Tycho Brahe’s Elk

Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe,  often considered the greatest observational astronomer of the pretelescopic era, lived a rather colorful life. He lost his nose in a duel over a mathematical formula. He was the keeper of a clairvoyant dwarf named Jepp. And he had a pet elk (some sources say it was a moose) that attended feasts and banquets with him. Unfortunately, at one such feast the elk drank too much beer, and took a fatal fall down the castle stairs. 

Gérard de Nerval’s Lobster

The French Romantic poet Gérard de Nerval was a major influence on the later symbolist and surrealist movements. He could often be found walking his pet lobster, Thibault, on the end of a blue silk ribbon through the Palais-Royal in Paris. When asked about his strange pet, he replied, “I have affection for lobsters. They are tranquil, serious, and they know the secrets of the sea.”

Empress Joséphine’s Orangutan

Joséphine de Beauharnais was the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte and served as empress of the French from 1804 until 1810. She kept a menagerie of exotic animals, but her favorite pet was an orangutan named Rose. Rose was a dignified ape who wore white cotton chemises, had a fondness for turnips, and apparently slept in the same bed as Joséphine and Napoleon.

Lord Byron’s Bear

Lord Byron, regarded as one of the greatest English poets and a key figure in the Romantic movement, was known to be eccentric. While a student at Trinity College, Cambridge, in the early 1800s, he was told he could not keep his pet dog as canines were banned from the college. So, he went out and found himself a tame bear, because there were no rules against keeping such an animal. He would walk the bear through the college grounds, and even tried to enroll it as a student — though the application was rejected. 

Teddy Roosevelt’s Many Strange Pets

When Theodore Roosevelt began his presidency in 1901, his family moved into the White House with a horde of pets in tow. These included a lizard named Bill, a blue macaw called Eli Yale, Baron Spreckle the hen, Maude the pig, a one-legged rooster, a barn owl, and various guinea pigs with names such as Admiral Dewey and Fighting Bob Evans. As if that wasn’t strange enough, the Roosevelts also had a pet badger called Josiah, a small black bear named Jonathan Edwards, and a hyena called Bill. 

Calvin Coolidge’s Raccoon

In November 1926, some supporters of President Calvin Coolidge sent him a live raccoon so that the first family could kill it and eat it for Thanksgiving dinner. But instead of sacrificing the creature, the Coolidge family decided to keep it as a pet. They named it Rebecca and built a little house for it, and Rebecca was allowed to roam the White House and accompanying gardens. 

Salvador Dalí’s Ocelot

Salvador Dalí was the living embodiment of surrealism, so it was perhaps no surprise to see him walking the streets with his pet ocelot, Babou. Dalí claimed that the medium-sized spotted wild cat was a gift from the president of Colombia. During the 1960s, the painter took Babou almost everywhere he went, safely secured on a leash and studded collar. 

Josephine Baker’s Cheetah

Josephine Baker was an American-born French dancer and singer who became a sensation in Paris in the 1920s. She was also the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture. On stage, she was often accompanied by her “co-star,” her pet cheetah Chiquita. Chiquita became a star in her own right, known for wearing a diamond collar and leaping into the conductor’s pit during performances. 

Audrey Hepburn’s Deer

While filming the 1959 adventure-romance Green Mansions, Audrey Hepburn had to work alongside a baby deer called Pippin (or “Ip,” as she called it). Hepburn was encouraged to care for the fawn for the sake of the movie, and the two soon formed a strong bond. She fed the deer from a baby bottle, shared a bed with it, and even took it shopping and to parties. After filming, Hepburn was devastated when she and Ip had to separate. Her husband later tracked down the deer and Hepburn took it in as her pet. 

Brayneles

Some dogs, it’s true, aren’t the smartest of creatures. Medieval dog owners recognized this, and sometimes bestowed names on their pets that called into question their intellectual capacities. These unflattering appellations include Brayneles, Litillwitte, Symple, Careles, and Helpeles. They were all thoroughly good dogs, for sure, but perhaps not the brightest. 

