From palaces to football pitches, the women devoted to their dogs

Dogs, as many women will tell you, have a way of becoming both companion and confidant; a constant presence and comfort through life’s various chapters. The novelist Jilly Cooper understood this better than most. When her late husband, Leo Cooper, was once asked what she wore in bed, he famously replied: ‘Dogs.’ Same here, Jilly, same here.

Elizabeth II was perhaps the most famous dog lover of all. Her corgi dynasty began with Susan, a Pembroke Welsh corgi given to the future Queen on her 18th birthday in 1944. Susan travelled everywhere (she was famously smuggled beneath a rug in the royal carriage during the royal honeymoon) and from her descended a dynasty of more than 30 royal corgis. They followed her from palace to palace, rode in helicopters and even received Christmas stockings at Sandringham filled by Her Majesty. It was also thanks to the Queen — and an illicit romance between Princess Margaret’s dachshund Pipkin and one of her corgis — that the world was introduced to the dorgi.

For writer Dodie Smith, a dog quite literally changed her life. The author of The Hundred and One Dalmatians based the story closely on her own household. She and her husband owned a Dalmatian named Pongo, who inspired the fictional hero of the book. One of their puppies was even born apparently lifeless before being revived by her husband, a moment that later found its way into the story we all know and love.

Hollywood royalty Audrey Hepburn rarely appeared without her Yorkshire terrier, aptly named Mr Famous, a tiny dog with a remarkably glamorous life. He travelled with her around the world, perched in bicycle baskets, appeared in photo shoots with Cecil Beaton and even made a cameo in the 1957 film Funny Face. Hepburn adored him, and photographs from the era frequently show the small terrier tucked comfortably in her arms.

One such dog became an unlikely celebrity in her own right. Demi Moore’s tiny chihuahua, Pilaf, was discovered by her daughter during the pandemic and flown from Thailand to Los Angeles to join the family. Since then the miniature dog has accompanied Moore across the globe — including numerous trips to Europe — and frequently appears tucked into a sling at fashion shows and film premieres.

Dogs have long had a place in politics, too. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was particularly fond of a German Shepherd named Clipper, a gift from her father-in-law, Joseph P. Kennedy. Clipper was often seen beside her at the White House and quickly developed a reputation as a loyal guardian. When a reporter once asked what the dog liked to eat, Jackie replied, with characteristic wit, ‘reporters’. A useful reminder to self: channel Jackie O.

Spaniels, meanwhile, appear to be the breed of choice for many women. The Princess of Wales shares her home with Orla, a lively black cocker spaniel who joined the family in 2020 after being given to the couple by her brother, James Middleton. Newly appointed Crufts presenter Claudia Winkleman — along with Mary Berry and Oprah Winfrey — has also been devoted to spaniels and it is easy to see why. The Kennel Club refers to the breed as the ‘merry cocker’, thanks to its famously ever-wagging tail.

The Lionesses have an incredibly strong canine contingent. Beth Mead’s working cocker spaniel, Myle, is something of a star in his own right, with almost 50,000 followers on Instagram. Lucy Bronze is devoted to her French bulldog, Narla, while Lauren James often shares glimpses of her American bully, and Chloe Kelly’s dachshund, Otis, has become a familiar face to fans on social media. Even two-time European champions, it seems, are not immune to the charms of a devoted dog.

Across generations and professions, the pattern is remarkably consistent: where there are remarkable women, there are very often dogs at their side.