10 Dogs That Made an Impact in History

Quck answer

Throughout history, dogs have played important roles in various fields. Here are 10 dogs that made history:

1. Laika – the first dog to orbit Earth

2. Balto – led the final leg of a 1925 serum run to save children from a diphtheria epidemic in Alaska

3. Hachiko – known for his loyalty to his owner and his daily wait for him at a train station even after his owner’s death

4. Smoky – a war dog who served in World War II and became the first therapy dog on record

5. Rin Tin Tin – a famous Hollywood star who appeared in over 20 movies

6. Nemo – a Vietnam War dog who saved his handler’s life during an enemy attack

7. Stubby – a war dog who served in World War I and was promoted to sergeant for his bravery

8. Seaman – accompanied Lewis and Clark on their expedition across America

9. Bobbie the Wonder Dog – traveled over 2,500 miles to reunite with his family after being lost

10. Barry – a Saint Bernard who saved over 40 lives as a rescue dog in the Swiss Alps.

Pets

In February 2018, members of the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry provided comfort to survivors of the deadliest school shooting in America, at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The golden retrievers were deployed to schools, hospitals, and churches to provide emotional support to those affected by the tragedy.

The dogs, trained to provide comfort in times of crisis, also helped survivors of Superstorm Sandy in 2012, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, and the Las Vegas shooting in 2017. They have given people the opportunity to open up and share their feelings while petting or hugging them. The organization has more than 130 canines in service [source: Lutheran Church Charities].

However, these golden retrievers are not the only dogs that have made a difference in history. In the next section, we will talk about 10 dogs that have created history.

10: A Robot Discovers an Archaeological Wonder

During World War II, a French teenager named Marcel Ravidat went for a walk with his dog, Robot, near the village of Montignac in southwest France. Robot chased a rabbit and disappeared down a hole near an uprooted tree. Intrigued, the teen returned days later with some friends and discovered an awe-inspiring site: the Lascaux Cave, home to some 2,000 perfectly preserved colorful paintings created by Paleolithic people sometime between 30,000 to 12,000 B.C.E.

Some have disputed whether Robot actually discovered the cave, but we will give him credit for finding this archaeological wonder.

9: Laika’s Space Launch

In the late 1957, the Soviet Union sent a dog named Laika into space in the Sputnik II spacecraft. Laika was specially designed to fit into a canine compartment. Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

After World War II, the Cold War began between the Soviet Union and the Western democracies, led by the United States. In the political and ideological battle, Laika became the center stage.

In October 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the world’s first human-made satellite. The launch of a communist spaceship orbiting Earth created a fear among the Western countries. Sputnik could have been a nuclear warhead.

A few weeks later, the Soviet Union launched Laika into orbit. Laika was a stray dog from the streets of Moscow and became the first living creature from Earth to go to outer space. Laika, whose name means “barker,” surpassed them all.

However, Laika’s mission was always meant to be a one-way flight. The Soviet Union made no provisions for landing the spacecraft. According to new research, Laika died shortly after the launch due to stress and overheating, as the temperature and humidity increased inside the capsule [sources: Whitehouse, Wellerstein].

8: Strelka and Belka’s Orbit Survival

In 1960, Russian cosmonaut dogs Belka and Strelka successfully flew into Earth orbit on board Sputnik 5, as part of the Soviet program aimed at determining the viability of manned spaceflight. Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images

Strelka and Belka were the first dogs to orbit Earth and survive, and their journey was a historic one. On Aug. 19, 1960, the Soviet Union launched their fifth Sputnik spacecraft, and the two dogs were aboard. Along with the dogs, the spacecraft carried other animals, including two rats, 40 mice, plants, and fruit flies.

Initially, it seemed like the mission would end in disaster as neither dog moved, but on the fourth orbit, Belka threw up, indicating the dogs were alive. The lack of gravity caused the dogs to be in a trance-like state, but they survived. The mission paved the way for cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin to make the first human flight into space a year later. Strelka and Belka are still remembered and are on display at the Museum of Cosmonautics in Moscow. Strelka’s daughter, Pushinka, was given to Jackie Kennedy by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, and she remained a beloved pet, who had four pups of her own [source: Reichhardt].

