The patter of some pretty potent pawprints often followed famous footsteps throughout history.
Royal kingdoms have long honoured the dog, as far back as 3000 B.C.
Ashurbanipal, the last great king of the Assyrian Empire, had a pet Terrier he called "Mischief
Maker". The monarch was so enamoured of the little Terrier he had thousands of statues carved
of the dog. Many of these statues are on display today in London's British Museum.
The little Pug dog named Pompey, owned by William, Prince of Orange, saved his royal master's
life during the Netherlands' revolt against Spanish rule. The prince showed his gratitude by always
keeping a Pug in his court and statues of Pompey at the prince's feet are seen throughout Holland.
During the French Revolution, the imprisoned Empress Josephine smuggled letters to her lover,
Napoleon, under the collar of her spoiled and pampered Pug, Fortune. The dog supposedly took
possession of her mistress's bed on their wedding night, nipping Napoleon on the leg whenever he
dared approach the Empress.
Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, insisted on taking his devoted Greyhound, Gengisk, everywhere
with him. Gengisk enjoyed being carried about, nestled inside the King's coat when he was a pup.
During the Seven Years' War, the dog saved his master's life by warning of an approaching cossack
raiding party, persuading the king to take refuge.
A little Spaniel named Thisbe visited the prison daily, where her mistress Marie Antoinette
awaited the fated guillotine, vainly seeking her beloved owner. Marie's dressmaker and
companion Arnaud, who cared for the dog during that time, recorded that on the day of Marie's
execution, the bereaved and despairing little dog leaped into the Seine and drowned.
Mary, Queen of Scots, was mistress to another faithful-to-the-end Spaniel named Bijou.
Her final and most beloved pet, the brave and loyal Bijou walked with her mistress to her
execution, hiding beneath the Queen's voluminous robes.
The soon-to-be queen, Victoria, on the day of her coronation, seemed more concerned with
her Spaniel, Dash, than the epic historical event about to take place. She wrote in her diary
that day in 1838, "I dressed my little Dashy in a scarlet jacket and trousers." The new Queen,
it is reported, rushed upstairs to bathe Dash immediately after the coronation. The Queen signed
remissions of all sentences to celebrate her 50th year on the throne, and prisoners were released
in her honour; except those who were serving time for cruelty to animals.
King George V owned a feisty Cairn Terrier, Bob, who was always at his master's heel like a
loyal little sergeant-at-arms.
Winston Churchill showed the world his devotion to his Bulldog.
Queen Elizabeth II's Welsh Corgi, Susan, accompanied her and Prince Phillip on their royal
honeymoon.
