8. A War That Was Paused Because of a Dog
American presidents have usually been dog people. Even the ones who might not have been that fond of dogs have often found it convenient to keep a mutt or two in the White House for appearances’ sake and to project a wholesome image. However, few American presidents were as fond of Man’s Best Friends as America’s first president. George Washington was a big-time dog lover and had dogs from just about every group recognized by the American Kennel Club today.
Terriers, Spaniels, French hounds, greyhounds, Briards and Newfoundlands were just some of the breeds that Washington kept at one time or another. He housed a pack of foxhounds in a well-maintained kennel, with a spring that ran through it to supply them with fresh water. He personally inspected the kennel twice a day, when he dropped by to check on his beloved hounds. As seen below, Washington’s love of dogs even led him to call an unexpected truce amidst the American Revolutionary War, in order to return an enemy’s lost dog.
