two horses, to the White House with him. These horses were chestnut brown bay horses that were said to be especially beautiful, adorned with fine leathers, laces, and silver.
Unlike many of his predecessors and successors, he opted not to have any other typical household pets like dogs, cats, or birds, but it is believed that he was quite attached to his two horses.
Warren Harding - Dogs, Canaries and a Squirrel
The 29th president, Warren Harding, served from 1921 to 1923. While he wasn’t in the White House for very long, he did bring his and his wife’s beloved dogs with them. They had an Airedale Terrier and an English Bulldog called Laddie Boy and Old Boy, respectively, with the former being better known by the public than his brother. The Hardings also had canaries and even a pet squirrel named Pete, which is hardly surprising given their love for animals.
Of the two dogs, Laddie Boy the Airedale Terrier is said to have enjoyed an especially close relationship with Harding and was usually found glued to his owner's hip.
Lyndon B. Johnson - Beagles
Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th president of the United States, was famously a big dog lover. He had several pups throughout his life, and he almost always opted to give them unusual names. The most well-known of all his dogs, the Beagle duo hilariously called Him and Her, happily lived with Johnson in the White House and were frequently pictured by the then-president's side or wandering around the estate.
While Johnson had a deep love for Beagles, he also adopted a white Collie called Yuki and a mutt called Freckles during his time in office.
William McKinley - Parrot and Roosters
President William McKinley's presidential term lasted from March 4, 1897, to September 14, 1901, making him the 25th president of the United States. He was known for his deep love of birds of all kinds and kept a pet parrot at the White House, along with a number of roosters. Not much is known about how McKinley developed such a fondness for roosters, but several contemporary sources report that he did indeed have several living with him on the estate.
Similarly, it's not known exactly how many roosters the then-president kept, but it is known that he also owned a pet parrot named Washington Post.
Calvin Coolidge - Racoon
The 30th president of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, lived in the White House with his wife, Grace Coolidge, from 1923 to 1929. They had several pets during his time in office, but one of their most loved animals was Rebecca the raccoon. She wasn't supposed to be a member of the household initially—she was sent to the White House for their first Thanksgiving meal, but the family had no appetite to eat the adorable animal. Instead, they adopted her and even had a little house built for her in one of the large trees on the property.
The former First Lady once wrote about Rebecca, "She was a mischievous, inquisitive party, and we had to keep watch of her when she was in the house."
Calvin Coolidge - Border Collie
The Coolidges seem to have welcomed all types of animals into the White House with open arms. But aside from their exotic animals, they also had a white Border Collie called Rob Roy. Rob Roy was said to be Coolidge's favorite of all his pets and was adopted by the family in 1922. While Mr. Coolidge is attributed with having once stated, "Any man who does not like dogs and want them about does not deserve to be in the White House," his wife was famously just as much of a dog enthusiast.
However, Rob Roy is believed to have occupied a special place in the then-president's heart, having been considered more Mr. Coolidge's pet than Mrs. Coolidge's.
William Howard Taft - Dogs, a Horse, and a Cow
William Howard Taft, the 27th president of the United States, loved dogs as much as anyone. His best-known pet pooch was a small white dog named Caruso, supposedly because he was gifted to the Tafts by opera singer Enrico Caruso. However, it’s Taft’s pet cow that he is most famous for, as he kept Pauline Wayne with him on the White House estate. She was a Holstein cow who was given permission to graze on the White House lawn to her heart's delight.
According to the New York Times, Miss Wayne, as she was affectionately referred to, was of great stock having been "a member of the great Wayne family of Holsteins."
Theodore Roosevelt - Zoo Animals
Theodore Roosevelt lived in the White House during his presidency from 1901 to 1909. He wasn’t alone, as he brought a whole farm’s worth of animals with him, including horses, ponies, dogs, snakes, guinea pigs, a barn owl, a rooster, a hen, a pig, a hyena, a lizard, and even a bear! Apparently, Roosevelt had a special place in his heart for the many horses he owned, and he is quoted as having once stated, "Of course there are no pets like horses and horsemanship is a test of prowess."
He certainly put that theory to the test, as he is known to have had at least eight horses, according to the National Park Service.
Theodore Roosevelt - Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Aside from the exotic and farm animals, Theodore Roosevelt also had a soft spot for man's best friend—the dog. He had a number of dogs throughout his presidential term, but he is most famously remembered for his strong bond with his Chesapeake Bay Retriever called Sailor Boy. Roosevelt is quoted as having said, "Much the most individual of the dogs and the one with the strongest character was Sailor Boy, a Chesapeake Bay dog," adding that Sailor Boy "had a masterful temperament and a strong sense of both dignity and duty."
Roosevelt clearly had a lot of love and respect for the sporting dog: "He would never let the other dogs fight, and he himself never fought unless circumstances imperatively demanded it."
