#3 Pushinka: Mixed Breed – John F. Kennedy

This legendary dog gained notoriety for three major reasons: her mom became the first dog to travel into space and safely return, she was charged with serving as a Russian canine spy, and she contributed to preventing nuclear war.

During a state dinner, Jackie Kennedy developed a liking for Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev’s well-known astronaut dog and asked whether or not there were any pups. One of those pups eventually made its way to the White House a few months later.

Pushinka was the sweetest present that John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev ever exchanged during the Cold War. Before being allowed inside the Kennedys’ residence, Pushinka was inspected to make sure she had no surveillance equipment or other items that might suggest she was an agent. She received permission to enter the White House despite her ancestry. Despite having a dog allergy, JFK kept Pushinka because he thought the kids would appreciate having dogs at home.