A total of 350 search and rescue dogs searched for survivors in the Twin Towers and the Pentagon after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
Appollo and his handler, Peter Davis of the New York City Police Department, was the first dog at the World Trade Center after the attack. He received medals and awards for his courage and dedication.
Hachiko was an Akita dog who lived in Japan in the 1920s and 1930s. Every day he waited at the train station for his owner, a professor at the University of Tokyo, to return from work.
His owner died one day of a brain hemorrhage and never made it to the station. But Hachiko waited there faithfully for nine years until he too passed away in 1935.
The film 'Hachi: A Dog's Tale' starring Richard Gere was inspired by this dogs' remarkable story.
This enormous, lovable dog won the affection of many fans in the 1990s. The real-life dog transitioned seamlessly into his on-screen role, as he also happened to be called Beethoven. The first self-titled movie was released in 1992 to critical success.
Since then, there have been numerous movies and animated TV shows based on his canine adventures.
The soldier Lee Duncan rescued this dog on a battlefield in France during the First World War.
After his return to the US, he was trained as a silent film actor and eventually appeared in a total of 27 films.
Lassie is a fictional character, but certainly the most famous dog in American history. Her story is based on courageous deeds carried out by a dog during WWI.
Lassie, the character in the original movie, was played by a rough collie named Pal. From 1943 to 2007, 10 generations of Pal's descendants appeared in this iconic role in numerous movies and shows.
Lady, a small Pomeranian, was one of the three dogs that survived the sinking of the Titanic in 1912.
Miss Margaret Hays, the dog's owner, rescued Lady by wrapping her in a blanket and pretending she was a baby.
Sinbad faithfully served in the US Coast Guard for 11 years and bravely faced combat during World War II.
He was awarded many honors after his service.
In 1957, Laika, the Soviet Space Dog, was rescued from the streets of Moscow and trained for space exploration. She was the first animal to orbit the Earth on board Sputnik 2, but sadly, she died shortly after launch due to the spacecraft overheating.
Scottish Terrier Fala is famous for being mentioned in President Roosevelt’s "Fala" speech of 1944, in which he defends himself (and his dog) against the accusation that the dog was costing taxpayers money.
He was the only presidential dog to have a statue dedicated to him. You can see him at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Toto is Dorothy's terrier in L. Frank Baum's 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939). In the movie, Toto was portrayed by a female dog named Terry, although he is a male character.
Interestingly, the talented dog Terry was paid even more than the human actors in the movie. She earned US$125 a week.
Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist, became famous for his experiments with classical conditioning.
Several dogs were used in his experiments and a monument was erected in his honor on the site of his Koltushi laboratory.
Benji is a fictional character who appeared in films from 1974 to the 2000s. The first movie, titled 'Benji,' is about a canine hero who rescues two kidnapped children.
Higgins, the dog who played Benji in the movie, was rescued from the Burbank Animal Shelter. Through his performance, he has inspired the adoption of more than a million dogs from shelters across the country, according to Animal Planet.
This dog was the inspiration for a movie that tells the true story of an Alaskan sled dog. The dog played a crucial role in saving his village when a diphtheria epidemic broke out. He braved the Arctic blizzards and led a team of dogs on a 53-mile (85-km) journey to retrieve medicine from a shipment.
Balto's legacy remains. in 1925, a bronze statue was erected in Central Park in New York in honor of the famous sled dog. Even today, a sled dog race is held every year in Alaska, following the same route Balto and his team took to bring the medicine.
In 1966, this Collie became famous for tracking down the stolen Jules Rimet Trophy.
The National Canine Defence League recognized his good deed by presenting him with a silver medal.
We will always remember Mickey Mouse's famous yellow dog. He is one of the "Sensational Six" (Disney's top stars) and the only one who dresses and behaves like a real dog.
The beloved childhood classic 'Scooby-Doo' remains a popular cartoon series, thanks to this Great Dane.
Scooby became famous for his distinctive and humorous voice, his strong phobia of ghosts, and his friendship with Shaggy.
Based on the book of the same name, "Marley & Me" is an unforgettable movie. Twenty-two different dogs played the role of the sweet and also slightly neurotic Marley.
The story is about a very anxious yellow Labrador who caused his family a lot of trouble.
This dog cartoon became so famous that various objects and devices were named after it, including an underwater vehicle, an Apollo lunar module, and a 280-degree loop in Vietnam’s Mekong River.
The little beagle is over 70 years old and still remains alive in our collective memory.
Eddie was a star in the hit sitcom "Frasier" as, well, the dog of Frasier Crane, the fictional psychiatrist and protagonist of the TV series.
The role of Eddie was played by Moose, a Parson Russell Terrier, and later by his son Enzo.
Disney fans will always remember the adorable love story of Lady, an American cocker spaniel, and Tramp, a stray mutt. This iconic pair is a treasured part of Walt Disney's legacy.
The cute dog Copper from 'The Fox and the Hound' is known for his unlikely friendship with a wild fox named Tod.
This heartwarming story focuses on the journey of these two characters as they try to maintain their friendship despite the challenges posed by Copper's owner and the fact that they are natural enemies.
Bo was the Obama family’s Portuguese water dog until he passed away in 2021.
Just like Fala, President Roosevelt's dog, Bo (on the right in the photo), became famous when President Obama mentioned him in his acceptance speech in 2008.
This was a modern canine! She was the celebrity talking dog with over a million subscribers on YouTube.
She could bark phrases like "I'm hungry," "No," and "I love you." She was also musically gifted, recorded songs, and starred in commercials until she passed away in 2017.
Sources: (Business Insider)
See also: The secret ways dogs communicate with their owners
Dogs are known as man's best friend for good reason — they capture our hearts like no other animal. Loyal, smart, and unconditionally loving, dogs have played an important role in human history for thousands of years. There are some dogs that stand out more than others, be it for their brave deeds, their contributions to entertainment, or their exceptional intelligence.
In the following gallery, you'll find some of the most famous dogs that have earned a place in our collective memory and a soft spot in our hearts. Click on to meet them.
The beloved dogs that have stolen our hearts
Get to know the biggest canine celebrities
CELEBRITY Animals
Dogs are known as man's best friend for good reason — they capture our hearts like no other animal. Loyal, smart, and unconditionally loving, dogs have played an important role in human history for thousands of years. There are some dogs that stand out more than others, be it for their brave deeds, their contributions to entertainment, or their exceptional intelligence.
In the following gallery, you'll find some of the most famous dogs that have earned a place in our collective memory and a soft spot in our hearts. Click on to meet them.