Abraham Lincoln - Dogs, Cats, and Farm Animals
The 16th president Abraham Lincoln's list of pets extends well beyond your typical cat or dog varieties. Aside from cats and dogs, he owned a pig, a white rabbit, a turkey, goats, and ponies, and his love for animals was known far and wide. He had grown up with dogs, and when elected into office, he brought with him a small dog named Jip. Jip was often seen sitting on the then-president's lap, even during mealtimes when he would be petted throughout.
One of Lincoln's friends once wrote about Jip that he was "beautiful" and “a very cunning little fellow” that would “bark & stand up straight on his hind feet & hold his forefeet up.”
Benjamin Harrison - Mixed-Breed Collie
The 23rd president of the United States was Benjamin Harrison, who served his presidential term from 1889 to 1893. He had a number of dogs, opossums, and even a goat, but his most beloved pet was his mixed-breed Collie called Dash. Interestingly, Dash was originally intended to be a gift from the then-president to his grandchildren, but Harrison became so attached to the adorable pooch that he had an elaborate dog house built for him right beside the White House.
Most of Harrison's dogs were of mixed breed, but Dash was extra special to him. Luckily, Harrison's extended family moved into the White House with him, so everyone got to enjoy living with Dash.
James A. Garfield - Newfoundland
The 20th president was James A. Garfield, who served for less than a year before his untimely assassination in 1881. While he didn't live in the White House for a very long time, during the time he did, he and his wife Lucretia owned a black Newfoundland dog named Veto, who is thought to have been gifted to him by Rutherford B. Hayes. Veto was known for being quite vocal and once made the news for barking to alert people that the barn had caught fire.
Aside from their protective Newfoundland, Mrs. Garfield also kept a pet horse on the estate named Kit. Perhaps Veto saved Kit’s life when he warned them about the stable fire.
Rutherford B. Hayes - Dogs, Cats, Horses and Birds
The 19th president of the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes, is reported by the Presidential Pet Museum to have had a large number of animals with him at the White House during his presidential term. Serving from 1877 to 1881, he is recorded as having owned a Greyhound, English Mastiff, Miniature Schnauzer, Newfoundland, Cocker Spaniel, Siamese cats, a goat, a mockingbird, cows, horses, and various other cat and dog breeds. Both Hayes and his wife Lucy were said to have been huge animal lovers who enjoyed keeping their animal gifts as household pets.
It might be hard to imagine the president bringing so many animals to the presidential residence, but it undoubtedly made life at the White House interesting for Hayes and his family.
Grover Cleveland - Saint Bernard
Much like many of his predecessors, Grover Cleveland had a fondness for animals. He served as president for two separate terms, from 1885 to 1889 and then from 1893 to 1897, during which he brought some animals into the White House. His most notable pet was a great big St. Bernard named Kay, who was a prize-winning dog. The family is believed to have been especially attached to Kay and took him on their trips to their vacation home in Buzzard’s Bay, Massachusetts, during Cleveland's second term.
The Cleveland family are also said to have seen Kay as added protection during a time when the White House was open to the general public.
James Buchanan - Dogs and Bald Eagles
The 15th president of the United States, James Buchanan, lived at the White House from 1857 to 1861. During his presidential term, he was rather appropriately gifted two bald eagles, but they had to be sent off to live at his Pennsylvania estate. His private home was deemed far more appropriate for the eagles as they would be free to fly about as they pleased, and Buchanan would be able to see them whenever he visited. Aside from his eagles, Buchanan also had two dogs who did live with him at his White House residence.
One of Buchanan dogs was a Newfoundland dog—it was a popular breed at the time amongst families of Buchanan's class—and the other was a little toy terrier.
William Henry Harrison - Cow and Goat
The ninth president of the United States was William Henry Harrison, who famously only held office for 32 days. Holding the shortest term in history, you might imagine that he hardly had time to move his entire household into the White House. But as it turns out, he did keep a cow and a goat on the premises during his stay. There aren't many sources that can tell us much about these animals, but their names are known today. The goat is believed to have been called either Old Whiskers or His Whiskers, while the Durham cow is believed to have been known as Sukey.
Sources at the time appear to confirm that the cow and the goat did indeed exist and were brought to live at the White House along with Harrison and his family.
Franklin Pierce - Dogs and Birds
The 14th president of the United States was Franklin Pierce, and he served as president from 1853 to 1857. One of his biggest accomplishments during his presidential term was the signing of the trade Treaty of Kanagawa, which saw Pierce gifted a number of native Japanese dogs and birds. He was given seven tiny teacup dogs, otherwise known as pocket or micro dogs, and two birds, though little is known about them.
The dogs are believed to have been of the exclusive Japanese Chin variety, and all the animals were brought back to the White House by U.S. Representative Commodore Matthew Perry.