From U.S. presidents, to A-List Hollywood stars, and a few that may surprise you, Scottish Terriers have been the dog breed of choice for many of the world’s rich and famous.
Scotties seemed to be particularly popular among actors and actresses during the Golden Age of Hollywood – the same era that gave us the Wizard of Oz. And while some believe that Toto was a Scottish Terrier, he was actually played by a female Cairn Terrier named Terry.
Also Read: 25 Celebrity Westie Owners, 21 Celebrity Jack Russell Owners, 23 Celebrity Boston Terrier Owners
Nonetheless, there is still plenty of star power behind Scottish Terriers. Here are some of the more notable famous celebrities who owned Scottish Terriers:
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Dwight Eisenhower
- George W. Bush
- Jacqueline Kennedy
- Queen Victoria
- Eva Braun
- Julie Andrews
- Dorothy Lamour
- Humphrey Bogart
- Bette Davis
- Joan Crawford
- Deborah Kerr
- Billie Dove
- Rue McClanahan
- Ali MacGraw
- Tatum O’Neal
- Lindy Lee
- Poh Ling Yeow
- Karandash the Clown
- Lech Kaczynski
1. Famous Scottie Owner: Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt served as the 32nd President of the United States from 1933 to 1945. He is widely regarded as one of the most significant presidents in American history due to his contributions to economic recovery during the Great Depression and leading the nation through World War II.
While FDR was the first U.S. President that we know of to own a Scottish Terrier, he would not be the last. Keep reading to find out which other U.S. Presidents (and one from another country) were Scottie owners.
Dog's Name: Fala
2. Famous Scottie Owner: Dwight Eisenhower
When FDR left office, he made way for Harry Truman and his Cocker Spaniel “Feller.” But it doesn’t take long to get to our next president who owned a Scottish Terrier – the 34th President of the United States, Dwight Eisenhower.
Prior to becoming president in 1953, Eisenhower was a five-star general in the United States Army. During World War II, he led U.S. troops into North Africa securing several ports for the Allied Forces.
Interestingly, General Eisenhower was accompanied by his two pet Scottish Terriers named Caacie and Telek during his time in Africa.
Dogs' Names: Caacie and Telek
3. Famous Scottie Owner: George W. Bush
The most recent U.S. President to bring a Scottish Terrier into the White House was George W. Bush. Bush became the 43rd President of The United States after winning the 2000 presidential election, often considered the closest and most contentious in history.
While some of his policies have come under fire from both Democrats and Republicans, Bush lead the country through one of the most tumultuous times after the attacks on September 11, 2001.
Bush’s male Scottie named Barney was with him throughout his 8 years in office. Barney would be joined by a female Scottie named Miss Beazley shortly before Bush’s second term. Both dogs would become famous in their own rights, starring in several short films produced by the White House including Where in the White House is Miss Beazley? shown below.
Dogs' Names: Barney and Miss Beazley
4. Famous Scottie Owner: Jacqueline Kennedy
We go from American Presidents to American Royalty. Jacqueline Kennedy was one of the most influential American figures of the 20th century. During her tenure as First Lady of the United States as the wife of John F. Kennedy, she revolutionized the role by championing culture and style while still performing traditionally diplomatic duties.
However, it was a young Jackie Onassis who first fell in love with dogs. And while she would own many dogs throughout her lifetime, it was a Scottish Terrier named Hootchie that she first fell in love with at the age of 2.
Dog's Name: Hootchie
5. Famous Scottie Owner: Queen Victoria
Next, it is only natural that we move from American Royalty to actual British Royalty. Queen Victoria was one of the United Kingdom’s longest-serving monarchs, reigning for 63 years from 1837-1901. During her reign, she saw great changes in British culture, industry and power – becoming a formidable force on the international stage.
Victoria is remembered not only for her tremendous contribution in strengthening Britain’s position as one of the world’s leading powers during the 19th century, but also for bringing new stability to the monarchy after periods of political instability in the two preceding centuries.
However, today we are remembering her as one of us – a terrier owner. When she wasn’t busy leading one of the world powers, she could be found hanging out with her Scottie named Mac. Victoria was often seen in public with Mac, which helped to skyrocket the popularity of Scottish Terriers.
