The Dogs of Camelot: Stories of the Kennedy Canines

Animal trainer Reed and coauthor Lownds (Man Overboard) explore a lighter side of Camelot in this charming, photo-filled account of the pets that occupied the Kennedy White House. During that brief time, the first family hosted an assortment of pets that included “nine dogs at one time, a cat, parakeets, hamsters, rabbits, deer, and seven horses.” The family’s fondness for dogs even played a role in foreign diplomacy: in 1961, the Kennedys received a puppy named Pushinka (which in Russian means “little bit of fluff”) as a gift from Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. Pushinka, whose mother was one of the dogs sent into space as part of the Russian space program, proved wildly popular in the United States, and her celebrity provided a brief respite from Cold War tensions in the months leading up to the Cuban Missile Crisis. Later, Pushinka had a litter sired by Charlie, the Kennedys’ Welsh terrier. The book offers a glimpse into the family’s quieter moments with snapshots of a young Caroline playing with Pushinka’s offspring; Jackie Kennedy running with Clipper, the German Shepherd, on the White House lawn; and John Jr. with Shannon, the cocker spaniel, in the Oval Office. This lighthearted book finds an irresistible mix of two popular subjects—the Kennedys and dogs. Photos. (May)