Five famous dogs from history
From the first astronaut dog to the world’s oldest, these incredible pooches have carved out their place in history.
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Dogs have lived with humans for over 12,000 years.
They first appeared in literature in Homer’s Odyssey (c. 8th century BC), where upon Odysseus’ return, his beloved dog Argos is the only individual to recognise him.
Since then they’ve been memorialised and immortalised in statues, stories, poems, songs and movies. Here are five pawesome dogs that rate a special mention.
DOGS IN SPACE
In 1957 Kudryavka (Little Curly) was a stray husky-spitz cross that became the first living creature to orbit earth aboard Sputnik 2.
Introduced to the public via radio, Kudryavka barked and later became known as Laika - “barker” in Russian. Unfortunately, technology had not yet advanced into de-orbiting the spacecraft and sadly Laika died during the mission. But her legend lives on.
In 2015, Russia unveiled a new memorial statue of Laika atop a rocket at a Moscow military research facility, and novelists Victor Pelevin of Russia, Haruki Murakami of Japan, and Jeannette Winterson of Great Britain have all featured Laika in their books.
LOYAL DOG
Hachiko was a Japanese Akita dog who would greet his owner, Hidesaburō Ueno at Shibuya train station every day after work.
One day in 1925, the professor did not return to the station as he had died of a cerebral hemorrhage. Hachiko came back to the station every day for nine years awaiting his owner’s return, until Hachiko too passed on March 8, 1935.
During his lifetime, the dog was held up in Japanese culture as an example of loyalty. Well after his death, he continues to be remembered in worldwide popular culture, with statues (at Shibuya and Odate Station, and the University of Tokyo), books and movies - including Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, a five star weepie from 2009 starring Richard Gere.
OLD DOG
According to Guinness World Records, an Australian Cattle Dog named Bluey who lived for 29 years, 5 months is the oldest dog ever verified.
A Labrador Retriever and Australian Cattle Dog mix named Chilla is reported to have lived to the age of 32 years and 12 days but could not be verified. Both live on in name though as the characters Bluey and Chili in the animated series Bluey.
Honourable mention also goes to Maggie the Kelpie (whose age could also not be fully verified) who passed away aged 30 in April 2016. “She was still going along nicely last week,” said owner Brian McLaren at the time of her death.
“She was walking from the dairy to the office and growling at the cats and all that sort of thing.”
DOG OF WAR
You may have seen him at the Australian War Memorial. Well at least her preserved remains.
Sarbi, a black Lab Newfoundland cross, was an explosive detection dog who went missing after a joint Australian, American and Afghan vehicle convoy was ambushed by insurgents on September 2, 2008 during the Battle of Khaz Oruzgan (the same action in which soldier Mark Donaldson became the first Australian to be awarded a Victoria Cross since 1969.
After missing for almost 14 months Sarbi was rediscovered by an American soldier, and was reunited with her original trainer back in Australia.
Sarbi died as a result of a brain tumour in March 2015 and a dog park in the Brisbane suburb of Warner was named in Sarbi‘s honour a month before her death.
MOVIE STAR DOG
It has become one of Australia’s most enduring dog tales. A dog (alternatively named Bluey, Tally Ho, and Dog of the Northwest) wanders the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
He has a book, Red Dog, written about him by British author Louis de Bernières; that gets turned in to a feature film by Kriv Stenders; the success of which prompts a second film call Blue Dog; while the actual star of the original film prompts a new film about him called Koko.
Originally published as Five famous dogs from history