Dog's Name: Mac
6. Famous Scottie Owner: Eva Braun
Eisenhower may have had his two Scotties with him while he was fighting for the Allies in World War II, but it turns out that Axis Powers had a couple Scottish Terriers of their own.
Eva Braun was Adolf Hitler’s longtime companion and eventual wife. The couple had a passionate but often volatile relationship throughout the 1930s and 1940s until they married in April 1945, after which they died together by suicide less than forty hours later.
I guess even the bad guys can’t help but love Scotties. Braun owned 2 Scotties named Negus and Katuschka during the height of WWII.
Dogs' Names: Negus and Katuschka
7. Famous Scottie Owner: Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews has been a beloved presence in the entertainment industry for more than six decades. She is best known for her performance as Mary Poppins in the 1964 classic film and later originated the title role in the 1965 Broadway production of My Fair Lady.
Andrews owned a wheaten light colored Scottish Terrier that can be seen in the above photo.
Dog's Name: Unkonwn
8. Famous Scottie Owner: Dorothy Lamour
Dorothy Lamour is best remembered for her role of ‘The Rounder Girl’ in the seven Road to… film series that featured Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. She rose to fame in the 1930s as an American actress and singer, equally adept at drama, comedy and singing. Lamour had a distinctive husky voice that was perfect for her trademark song “Moonlight and Shadows”.
Of her Scottish Terrier named Coco, she wrote, “I’ve shocked friends when I told them I have a new boyfriend and then bring out a photo of that little dog.”
Dog's Name: Coco
9. Famous Scottie Owner: Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey Bogart was a legendary actor of the mid-twentieth century who solidified his place in Hollywood’s Golden Age. His magnetic presence and memorable characters made him an enduring icon of American film. Some of his most iconic performances include Rick Blaine in Casablanca, Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon and Charlie Allnut in The African Queen, for which he won the 1951 Academy Award for Best Actor.
Bogart owned several dogs throughout his lifetime, including two Scottish Terriers. He is shown here with his Scottie named Mac.
Dog's Name: Mac
10. Famous Scottie Owner: Bette Davis
Bette Davis was an iconic American actress. She had a career full of successes and accolades, starring in many films of the 1930s and 1940s that are still remembered today. Her work brought her critical acclaim and two Academy Awards for Best Actress: one for Dangerous in 1935 and one for Jezebel in 1938.
Davis is seen here with her Scottish Terrier named Tibby.
Dog's Name: Tibby
11. Famous Scottie Owner: Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford, one of Hollywood’s golden age icons, was an Oscar-winning actress and the star of noted films such as Mildred Pierce, The Bride Wore Red, and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?. Crawford began her career as a member of a chorus line before rising to fame with a series of roles in silent films, often playing the leading femme fatale.
Beyond her success on screen, Joan Crawford also achieved noteworthy professional milestones when she became a board member at Pepsi-Cola Company in 1959.
Dog's Name: Wagless
12. Famous Scottie Owner: Deborah Kerr
Deborah Kerr was a renowned British actress of stage and screen born in 1921 in England. She is best remembered for her roles in films such as The King and I, An Affair to Remember, Heaven Knows Mr. Allison, and Tea and Sympathy. Her acting career spanned seven decades, from the 1940s until 1994 when she won a Golden Globe Award posthumously for her performance in A Little Night Music.
Dog's Name: Unknown
13. Famous Scottie Owner: Billie Dove
A true pioneer in the film industry, actress Billie Dove was born in 1903. She began her career in silent films. Her star turn, however, came with a sound picture – The Black Watch (1929) – one of the first films to use synchronized dialogue and song.
Dove went on to appear in 43 films over a span of five decades cementing her status as one of the most prolific Hollywood actresses of the time. Her critically acclaimed performances earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 1932 for A Bill of Divorcement.
Dove is yet another movie starlet from the Golden Age of Hollywood who couldn’t resist getting a Scottish Terrier or three.
Dogs' Name: Scotty, Stingy & Lassie
14. Famous Scottie Owner: Rue McClanahan
Rue McClanahan was a beloved actress best known for her role as Blanche Devereaux in the television series The Golden Girls. She earned multiple awards for her work on the show, including six Emmy and Golden Globe nominations and one win for Best Actress in a Comedy Series.
