10 most FAMOUS Soviet dogs (PHOTOS)

1. Space dogs Belka & Strelka 

These two mixed-breed dogs went into space even before Yuri Gagarin. And they successfully returned to Earth, proving that orbital flights were possible. 

The dogs were literally found on the street, trained for a long time, getting accustomed to future trials, with their vital signs constantly monitored. And, on August 19, 1960, they embarked on their legendary 27-hour flight, becoming worldwide stars in the process. 

Incidentally, one of Strelka's puppies was given as a gift to the U.S. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.

Read the full story of these intrepid space dogs here.

2. ‘White Bim, Black Ear’ – The Soviet Hachiko

If the ‘Hachiko’ story brings you to tears, then the Soviet ‘White Bim, Black Ear’ (‘Belyy Bim, Chyornoe Ukho’) will have you sobbing! The 1977 movie adaptation of the eponymous novel was even nominated for an Oscar.

In the plot, a writer saves a dog that a breeder wanted to put down, because of its incorrect coat color. The new owner and ‘Bim’, of course, become inseparable. That is, until the owner is taken to the hospital… The lead role in the movie was played by an English Setter.

3. ‘Ressi’ – The robot dog

In 1979, the sci-fi three-part movie ‘The Adventures of Electronics’ was released on Soviet screens. ‘Electronics’ is a robot who looks like an ordinary Soviet boy. He confronts a criminal gang along with his friends and a robot dog named ‘Ressi’. 

The dog was so loved by audiences that it sparked a genuine boom in Airedale Terriers in the USSR. A pet of this breed could be seen on the streets of any city.

4. ‘Sharik’ – The dog that became a man

A monument to Professor Preobrazhensky and Sharik in St. Petersburg

The main character of Mikhail Bulgakov's satirical novel ‘Heart of a Dog’ is a stray dog. As an experiment, Professor Preobrazhensky performs surgery transplanting a human pituitary gland into the dog. 

As a result, the dog, named ‘Sharik’, turns into a hooligan and brawler man and takes the last name Sharikov, “inheriting” all the bad qualities of his donor. He became most widely known to the public after the 1988 movie adaptation of the novel, in which Sharikov is played by Vladimir Tolokonnikov.

5. ‘Sharik’ from ‘Prostokvashino’ – The kind talking dog

‘Sharik’ is the most popular name for dogs. This ‘Sharik’ is a character from Eduard Uspensky's children's stories and the iconic animated series based on them. A boy named ‘Uncle Fyodor’ decides to run away from the city to live in the village with a talking cat named ‘Matroskin’. 

Along the way they pick up a homeless, good-natured ‘Sharik’. The trio sets up their rural life and, of course, the cat and dog constantly argue and bicker with each other.

6. ‘Avva’ – The fairy-tale doctor's best friend

Korney Chukovsky was inspired by English author Hugh Lofting's ‘Doctor Dolittle’ when writing his children's story and cycle of poems about the wondrous Doctor Aibolit, who heals animals. The Soviet Aibolit, like his British counterpart, has a faithful dog named ‘Avva’. She accompanies the doctor on his journey to Africa and bravely protects him from danger.

7. Police dog ‘Mukhtar’

An incredibly intelligent and selfless service dog named ‘Mukhtar’ repeatedly saves his owner, a police lieutenant, who had once saved him. The story has a real-life basis, but was immortalized in the movie ‘Come to Me, Mukhtar!’ with legendary actor Yuri Nikulin in the lead role. 

The movie was so popular that in the 2010s, a sequel was made in the form of the TV show ‘The Return of Mukhtar’.

8. Border guard dog ‘Alyi’ 

In the 1979 movie of the same name, based on a story by Yuri Koval, the main character enlists in the border troops, where he is assigned a service shepherd dog. The newly minted border guard names the dog ‘Alyi’ (‘Scarlet’) and, together, embark on serious combat duty. ‘Alyi’ saves his owner at the cost of his own life, taking a fatal bullet from criminals trying to illegally cross the border.

9. ‘Ingus’ – The most famous dog in the Moscow Metro

At the ‘Ploshchad Revolyutsii’ (Revolution Square) subway station, there is a bronze sculpture of a border guard with a dog whose nose is polished to a shine. According to Muscovites, it's good luck to rub the dog's nose when passing by. 

The bronze figures have real-life prototypes: border guard Nikita Karatsupa and his dog named ‘Ingus’. Like the cinematic ‘Alyi’, ‘Ingus’ would fearlessly throw himself at bandits and save his owner's life many times.

Read more about the incredible true story of ‘Ingus’ and his owner here.

10. World War II hero ‘Dik’ 

Thousands of dogs bravely fought on the front lines of World War II, participating in the most dangerous operations and carrying out some of the most incredible missions. For example, a Collie named ‘Dik’ discovered over 12,000 mines and took part in clearing mines in Stalingrad, Lisichansk, Prague and other cities. 

Once, ‘Dik’ discovered a two-and-a-half-ton landmine with a timing mechanism in the foundation of a palace in Pavlovsk outside St. Petersburg just an hour before it was set to explode. After the Victory, the medal-bearing ‘Dik’ became a multiple winner at dog shows.

Read about how dogs, cats and even camels fought in World War II here.