Famous dogs in history
The stories of five courageous dogs whose exploits have stood the test of time.
CANINE HEROES AND LOYAL FRIENDS
Approximate reading time: 10 minutes
There are countless stories in popular culture that prove that dogs are man's best friend. However, there are some cases that, due to the courage, intelligence and loyalty shown by these furry protagonists, are still remembered today and continue to move everyone who hears them. Throughout history, these dogs have worked closely with humans, protecting them, saving their lives, or simply staying by their side unconditionally.
Table of contents
1. 5 famous dogs and the feats that made them heroes
• Laika, the first astronaut dog
2. Why is dog man's best friend?
5 famous dogs and the feats that made them heroes
Nowadays, numerous dogs around the world serve the authorities in crucial tasks such as detecting explosives or rescuing people in all kinds of disasters. In addition, many of them work as therapy or assistance dogs to help people with physical or psychological challenges. Not to mention the friendship, love and loyalty that dogs have always shown humans through small everyday gestures, as well as through great feats that continue to fill headlines and go viral on social media.
Throughout history, there have been many incredible dogs that amazed the world with their abilities, bravery and unbreakable spirit. We have selected five of the most remarkable and famous stories as examples of all those other lesser-known or anonymous ones, and as a tribute to all the dogs of the world. This one’s for them!
• Lampo, the travelling dog
The story of this Italian dog is truly incredible and an undeniable proof of the loyalty these animals can develop towards their owners. It all began in 1953, when a stray dog appeared one day at the Campiglia Marittima train station in Tuscany. The station master decided to adopt him, even though it was against railway company rules. Soon, the little dog and the station master’s daughter became great friends — so much so that the dog accompanied her every day by train to the city where she studied and then returned home alone.
But this intelligent dog’s train journeys were just beginning. One day, the station master’s superiors, opposed to the dog’s presence, decided to get rid of him by putting him on a train to Naples. To everyone’s surprise, days later, Lampo (which means “lightning” in Italian) returned to the station on another train to reunite with his owner. To avoid further problems, the station master left him with a friend living in the south, but once again, the dog came back to his true family, always using the train as his means of transport.
From that day on, the railway company accepted Lampo’s presence. He continued travelling alone, perfectly orienting himself along the rail network and always returning home. Sadly, Lampo was run over by a train in 1961 at the age of eight. His statue still stands at Campiglia Marittima station.
• Balto, hero in the snow
Many people know this canine hero thanks to the 1995 animated film that bears his name. Directed by Simon Wells, it tells the real-life story of Balto, a Siberian Husky who played a vital role during the diphtheria epidemic that struck Nome, Alaska, in 1925. At that time, the medicine needed to cure the disease, which mainly affected children, could only be found 1600 km away. With communication cut off, a dog-sled expedition was organised to cover the final part of the route that couldn’t be reached by train.
Of all the brave animals that took part, Balto stood out as the leader of the last leg of the expedition, alongside his companion Togo. They travelled vast distances through snow and endured temperatures as low as −40°C to deliver the medicine and save many children’s lives.
Having become heroes, many of Nome’s dogs spent the rest of their days together in a zoo. Today, a statue in New York’s Central Park honours Balto as a symbol of those courageous dogs. The plaque bears three words that perfectly describe him: Endurance, Fidelity, Intelligence.
• Hachiko, loyal to the end
Hachiko’s story is so famous that it has become part of Japanese popular culture. This Akita dog is remembered for his remarkable loyalty and unconditional love for his owner, Professor Hidesaburo Ueno. After losing another dog, Ueno was initially reluctant to adopt again, but thanks to his daughter’s insistence, he welcomed Hachiko into his life. They soon became inseparable. Every day, Hachiko would wait for his owner at Shibuya Station when he returned from work. After Ueno unexpectedly died from a stroke, Hachiko continued waiting for him every day for ten years.
This touching loyalty didn’t go unnoticed by the daily commuters. His story spread through generations and remains alive today, inspiring films and tributes. Hachiko died in 1935 of illness while still waiting at the station. To honour his devotion, a statue was erected at Shibuya Station, and a monument placed beside Ueno’s grave.
• Laika, the first astronaut dog
In 1957, at the height of the space race, Laika became the first dog astronaut in history. A mix of Siberian Husky and Samoyed, she had lived as a stray on the streets of Moscow before being sent into space aboard Sputnik 2.
There was much controversy surrounding the use of dogs in space experiments during the 1950s and 60s. Sadly, Laika died during her first mission due to overheating caused by a thermal system failure — an error that was likely to occur. The pressure to advance faster than the U.S. led to inadequate testing of critical systems.
Despite this, Laika went down in history as the first canine cosmonaut, helping humankind advance in space exploration.
• Stubby, the sergeant dog
The bravery of this dog earned him the rank of sergeant during World War I. Rescued as a stray at Yale by a soldier who named him Stubby, he soon became a loyal companion and went with his owner to war. Stubby took part in many battles, rescuing wounded soldiers and warning of mustard gas attacks, thanks to his exceptional sense of smell. He was wounded more than once and even captured a German spy.
Stubby’s story had a “happy ending”: he returned home, where he died peacefully in 1926. The brave dog received numerous medals for his heroic acts and was made a sergeant. A commemorative plaque in Kansas still reads “a brave stray.”
Why is a dog man's best friend?
No matter how many cases we hear about heroic dogs helping, supporting and accompanying people unconditionally, we are still amazed by the deep loyalty of these animals. The truth is that science has shown that dogs have a rich inner world and high intelligence. Their cognitive complexity makes them capable of understanding and helping us.
In this sense, Australian Cobberdogs stand out for their great work as therapy dogs, as their calm nature and their adaptability and sociability make them perfect for accompanying and helping all kinds of people. They are also great family dogs, as they get on very well with children, visitors and other animals.
Today we know that the collaboration and friendship between dogs and humans can be traced back to the Palaeolithic era, some 35,000 years ago. So many adventures we have shared throughout history! The bond that these pets share with people is very special and intense and will undoubtedly continue to generate stories as moving as the ones we have discovered today.