McClanahan’s career spanned five decades, beginning with her first major role on Broadway in 1976. During this time, she also made numerous appearances on television sitcoms such as Maude and Mama’s Family.
During her run as Blanche on The Golden Girls, McClanahan owned a Scottish Terrier named Harrod. Find out which one of her co-stars owned a West Highland Terrier.
Dog's Name: Harrod
15. Famous Scottie Owner: Ali MacGraw
Ali MacGraw is an American actress who began her career in 1968 when she landed a role in Goodbye, Columbus. She quickly rose to fame after starring in the iconic film Love Story in 1970. Her work in Hollywood during this time cemented her place as a rising star and earned her multiple award nominations and wins.
After leaving Hollywood for many years to raise a family, she returned to TV screens with prominent roles on Dynasty, Call To Glory, and Criminal Minds.
The above photo showing MacGraw with her Scottish Terrier named Jemimah appears to have been taken in the 1990’s or 2000’s. However, MacGraw has owned at least one other Scottie as I have seen her pictured with a different Scottie in the 1970’s and 1980’s.
Dog's Name: Jemimah
16. Famous Scottie Owner: Tatum O’Neal
Tatum O’Neal is a multi-talented actress and author, best known for her Academy Award-winning performance in Paper Moon. Her work in the film made her the youngest person to ever win an Academy Award at age 10.
She went on to star in such Hollywood classics as The Bad News Bears (1976) and Little Darlings (1980). In addition to her prolific film career, O’Neal has also enjoyed success on television, appearing on shows like Rescue Me and The Greatest American Hero.
Unfortunately, O’Neal has battled substance abuse throughout her life and the passing of her Scottish Terrier caused her to almost relapse. After her 16 year old Scottie named Lena passed away in 2008 due to cancer, O’Neal was arrested in a drug bust.
She told the New York Post, ““I lost my Scottish terrier, Lena,” three weeks ago. “That seemed to set me off.”
Dog's Name: Lena
17. Famous Scottie Owner: Lindy Lee
Lindy Lee is an Australian artist and sculptor who is celebrated around the world for her evocative multimedia works. She explores themes ranging from her Chinese-Australian heritage, as well as Eastern philosophies of Buddhism and Taoism. Using a range of methods including painting, installation and sculpture, Lee creates works that blur the boundaries between the spiritual and physical worlds.
Lee’s works have been exhibited in several major art galleries in Australia and around the world including MoMA New York, Tate Modern London and Guggenheim Bilbao.
Lee owns three Scottish Terriers – 2 traditionally black and one wheaten colored.
Dogs' Names: Mungo, Ziva, and Mae Mae
18. Famous Scottie Owner: Poh Ling Yeow
Poh Ling Yeow is a Malaysian-born Australian artist and chef. She first rose to fame in 2009 when she became the runner up of Masterchef Australia. She has since gone on to host her own cooking show, Poh & Co., and has authored several cookbooks.
Her talent extends beyond cooking, however, with her art being exhibited around the country including the Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art 2019 at the Art Gallery of South Australia for which she won Best Installation.
Above is a video Poh shared on her Instagram of her two Scottish Terriers, Rhino and Tim.
Dogs' Names: Rhino and Tim
19. Famous Scottie Owner: Karandash the Clown
This one may be a little obscure for most readers, but Karandash was a famous clown from the Soviet Union. Born Mikhail Rumyantsev, he took the name Karandash in 1935 when he began working as a clown. He would join the Moscow Circus a year later as his career as an entertainer took off.
And while he may not be as well know as some of Hollywood’s Scottie owners from the same era, he is beloved enough in his home country that a statue of Karandash was erected in Moscow in 2008.
Dog's Name: Klyaksa
20. Famous Scottie Owner: Lech Kaczynski
And to prove that Scotties are not just for American presidents, I’ll round out our list with a president from another country.
Lech Kaczynski was was appointed Prime Minister of Poland in 2001 where he served two terms until 2005 when he became President of Poland. As President, Kaczynski strongly advocated traditional values within Polish society and politics throughout his presidency.
Tragically, Kaczynski died in 2010 after the aircraft carrying him crashed near the Smolensk airport in Russia.
Unfortunately, I was unable to find a photo of Kaczynski with his Scottish Terrier, so here he is with his cat.