A List of Famous Dogs from Past to Present

Dogs are the best, aren’t they? Throughout human history they’ve been our loyal companions, our entertainers, and even our therapists. Some dogs are famous for going above and beyond in these capacities—they remind us of what it truly means to be “man’s best friend.”

10 famous dogs you should know

From human-saving heroes to beloved entertainers and modern-day social media sensations, here’s a rundown of 11 famous canines from past to present that’ll brighten your day (and boost your trivia knowledge!)

1. Rin Tin Tin

Rin Tin Tin was a famous dog actor who starred in a whopping 27 movies in the 1920s and early 1930s. He’s also credited for making the German shepherd a go-to family dog—by 1925, it was the most popular dog breed in North America.

The pup’s private life was as remarkable as his cinematic one. Rin Tin Tin was rescued from a destroyed dog kennel on a World War I battlefield by soldier Lee Duncan, who went on to develop a close bond with the dog and taught him all kinds of stunts. After “Rinty” passed, Duncan arranged to have his remains buried in France, the dog’s country of birth.

2. Bobbie the wonder dog

Though he lived 100 years ago, Bobbie’s story remains impressive by today’s standards. After getting accidentally left behind by his family in Indiana, this Scottish collie trekked all the way home to Oregon. His journey included crossing all kinds of terrain, including the Continental Divide in the middle of winter.

Bobbie “the wonder dog” has since been the subject of various books detailing his journey, which is estimated to have been between 2,500 and 3,000 miles long.

3. Smoky

Did you know one of the famous heroes during World War II was a dog who weighed less than 5 lbs.? It’s true! Smoky was a Yorkshire terrier who served in the South Pacific with her owner’s air force unit and brought comfort to wounded soldiers. She later went on to perform tricks and agility stunts on numerous TV shows.

Because of her wartime efforts, Smoky is credited by Animal Planet and National Geographic for being the first therapy dog. Like Rin Tin Tin, her popularity also helped launch a resurgence in the Yorkshire terrier breed as a family pet.

4. Hachiko

After his human passed away unexpectedly at work one day in 1925, this akita spent nine years returning to Tokyo’s Shibuya train station to wait for him to come home.

Now multiple movies and books have covered Hachiko’s story, and Japan honors the pup’s devotion every year on March 8, the anniversary of his death. A bronze statue of his likeness also sits outside of Shibuya Station.

5. Higgins

Higgins was one of the best-known animal actors of the 1960s and 1970s. Best known for his expressive face and multitude of film and television credits, Higgins won awards and appeared in magazines.

He was so beloved by the public that he came out of retirement at age 16 to play the titular role in Benji (1974), a massive commercial success that spawned an entire franchise (Higgins’ daughter, Benjean, played the role in future films).

Adopted by trainer Frank Inn in 1960 from a Burbank animal shelter, Higgins’ breed remains a mystery. However, he is most commonly believed to have been a miniature poodle, schnauzer, and cocker spaniel mix.

6. Terry or “Toto”

Before there was Higgins, Hollywood had Terry the terrier. As the dog who famously played Dorothy’s loyal companion in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz, Terry swiftly became known to most as “Toto.” The Cairn terrier did all of her own stunts in the movie, and Judy Garland allegedly wanted to adopt her by the time filming concluded (Terry’s owner declined).

Terry had a total of 23 film appearances during her lifetime.

7. Zanjeer

This Labrador retriever was a real-life hero who spent the 1990s serving alongside the Mumbai police force in India as a detection dog. Thanks to his numerous successes in sniffing out dangerous devices, The Times of India hailed Zanjeer as “the city’s savior many times over.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, the dog was named after a Bollywood movie about an honest cop trying to rid the world of injustice.

Zanjeer passed away from bone cancer in 2000 and was buried with full state honors, resulting in international news coverage.

8. Moose

Fans of NBC’s Frasier knew Moose as “Eddie,” one of the most famous canine actors of the 1990s. The talented Jack Russell terrier was a bonafide TV star who appeared in almost every episode of the popular show and even had his own cover story in Entertainment Weekly. He also starred as the titular character in 2000’s My Dog Skip alongside Frankie Muniz.

Interestingly, Moose got a late start to his career in dog years. Born in Florida, he was given up by his human family at age 2 1/2 due to house training challenges. He was eventually discovered by Hollywood animal trainer Mathilde de Cagny, and the rest is history.

9. Jiff the Pomeranian

As pups like Jiff the Pomeranian know, you don’t have to be human to become a modern-day social media star. This much-adored doggy influencer has nearly 10 million followers on Instagram (@jiffpom), making him one of the most popular pets on the platform. Thanks to his small size and dense fluff, Jiff still looks like a cuddly puppy.

10. Doug the pug

Born in 2012, little Doug the pug has an illustrious career that most humans would take a lot longer to achieve. He has almost 4 million followers on Instagram (@itsdougthepug) and nearly 3 million on Twitter, and he snagged back-to-back People’s Choice Awards in 2019 and 2020 (for “Animal Star”). Forbes has also acknowledged Doug as one of the most influential pets in the world.

What’s really impressive though is the charitable work that Doug and his humans are involved in. The Doug the Pug Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to “bringing joy and support to children battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.”

Protect the most famous dog in your life

Unexpected illnesses and injuries affect dogs of all breeds and lifestyles. While famous canines are fun to learn about, none of them can compete with your four-legged family member when it comes to the most important dog in the world.

Whether you have an Insta-famous modern animal star or a pup who prefers to stay out of the limelight, it’s important to do what you can to keep them healthy and protected. This means keeping up with veterinary appointments and routine wellness checks, and considering dog insurance if you haven’t enrolled your pup already.

Want to learn more about dogs and what they can do? Check out the  Pet Parenting breed guide!