As we prepare to celebrate the United States of America’s 250th birthday this year, on this Presidents’ Day I salute George Washington’s dedication not only to the founding of our country, but to dogs too! It is estimated that during his lifetime George Washington had approximately 50 dogs, representing a variety of breeds including Dalmatians, Greyhounds, Newfoundlands, Briards, various Spaniels, countless Terriers, and even many Toy breeds. However, Washington is most famous for breeding the American Foxhound.
In fact, some historians would argue that it was his American Foxhound that helped earned some of his support to become general of the Continental Army! While serving as a representative of Virginia at the Continental Congress, George Washington was spotted taking a walk with his Foxhound, Sweet Lips. I should probably add here, that Washington had a great sense of humor when naming his pups! Anyways, Elizabeth Willing Powel, the wife of the mayor of Philadelphia, couldn’t resist commenting to her friends, “His movements and gestures are graceful, his walk majestic, and he was walking with a tall, exceedingly graceful dog of the hound type as he strode down Walnut Street.” According to the article “Moral of the Story? Always Walk with a Dog,” (November 10, 2019) this “chance meeting led to a dinner invitation where Washington was introduced to powerful movers and shakers of Philadelphia.” This is turn led to him being invited to join their hunting club. Not one to miss an opportunity to gain the advantage, Washington gifted to some of the men the hounds he bred. The article goes on to point out that “it was these men who would mount a campaign to help Washington win command of the Continental Army.”
However, it is apparent from his diaries that Washington may not have wielded the same authority over his dogs as he did with the Continental Army. One tale that has been handed down is about a hound named Vulcan who could not resist a ham being prepared for dinner. According to the Mount Vernon archives, as the family story goes, Vulcan snuck into the kitchen at Mount Vernon and ran off with the ham. When the butler had to explain to Martha Washington why the ham she chose was not being served, George simply laughed.
Washington also had a soft spot for other people’s dogs as well. Case in point, during the American Revolution at the Battle of Germantown, British General William Howe’s dog, a Fox Terrier named Lila, accidentally ended up in a precarious position across enemies lines. Her engraved collar gave away her identity, and two soldiers scooped her up to bring to General Washington. Their plan was to keep the dog as retribution to Howe. However, Washington instead insisted that the beleaguered pup be returned to her owner, along with a note: “General Washington’s compliments to General Howe. He does himself the pleasure to return him a dog, which accidentally fell into his hands, and by the inscription on the Collar appears to belong to General Howe.” A copy of this note, written by Washington’s aide, Alexander Hamilton, can be found in the National Archives. However, before you jump to the conclusion that Washington returned the dog purely out of the goodness of his heart, think again. He was a shrewd general. As Dr. Francis Spring Ronalds, noted in American Heritage (June 1964), “G. W. never missed a chance to gain knowledge of the enemy, and what a splendid opportunity this was to spy on British Headquarters! The British could not refuse a flag returning the General’s dog.”
It is evident from his letters and journals that George Washington was a loving and doting dog owner with a sense of humor. So on this Presidents’ Day we salute George Washington and his love of dogs, including Sweet Lips, Drunkard, Madame Moose, Tipsy, Taster, Truelove, Lady Rover and Ragman, just to name a few.