Filthe

Our medieval ancestors didn’t stop at questioning the intelligence of their dogs. They also besmirched their canine companions with unflattering names that left little to the imagination. Filthe was one such name, alongside Lewde, Oribull, Synfull, Dredefull, Vagrawnte, Wrecche, and Badde. Hopefully these designations all came from a place of love, and the dogs didn’t resent their owners for saddling them with the less-than-lovely names. 

Joliboye

Medieval dog names weren’t all defamatory — many were very positive. For the ever-amiable hound there are names such as Joliboye, Mery, Happy, and Cherefull. For dogs that can brighten even the gloomiest of days, we have Careaway and Havegoodday. Then there’s Pretiboy for all the good-looking pups out there, or Blameles for the dog that can do no wrong. Arguably the most superlative name on the list is Beste-of-all. 

Radissche

Dog owners in the Middle Ages were quite fond of naming their pets after foodstuffs. Fish-based names include Salmon and Halibutte, alongside other ingredients such as Mustarde, Garlik, Sage, and Rasyne. Consumables also appear among the most popular names for male and female dogs today. In 2023, the names Oreo, Ginger, Honey, Pepper, and Whiskey were all popular. Incidentally, only two names on the medieval-era list also frequently appear on modern lists of popular dog names: Belle and Ranger. 

Tullymully

Many of the monikers listed in “The Names of All Manner of Hounds” don’t make much sense — at least to the modern ear — but nonetheless have a delightful ring to them. Who wouldn’t want a dog called Tullymully or Rowte-owte? And then there’s Dasyberde, Honyball, and Tynker. Of course, not everyone is quite as imaginative. Undoubtedly the least creative name on the list is Nameles, which shows a true lack of dog-naming effort. 

Donnchadh

In 1306, Scottish independence leader Robert the Bruce was crowned king of Scotland. He set about reclaiming territory held by the English, which enraged King Edward I of England. The English managed to capture Robert’s wife, as well as one of Robert’s beloved and highly trained hunting dogs, Donnchadh (pronounced “DON-nu-chu”), who was a Talbot breed, an ancestor of the modern bloodhound. The English concocted a crafty plan: They would use the captured hound to track the Scottish king. They set the dog free and Donnchadh soon picked up the trail, unknowingly leading a group of English soldiers straight to Robert. However, the English hadn’t fully appreciated Donnchadh’s loyalty to his owner. When they reached Robert, the dog immediately turned on the English soldiers, defending Robert and giving both time to escape the ambush — and, in so doing, keep the fight for Scottish independence alive. 

Moustache

Moustache, sometimes called Mous, was a black French poodle who took part in the Napoleonic Wars. His deeds are shrouded in legend and not all of his exploits may be true, but this little pup certainly saw his share of action. It all started when Moustache decided to set off with a group of grenadiers, and soon became part of their regiment. He marched across the Alps with Napoleon Bonaparte’s army in the spring of 1800. He warned his comrades of an Austrian ambush, saving them from disaster. He took a bayonet in his left shoulder, but managed to crawl to safety to be patched up. And before he was even fully recovered, he took part in the Battle of Marengo. According to legend, he also marched into the Battle of Austerlitz, where he supposedly rescued the French flag from a fallen standard-bearer and returned it to the French camp, despite being wounded in the leg. Moustache was later reputedly killed by a cannonball at the Siege of Badajoz in 1812, at the age of 12. Soldiers buried the brave poodle with a simple but well-earned inscription on his grave: “Here lies the brave Moustache.”

Sergeant Stubby

Sergeant Stubby was quite possibly the most decorated dog of World War I. In 1917, Private J. Robert Conroy of the 102nd Infantry, 26th Yankee Division, found a puppy wandering around the grounds of the Yale University campus where the division was training. He named the pup Stubby on account of his short tail, and the dog soon became the regiment’s unofficial mascot. He learned the various drills and even mastered a dog salute. When the division shipped out for France, Stubby went with them and soon found himself on the front lines of World War I. He served with the 102nd in the trenches for 18 months and participated in four offensives and 17 battles. Apart from being a vital morale-booster, Stubby learned how to warn his fellow soldiers of incoming gas attacks, helped locate injured soldiers, and even apprehended a German spy. He was injured in battle on more than one occasion, and — along with his numerous medals — gained promotion to the rank of sergeant, becoming the first dog to receive a rank in the U.S. armed forces.

