Dogs have always had better manners than most politicians. On National Dogs in Politics Day, it's worth asking what our four-legged companions could teach the people we elect.
What Dogs Know That Politicians Don't
Dogs are loyal, consistent, and genuinely happy to see you regardless of your political affiliation. They don't hold grudges, they don't grandstand, and they don't say one thing and do another. Whether you're a Democrat or a Republican, a dog will greet you with the same enthusiasm. It's a quality that seems increasingly rare in the people we send to Washington, and it's worth pausing to appreciate — especially on National Dogs in Politics Day, September 23rd.
"Dogs create civility in the spaces they inhabit — not through argument or persuasion, but simply by being present and friendly."
A Long History of Dogs in the White House
Presidential dogs have been a fixture of American political life since George Washington kept a pack of hounds at Mount Vernon. FDR's Scottish Terrier Fala was so beloved that a false rumor about the dog became a campaign issue. Nixon's Checkers speech — named for his cocker spaniel — is one of the most famous political addresses in television history. Bo and Sunny Obama, Buddy Clinton, Barney Bush: the dogs of the White House have often been more universally popular than the presidents who owned them.
The Case for More Dogs in Public Life
There's a reasonable argument that requiring politicians to own and care for a dog would improve governance. Dogs demand consistency. They require patience. They respond to tone of voice, not just words — which means you can't bluster your way through a relationship with a dog the way you can with a press conference. They also have a way of humanizing their owners, of reminding the public that the person behind the podium is also the person who walks the dog at 6 AM in the rain.
Dogs on the Road and in the World
Traveling with dogs has taught us a lot about how people respond to animals in public spaces. A dog at a campsite is an icebreaker. A dog on a trail is a conversation starter. A dog in a small town is a reason for strangers to stop and talk. Dogs create civility in the spaces they inhabit — not through argument or persuasion, but simply by being present and friendly. If only it were that easy for the rest of us.