7: WWI’s Sergeant Stubby Captures an Enemy Spy

Sergeant Stubby, who is considered to be the greatest war dog of all time, is seen posing with his chest full of medals when he paid a visit to President Calvin Coolidge. Bettmann/Getty Images

In 1917, World War I had been ravaging Europe for almost three years, and finally, the United States joined the war effort in April. At Yale University, Private J. Robert Conroy found a brindle terrier mix puppy with a short tail and named him “Stubby.” The dog became the mascot of the 102nd Infantry, 26th Yankee Division, which would later see action along the Western Front in Europe.

When the Yankee Division was deployed, Conroy secretly brought Stubby on board the troop transport, hiding him in a coal bin until the ship was far out at sea. Conroy’s commanding officer discovered the dog, but Stubby won him over with a right-paw salute, saving his life.

On the battlefield, Stubby proved to be the most remarkable war dog in American history, bravely locating wounded soldiers, sniffing out poison gas and warning the troops, and even barking to alert them when the enemy was close. In one outstanding feat, Stubby captured a German spy, earning him a promotion to sergeant.

After the war, Stubby became a celebrity, meeting former presidents, attending veterans’ events, and even appearing in vaudeville shows, where he earned twice as much as the average American. When Conroy enrolled in Georgetown Law School, Stubby became the college’s mascot. Today, Stubby’s mounted body with all his medals can be seen at the National Museum of American History [sources: National Museum of American History, Kane].

6: Charlie’s Role in the Cuban Missile Crisis

President John F. Kennedy plays with the family’s Welsh terrier Charlie at the Presidential retreat in Glen Ora, Virginia, in 1962. Bettmann/Getty Images

John F. Kennedy loved dogs, and during his short time in the White House, he and his family had several. However, one particular dog, a Welsh terrier named Charlie, played an important role in world history.

In October 1962, the world stood on the brink of nuclear war after the Soviet Union deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles on the island of Cuba, just 90 miles (144 kilometers) off the U.S. coast. It was a chaotic time for the world, but especially for Kennedy, who aimed to resolve the situation without starting a nuclear war.

Charlie sat on Kennedy’s lap in the White House “war room” as the president worked to resolve the crisis. The dog’s presence had a calming effect on Kennedy, who petted him gently while making crucial decisions. According to witnesses, Charlie helped Kennedy navigate the crisis to a successful conclusion [sources: Wolfstoria, Bougerol].

5: A Newfoundland Dog Saves Napoleon’s Life

Napoleon Bonaparte was the French emperor who brought about many reforms to the country, such as strengthening the central government, restoring economic prosperity, and enacting the Napoleonic Codes that embodied Enlightenment principles. From 1804 to 1812, Napoleon’s armies were the most dominant in Europe, annexing several countries. However, his invasion of Russia in 1812 did not go as planned, and he was exiled to the Mediterranean island of Elba by the spring of 1814. In 1815, Napoleon escaped and returned to France, but was later defeated at the Battle of Waterloo and exiled to St. Helena, where he died in 1821. During his escape from Elba, Napoleon fell into the sea, but a Newfoundland dog saved him by keeping him afloat until help arrived.

4: Maddie the Coonhound Goes Viral

Photographer Theron Humphrey adopted a coonhound named Maddie from an animal shelter in Marietta, Georgia, and embarked on a cross-country journey with her. Humphrey took photos of Maddie in various places they visited and the people they met, and the project, called “This Wild Idea,” went viral on Instagram with over 1.2 million followers. Maddie’s unique talent of standing gracefully on anything also led to a book titled “Maddie on Things: A Super Serious Project About Dogs and Physics.”

3: Balto Saves Lives by Delivering Medicine

Balto, a heroic dog from the frozen north, was photographed with child star Ben Alexander after his incredible journey. Bettmann/Getty Images

In 1925, a bacterial illness called diphtheria was spreading through Nome, Alaska and causing children to struggle with breathing and swallowing due to blocked airways. The disease was highly contagious and could be fatal. Without medication to treat it, it would have spread rapidly throughout the town.

The only serum available in Alaska was at a hospital in Anchorage, almost 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) away. However, there was no transportation for the remaining 674 miles (1,084 kilometers) in the middle of winter. Fortunately, teams of sled dogs came to the rescue.

The serum was carefully packaged and sent from Anchorage to Nenana, the town at the end of the train line. From there, mushers and dog teams worked together to transport the medication relay-style, battling harsh arctic conditions. The final leg was led by a musher named Gunnar Kaasen and his sled dog team, including a Siberian husky named Balto.