Togo

In the winter of 1924 and 1925, a potentially deadly outbreak of diphtheria struck the remote town of Nome, Alaska, putting the lives of more than 10,000 people — particularly children — at risk. With air travel impossible due to a blizzard, the only way to get a lifesaving antitoxin serum to Nome was through sled dog teams. Incredibly, a relay of 20 teams managed to deliver the medication in just five and a half days, in what became known as the “Great Race of Mercy.” Initially, it was Balto, the lead dog of the final, 53-mile leg, who was given all the press attention. But while Balto was certainly a hero, an amazing Siberian husky named Togo, and his musher Leonhard Seppala, were the true saviors of the day. Togo, once a mischievous pup, traversed an incredible 264 miles, far more than any of the other sled dogs. Later, Seppala said, “I never had a better dog than Togo. His stamina, loyalty, and intelligence could not be improved upon. Togo was the best dog that ever traveled the Alaska trail.” 

Smoky

When, in 1944, Ed Downey, an American GI, heard whimpering coming from a foxhole in New Guinea, he carefully went to investigate. Inside, he found an abandoned Yorkshire terrier, who, although already a young adult, weighed only 4 pounds and stood just 7 inches tall. Downey soon sold the tiny dog to Corporal William “Bill” Wynne, who named her Smoky. For the next two years, Smoky went everywhere with Wynne, seeing out the remainder of World War II. Her many achievements included participation in 12 combat missions. She also survived Japanese kamikaze attacks, 150 air raids on New Guinea, and a typhoon in Okinawa, and on one occasion saved Wynne’s life when she warned him of an incoming attack while aboard a landing craft. She even helped with the construction of an Allied airfield in the Philippines when she pulled a telegraph wire through a 70-foot-long pipe, sparing 250 ground crewmen what would have been a dangerous, three-day digging task.

Nemo

On December 4, 1966, the Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Vietnam was attacked by a barrage of mortar fire as more than 60 Viet Cong soldiers tried to breach the perimeter. In the early hours of the morning, U.S. Air Force airman Bob Throneburg was sent out on patrol with his K-9 Corps companion, Nemo A534. When Nemo, an 85-pound German shepherd, detected a small group of enemy soldiers, Throneburg released him to attack. In the ensuing fight, Throneburg was hit in the shoulder, while Nemo took a bullet under his right eye. Despite his injuries, Nemo refused to abandon the fight, giving Throneburg time to call for backup. As Throneburg began to lose consciousness, Nemo returned to his handler and crawled on top of him to protect him. Thankfully, friendly soldiers arrived and — after they eventually convinced Nemo to get off Throneburg — both man and dog were taken to a hospital, where they recovered after months of treatment. Throneburg earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal, while Nemo became the face of the K-9 Corps, forever remembered for his loyalty and bravery. 

Zanjeer

In 1993, a series of terrorist bombings rocked the city of Bombay (now Mumbai) in India. The blasts killed more than 250 people and injured hundreds more, but it could have been far worse if not for the heroic actions of a Labrador retriever called Zanjeer. Zanjeer was a detection dog with the Bombay Police. At the onset of the bombings, he saved countless lives by detecting a scooter covered with explosives, which he highlighted with his three-bark alert. In the days that followed, he found two more explosive devices planted on the street, as well as more than 7,339 pounds of explosives, 600 detonators, 249 hand grenades, and 6,406 rounds of live ammunition. In his incredible eight-year career, the pup was credited with discovering a further 11 military bombs, 57 terrorist bombs, 175 petrol bombs, and 600 more detonators. It’s amazing to think of how many lives Zanjeer must have saved — and more than fitting that he was honored with a full state funeral upon his death in 2000.