10/08/2026
9 Remarkable Ship’s Dogs
Dogs have accompanied sailors aboard everything from Tudor warships to modern battleships. Some worked as rat catchers, others became treasured mascots, and a few earned recognition for extraordinary bravery. These nine dogs reveal a more personal side of maritime history, shaped by the bonds between sailors and their animal companions.
The cover photograph shows Sinbad with crewmates aboard USCGC Campbell.
Smuggled aboard USCGC Campbell, Sinbad became one of the U.S. Coast Guard’s most celebrated mascots. He shared the crew’s wartime service in the North Atlantic and became so thoroughly part of shipboard life that he had his own service record and bunk. Known as “Chief Dog,” Sinbad left a legacy that continued long after his years at sea.
Bamse, an enormous St. Bernard, sailed aboard the Norwegian minesweeper Thorodd during the Second World War. His loyalty extended beyond companionship: he rescued one sailor from drowning and protected another from an attacker wielding a knife. Those actions later earned him the PDSA Gold Medal. Remembered in both Norway and Scotland, Bamse became one of the best-known dogs in naval history.
Judy served aboard the Royal Navy gunboats HMS Gnat and HMS Grasshopper before surviving shipwreck and Japanese captivity. The English pointer became an officially registered prisoner of war, sharing the hardships of the men around her. Her courage earned her the PDSA Dickin Medal in 1946. The photograph shows her with Frank Williams at the postwar awards ceremony.
When the Mary Rose sank in 1545, a small dog went down with the ship. Centuries later, divers recovered the remains near a doorway and gave the dog the name Hatch. The skeleton suggests a terrier-type dog well suited to catching rats aboard ship. The original name remains unknown, but the museum display preserves a rare physical connection to an animal that lived alongside Tudor sailors.
Two bulldogs named Pelorus Jack served aboard HMS New Zealand. This story belongs to the second, who was aboard during the Battle of Jutland in 1916. The experience left him frightened of gunfire, but he remained a valued companion to the crew and eventually