Despite a blizzard with wind gusts over 50 mph (80 kph) and temperatures of minus 50 degrees F (minus 45 C), Balto instinctively led the team 53 miles (85 kilometers) in 20 hours to Nome, where they were greeted as heroes. The entire journey was completed in seven days instead of the expected 13, with the mushers and dogs covering the distance in 127.5 hours. Balto later became the subject of his own Disney animated feature, and each March, sled dogs participate in the Iditarod, retracing the famous journey from Anchorage to Nome [sources: Shamleh, South Florida Siberian Husky Rescue].

2: Donnchadh Protects the King of Scotland

King Robert the Bruce of Scotland is shown in a painting with a group of women and priests, possibly after the Battle of Bannockburn in Scotland, June 1314. His dog may have been one of those depicted in this painting. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Robert the Bruce was a famous warrior who fought for Scotland’s independence against England in the 14th century. Many British schoolchildren learn that he was inspired to persevere after watching a spider trying to spin its web in his hideout [source: Johnson]. However, another animal played a crucial role in Robert’s life: his loyal dog named Donnchadh (pronounced DON-nu-chu).

Donnchadh was a Talbot, an early ancestor of the modern bloodhound that Robert used to track game in the Scottish countryside. In 1306, Edward I of England ordered his soldiers to hunt down Robert the Bruce, who was advocating for Scottish independence. After killing his rival John Comyn in a church, Robert declared himself king of Scotland and began a guerrilla war to free Scotland from English rule.

Edward refused to let Robert escape and ordered his soldier John of Loren to track him down. Robert’s wife was taken captive by the British and Donnchadh, who was with her, was captured by John. John decided to use the dog to lead them to Robert and set Donnchadh free. Donnchadh followed his master’s scent and led the soldiers straight to Robert’s hiding place. However, when the soldiers surrounded Robert, Donnchadh turned on them and attacked, allowing Robert to flee and eventually become king of Scotland for more than two decades [sources: Bougerol, Coren].

1: Frida, the Mexican Rescue Dog

Mexican rescue dog Frida, who took part in the search for earthquake victims, performs at an exhibition at the headquarters of the Mexican Navy in Mexico City, on Oct. 14, 2017.
PEDRO PARDO/AFP/Getty Images

During the September 2017 earthquake that hit Mexico City with a magnitude of 7.1, Frida, a 7-year-old Labrador retriever and a crucial member of the Mexican navy’s canine unit, was deployed to help find survivors in the rubble of collapsed buildings. She played a pivotal role in rescuing 11 children who were trapped under the debris of what used to be the Enrique Rebsamen School. A few weeks earlier, she also helped locate the body of a police officer after an earthquake shook the state of Oaxaca [sources: Castillo, Fox News].

Frida is no ordinary rescue dog. When a natural disaster occurs, younger dogs are sent to detect the presence of living or deceased people. If someone is found, Frida is then called to confirm the discovery. If she barks, it means someone is still alive. However, if she detects a corpse, she stops moving abruptly before proceeding with caution. Her job is challenging, as she has to crawl through spaces that are too tight for humans to enter. Nevertheless, as of 2017, Frida has located 52 people, 12 of whom were alive [sources: Castillo, Fox News].

Frida’s heroic deeds have turned her into a national icon in Mexico. She has a significant following on Twitter, with many fans considering her a symbol of hope during times of crisis. Moreover, she is also involved in training new rescue dogs on how to detect survivors in the aftermath of natural disasters.

