Donald Trump could be first US President in nearly 130 years not to have a pet dog in the White House

Donald Trump could be first US President in nearly 130 years not to have a pet dog in the White House

President was set to take in a goldendoodle called Patten  - but that has fallen through

They say a dog is man’s best friend – but Donald Trump could become the first US President for nearly 130 years not to have a canine companion in the White House.

Most American Presidents have had a least one dog, and many have had several. 

Most recently, the Obamas had two Portuguese water dogs named Sunny and Bo, President George W Bush had two terriers and a spaniel – as well as his long-horn cow, Ofelia – and President Clinton had a Labrador named Buddy.

It was rumoured last month that Mr Trump might adopt a Goldendoodle named Patton, who was being fostered by one of the President’s friends, Lois Pope.
But Ms Pope reportedly decided to keep Patton herself after falling for his charms – and Mr Trump is not believed to have any immediate plans to get another.
The last President not to have a dog was William McKinley, who died of gangrene a year into his second term after a failed assassination attempt.
According to the Presidential Pet Museum, the dog-less President McKinley kept several kittens, roosters and a parrot.
It is not known whether or not Mr Trump cares for dogs. Although he is known as a prolific tweeter, the only dog-related tweets his feed reveals are a series of references to people he has clashed with being “fired like a dog”, “begging like a dog” or “choking like a dog”.
He attacked journalist Chuck Todd on Twitter in 2015, saying: “I hear that sleepy eyes @chucktodd will be fired like a dog from ratings starved Meet the Press? I can’t imagine what is taking so long!”

And he said of his Republican rival Mitt Romney last year: “Mitt Romney had his chance to beat a failed President but he choked like a dog. Now he calls me racist – but I am least racist person there is.” His dog-related similes led the Daily Dot to write an article last June claiming: “Donald Trump has no idea what dogs are or what they do.”