Twenty-two U.S. presidents have owned purebred dogs and most shared the White House with them. While some dogs had jobs — Millie authored a book, Him and Her modeled for Life magazine, and Laddie Boy oversaw high-level meetings from his hand-carved cabinet chair — all were well-loved not only by their devoted owners but also by their country.

Dog fanciers say that canines are a proven stress reliever because they give unconditional love. So it’s no surprise that, throughout our nation’s history, presidents have opened up the White House to these eager to please constituents.

The American Kennel Club, the country’s oldest and largest purebred dog registry, took a look back at some of Washington D.C.’s most famous four-legged residents to determine who’s really in charge at the nation’s most famous address.

Nation’s founding dogs –

•George Washington , the father of our nation, is also the father of American Foxhounds. In 1770, Washington imported a number of hounds from England and in 1785, he received a number of French foxhounds from the Marquis de Lafayette. These hounds, carefully bred and maintained by Washington, are the founders of today’s American Foxhound. More than 30 hounds were listed in Washington’s journals, including Drunkard, Tipler, and Tipsy.

• Thomas Jefferson became interested in Briards while serving as minister to France. He purchased a pregnant female named Buzzy and started his breeding program.

Nineteenth century hounds –

• James Buchanan’s large Newfoundland, Lara, was a celebrity around the White House because she would lay motionless for hours with one eye opened and one eye closed, always sure to keep an eye on her owner.

• Ulysses Grant’s son, Jesse, owned a Newfoundland named Faithful. President Grant, having observed his son’s heartbreak over the untimely deaths of several of his previous dogs, told his White House staff, “If this dog dies, every employee in the White House will be at once discharged.”

Early 20th century hounds –

• Theodore Roosevelt owned a St. Bernard named Rollo, a Pekingese named Manchu, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever named Sailor Boy, a Manchester Terrier named Blackjack, and a Bull Terrier named Pete, who ripped the pants of a French Ambassador.

• Warren Harding owned a Bulldog named Oh Boy and an Airedale Terrier named Laddie Boy – who not only had his own hand-carved cabinet chair to oversee high-level meetings, but also invited all the neighborhood dogs to the White House for his birthday party, where they dined on dog biscuit birthday cake. Laddie Boy is even immortalized with a statue in the Smithsonian.

• Calvin Coolidge owned three Collies – Prudence Prim, Rob Roy and Ruby Rough – an Airedale Terrier named Paul Pry, two Chow Chows named Blackberry and Tiny Tim, a Bulldog named Boston Beans, an Old English Sheepdog named Calamity Jane and a Wire Fox Terrier named Peter Pan.

• Herbert Hoover owned two Fox Terriers named Big Ben and Sonnie, a Norwegian Elkhound named Weejie, an Irish Wolfhound named Patrick, and a German Shepherd named King Tut.

Mid to late 20th century hounds –

• Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Scottish Terrier, Fala, reportedly received more fan mail than many presidents. FDR also had a Bullmastiff named Blaze, two Irish Setters named Jack and Jill, a Bulldog named Pal, an English Setter named Winks, another Scottish Terrier named Meggie, a German Shepherd named Major, and a Great Dane named President … which made things confusing in the White House.

• John F. Kennedy owned a Welsh Terrier named Charlie, an Irish Wolfhound aptly named Wolf, a German Shepherd named Clipper, and an English Cocker Spaniel named Shannon.

• Lyndon B. Johnson owned three Beagles named Him, Her, and Edgar (both Him and Her appeared on the cover of Life magazine.) He also shared the White House with Blanco the Collie.

• Ronald Reagan owned a Bouvier des Flandres named Lucky, and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Rex.

• George Bush owned an English Springer Spaniel named Millie, who is the author of a dogobiography, Millie’s Book.

• Bill Clinton owned a Chocolate Labrador Retriever named Buddy.

Current canines in the White House –

• George W. Bush owned an English Springer Spaniel named Spot (daughter to Millie, owned by the first President Bush) and now owns two Scottish Terriers, Barney and Miss Beazley. Oddly enough, Miss Beazley was fathered by American Kennel Club-registered champion Motherwell Alberta Clipper, known by his call name Clinton.

Clinton was born on Election Day in 2000.