Additional Information Available

10 Incredible Things That Dogs Can Detect
The Mechanism behind Iditarod
The Science behind Dogs
10 Historical Cats

Sources

“Stubby” at American Museum of Natural History (January 16, 2018)
“Ten Dogs that changed the world” by E. Bougerol at CNN.com (January 16, 2018)
“Meet Frida, the valiant Lab who’s saved a dozen lives in Mexico” by Andrew Castillo at Los Angeles Times (September 21, 2017)
“A Super serious project about dogs and physics” at CNN.com (January 16, 2018)
“The Pawprints of History: Dogs in the Course of Human Events” by Stanley Coren (2002)
“Hero dog saves lives in Mexico” at Fox News.com (September 22, 2017)
“Sergeant Stubby” by Kane Gillian at Slate.com (May 7, 2014)
“Marcel Ravidate is Dead at 72; Found Lascaux Cave Paintings” by Robert McG.Thomas Jr. at The New York Times (March 31, 1995)
“Remembering Belka and Strelka” by Tony Reichhardt at Air and Space Magazine (August 19, 2010)
“On this day in 1940: The 15,000-year-old cave Paintings of Lascaux are discovered by Robot the Dog” by Dominic Selwood at The Telegram (September 12, 2017)
“The Real Story of Amblin’s Balto” at American Kennel Club (February 26, 2018)
“The Story of Balto” at South Florida Siberian Husky Rescue (February 26, 2018)
“Peritas, Alexander the Great’s Great Dog” by Sam Stall at EasyPetMD.com (January 15, 2018)
“Peritas” at University of Chicago (January 16, 2018)
“First dog in space died within hours” by David Whitehouse at BBC.com (October 28, 2002)
“Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero” by Alex Wellerstein at The New Yorker (November 3, 2017)
“CharlieвЂ”President Kennedy’s Welsh Terrier” at Wolfstoria.com (September 11, 2015)

FAQ

1. Who was Laika and why is she famous?

Laika was a stray dog from the streets of Moscow who was chosen to be the first animal to orbit the Earth. On November 3, 1957, she was launched into space on board the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2. Unfortunately, she died a few hours later due to overheating. Laika’s sacrifice paved the way for human space exploration.

2. Who was Balto and what did he do?

Balto was a Siberian Husky who led the final leg of the 1925 serum run to Nome, Alaska. The serum was needed to combat a diphtheria outbreak in the town. Balto and his team traveled through harsh blizzard conditions to deliver the serum, and their efforts saved countless lives. Balto became famous and a statue was erected in his honor in New York City’s Central Park.

3. Who was Hachiko and why is he famous?

Hachiko was a Japanese Akita who became famous for his loyalty. Every day, he would accompany his owner, a professor, to the train station and wait for him to return. When the professor died suddenly, Hachiko continued to go to the station and wait for him for nine years. A statue of Hachiko was erected at the train station in his honor.

4. Who was Sergeant Stubby and what did he do?

Sergeant Stubby was a Boston Terrier who served in World War I. He was the first dog to be given the rank of sergeant in the U.S. Army and participated in 17 battles. He was also able to detect gas attacks and warn soldiers. After the war, he became a celebrity and met three U.S. presidents.

5. Who was Rin Tin Tin and why is he famous?

Rin Tin Tin was a German Shepherd who became a Hollywood movie star in the 1920s. He appeared in over 20 films and was known for his athleticism and intelligence. Rin Tin Tin’s popularity helped to make German Shepherds one of the most popular dog breeds in the world.

6. Who was Seaman and what did he do?

Seaman was a Newfoundland dog who accompanied the explorers Lewis and Clark on their expedition to the Pacific Ocean. He helped to hunt and retrieve game, and was also used to carry messages. Seaman was the only animal to complete the entire expedition and is considered a hero.

7. Who was Bobbie the Wonder Dog and what did he do?

Bobbie was a Scotch Collie who became famous for his incredible journey. In 1923, he was separated from his family in Indiana and ended up in Oregon, over 2,500 miles away. He was found by his family six months later and became a national sensation. Bobbie’s journey inspired books, movies, and even a song.

8. Who was Chaser and what was her special talent?

Chaser was a Border Collie who became famous for her ability to learn and recognize over a thousand words. Her owner, a psychology professor, spent years teaching her words and testing her abilities. Chaser’s intelligence and learning abilities amazed the scientific community and inspired new research on animal cognition.

9. Who was Owney and what did he do?

Owney was a stray dog who became the unofficial mascot of the U.S. Postal Service in the late 1800s. He traveled around the country on mail trains and became a symbol of good luck to postal workers. Owney was also known for his love of collecting and wore a jacket covered in over 1,000 badges and tags from different cities and towns.

10. Who was Pickles and how did he become famous?

Pickles was a mixed-breed dog who became famous for finding the stolen Jules Rimet Trophy, which was awarded to the winner of the FIFA World Cup. The trophy had been stolen from an exhibition in London in 1966 and Pickles found it wrapped in newspaper in a garden. His discovery helped to bring the thieves to justice and made him a national hero.