Presidents' Favorite Pets: The Ultimate White House Animal All-Stars!
The White House has been a zoo, farm, and pet paradise for over 200 years! Almost every president had a favorite furry (or feathery, or scaly) friend. From dogs and cats to alligators and raccoons, these pets stole the show. Here's the complete list of each president's most famous or favorite pet(s)—with a kid-friendly fun fact for each. (Some had none we know of, but most were animal lovers!)
- George Washington – Sweetlips (American Foxhound)
Washington had dozens of hunting dogs—he even named them Drunkard, Tipsy, and Tipler! - John Adams – Juno & Satan (dogs)
His horses were named Cleopatra and Caesar—fancy! - Thomas Jefferson – Dick (mockingbird)
Dick sang songs and perched on Jefferson’s shoulder while he worked. - James Madison – Polly (parrot)
The bird outlived both Madisons and went to Dolley’s sister. - James Monroe – Spaniel (unnamed)
Monroe loved dogs but kept it low-key. - John Quincy Adams – Alligator (gift from Marquis de Lafayette)
Kept in a bathroom—visitors got a shock! - Andrew Jackson – Polly (parrot)
The bird swore like a sailor at Jackson’s funeral! - Martin Van Buren – Tiger cubs (briefly)
Gift from Oman—he had to send them to the zoo. - William Henry Harrison – Cow & goat
Short term, but farm animals on the lawn! - John Tyler – The General (horse)
Also a greyhound named Le Beau. - James K. Polk – No notable pets
Too busy with the Mexican-American War! - Zachary Taylor – Old Whitey (horse)
The horse grazed on the White House lawn. - Millard Fillmore – No notable pets
Quiet guy, quiet pets. - Franklin Pierce – Japanese Chin dogs (gifts from Japan)
Tiny lap dogs from the first U.S. mission to Japan. - James Buchanan – Lara (Newfoundland dog)
Huge dog that loved swimming. - Abraham Lincoln – Fido (dog) & Tabby (cat)
Fido stayed home in Illinois—Lincoln worried about train noise scaring him. - Andrew Johnson – Fed white mice he found in his bedroom
During impeachment, he cared for mice! - Ulysses S. Grant – Faithful (Newfoundland) & Jeff Davis (pony for kids)
Named a pony after his Civil War rival! - Rutherford B. Hayes – Siam (first Siamese cat in America)
Gift from a diplomat—elegant and exotic! - James A. Garfield – Veto (dog)
Named after his favorite political move. - Chester A. Arthur – No notable pets
Too busy redecorating! - Grover Cleveland – Japanese pugs & canaries
Also mockingbirds. - Benjamin Harrison – Whiskers (goat)
Pulled the grandkids in a cart around the lawn! - William McKinley – Rooster named Washington & yellow parrot
Also Mexican double-yellow-head parrot. - Theodore Roosevelt – Too many to pick one! Favorites: Pete (bull terrier) & Algonquin (pony)
The family had dogs, cats, guinea pigs, snakes, a badger named Josiah, and a hyena! - William Howard Taft – Pauline Wayne (cow)
Last cow on White House lawn—gave fresh milk! - Woodrow Wilson – Sheep flock (to mow the lawn during WWI)
Wool sold for charity! - Warren G. Harding – Laddie Boy (Airedale terrier)
Had his own Cabinet chair and birthday party! - Calvin Coolidge – Rebecca & Enoch (raccoons)
Rebecca had a little house and walked on a leash! - Herbert Hoover – King Tut (Belgian shepherd)
Featured in campaign photos. - Franklin D. Roosevelt – Fala (Scottish terrier)
Most famous—had a statue at FDR Memorial! - Harry S. Truman – Feller (cocker spaniel puppy gift—he gave it away)
Also Mike (Irish setter). - Dwight D. Eisenhower – Heidi (Weimaraner)
Famous for lawn accidents! - John F. Kennedy – Pushinka (puppy from Soviet space dog)
Pups from Pushinka and Charlie (JFK's Welsh terrier) were called "pupniks"! - Lyndon B. Johnson – Him & Her (beagles)
Famous for ear-lifting photo (he said it was just picking them up!). - Richard Nixon – Checkers (cocker spaniel)
Saved his career with the "Checkers speech"! - Gerald Ford – Liberty (golden retriever)
Had puppies in the White House. - Jimmy Carter – Grits (border collie mix—returned after biting people)
Also Misty Malarky Ying Yang (Siamese cat). - Ronald Reagan – Lucky (Bouvier des Flandres) & Rex (King Charles spaniel)
Rex had his own doghouse replica of the White House. - George H.W. Bush – Millie (English springer spaniel)
"Wrote" a bestseller Millie’s Book! - Bill Clinton – Socks (cat) & Buddy (Labrador)
Socks and Buddy didn’t get along—cat vs. dog drama! - George W. Bush – Spot (English springer spaniel) & Barney (Scottish terrier)
Spot was Millie’s daughter—family tradition! - Barack Obama – Bo & Sunny (Portuguese water dogs)
Hypoallergenic for Malia’s allergies. - Donald Trump – No pets
First president in over 100 years without one! - Joe Biden – Champ & Major (German shepherds)
Major was first shelter dog in the White House; Commander joined later. - Donald Trump (2nd term) – No pets announced yet (as of 2025).
