8 Most Famous Dogs of All Time

“Dogs are man’s best friend.” It’s a saying we’re all familiar with. However, some dogs are more than just loyal companions that we’ll remember for years to come. There are some dogs that manage to make history, becoming part of the memories of many people other than their owners. They’ve impressed the world either by deeds that demonstrated great bravery or by proving their loyalty. These are 8 Most Famous Dogs of All Time , which are designed to prove to us all that humans are not the only ones capable of incredible achievements.

1. Like

Laika - the most famous dogs of all time

The first living, breathing creature to break through the Earth's atmosphere was not a human. Laika is undoubtedly the most famous dog in history, having given us all hope that the boundaries of outer space could be crossed. She was originally a stray dog, but was recruited by several Soviet scientists with the sole purpose of training her for the space program.

After intensive training, she was selected to board Sputnik 2, which sent her to a place where no other dog had gone before. Unfortunately, spacecraft at the time had no "return" capability, but Soviet officials assured us that Laika was peacefully euthanized shortly after oxygen levels began to drop.

2. Hachiko

Hachiko - the most famous dogs of all time

When a dog gets a statue erected in his honor, you know something truly amazing must have happened. Hachiko's statue is in Odeta, Japan, his city of origin. Hidesaburo Ueno, his owner, traveled between Odeta and Tokyo by train. Hachiko would arrive at the station at exactly one o'clock and wait for him at the entrance every day. Sadly, Ueno never showed up again in May 1925, bleeding profusely.

This did not stop Hakiko from abandoning his loyalty, as he continued to go to the train station every day, where he continued to wait for his beloved. He continued to do this for nine years, but was only stopped by death. The Akita Inu was found lifeless in 1935 near Shibuya Station.

3. Apollo

Apollo - the most famous dogs of all time

Apollo was just one of 350 search and rescue dogs who became heroes in the tragic September 11 terrorist attacks. He and his human partner, Peter Davis, searched tirelessly for 16 hours each day for survivors. The missions of the SAR officers and their dogs were documented by Animal Planet, which noted that the dogs seemed as grief-stricken as their partners when they found victims.

SAR teams, including Apollo, saved many lives after the attacks and were undoubtedly heroes to be celebrated in the years to come.

4. Lex

Lex - the most famous dogs of all time

Lex and his partner, Marine Corporal Dustin J. Lee, were stationed in Fallujah, Iraq, when an explosive attack hit their camp, killing Lee and seriously injuring Lex. The truly amazing part of this story is that the German Shepherd refused to leave the side of his fallen soldier, despite needing urgent medical attention. Medics had to forcefully remove him from Lee’s body to treat his wounds. Unable to continue serving in the Marine Corps, Lex became the first working military dog to be allowed to retire early. He was adopted by Jerome and Rachel Lee and later became a therapy dog, visiting war veterans in hospitals and helping them through their recovery. Lex died at the age of 13 in 2012.

Unable to continue serving in the Marine Corps, Lex became the first working military dog to be allowed to retire early. He was adopted by Jerome and Rachel Lee and later became a therapy dog, visiting war veterans in hospitals and helping them through their recovery. Lex died at age 13 in 2012.

5. Benji

Benji - The Most Famous Dogs of All Time

Unlike his other canine counterparts on this list, Benji was a fictional character from the big screen. The 1974 film "Benji" melted audiences' hearts by telling the story of a mixed-breed dog who went to great lengths to save two kidnapped children. The role was played by a puppy named Higgins, who was adopted from a Burbank animal shelter. Amazingly, Benji's influence didn't end there: More than a million dogs were adopted in the year that Benji's fame was at its peak.

6. Toto

Toto - the most famous dogs of all time

I'm sure there's hardly any need to explain Toto's origins, because most of you probably already know. It certainly says a lot about the impact the little mongrel has had on the world. Toto, known as Dorothy's dog in the popular film adaptation "The Wizard of Oz" was such an iconic figure that more than 30% small-breed dog owners named their heirs after him. The real-life star behind the fictional pup was a five-year-old terrier named Terry, whose career in the film industry continued to flourish after the success of "The Wizard of Oz".

7. Bobby

Bobby - The most famous dogs of all time

This Collie Lived the Real Life Version of History Lassie , proving his unwavering loyalty to his family. In 1923, Bobby traveled with his family, at one point becoming separated from them. Although his owners turned the world upside down looking for him, they were eventually forced to give up and return home. The concept of “giving up” was foreign to Bobby, who had traveled more than 4,000 kilometers across the United States in his quest to return home. Six months after his disappearance, his family found Bobby on their doorstep, clearly exhausted from the long journey.

8. Smoky

Smokey is the most famous dog of all time.

Despite her small size, this Yorkshire Terrier actually survived World War II. She was found in 1944 by Corporal William A. Wynn, who immediately fell in love with her. The two became inseparable, sharing everything from food rations to sleeping bags. Smoky managed to avoid over 150 air raids, as well as a devastating typhoon in Oklahoma.

Moreover, she repeatedly saved the lives of her owner and his comrades thanks to her keen sense of danger. With her help, soldiers managed to stop many approaching fires in time. Smoky became a mascot of World War II due to her incredible ability to overcome difficulties and stay alive, and today she is considered one of the first registered therapy dogs.

These 8 Most Famous Dogs of All Time have forever shaped history, but if you think about it, every dog is a personal hero to its owner.