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Barney: the true story of the Bush family's Scottish terrier

See Barney's real story – guest starring your dog.

You might be curious about Barney, the Scottish Terrier who lived at the White House with President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. Barney was born on September 30, 2000, in New Jersey, and his full birth name was Bernard Bush. He joined the family after the 2000 presidential election as a gift to Mrs. Bush and starred in the White House's annual Christmas videos.

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The story in 5 parts

A short version first. The full story, with every detail, is further down.

Part 1

Who was Barney

Barney was a Scottish Terrier owned by George W. Bush and Laura Bush.

Part 2

Life in the White House

Barney held the role of First Dog from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009.

Part 3

The Barney Cam videos

The Barney Cam series ran from 2002 through 2008.

Part 4

A notable incident and public attention

Barney bit two people in 2008.

Part 5

Barney's later years and legacy

Barney died on February 1, 2013, at age 12, from lymphoma.

Read the full story

Part 1

Who was Barney

Barney was a Scottish Terrier owned by George W. Bush and Laura Bush. Barney arrived as a gift from President Bush to Mrs. Bush shortly after the 2000 election.

Part 2

Life in the White House

Barney held the role of First Dog from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. You can see from the record how visible he was: he appeared in annual Barney Cam videos produced for the White House website. He greeted queens, heads of state, and prime ministers during his years at the White House. He shared the White House with Miss Beazley, another Scottish Terrier who was in fact his niece, since the two dogs had different parents but were related through Barney's half-brother. Barney and Miss Beazley became devoted playmates during their years together.

Part 3

The Barney Cam videos

The Barney Cam series ran from 2002 through 2008. Titles included Barney Cam I in 2002, Barney and Spot's Winter Wonderland in 2003, and later installments ending with Barney Cam VII: A Red, White and Blue Christmas in 2008. The 2008 video featured President Bush, members of his family, and American Olympians.

Part 4

A notable incident and public attention

Barney bit two people in 2008. On September 19, 2008, he bit Heather Walker, the Boston Celtics public relations director, on the wrist while she visited the White House, breaking the skin, though the incident was not reported until after the November elections. On November 6, 2008, Barney bit Reuters reporter Jon Decker's finger. A spokesperson for Laura Bush joked afterward that the bite was his way of saying he was done with the paparazzi. You can read these episodes as a reminder that even a well-known family dog can have an unpredictable moment around strangers.

Part 5

Barney's later years and legacy

Barney died on February 1, 2013, at age 12, from lymphoma. President Bush remembered him as a dog who guarded the South Lawn entrance, chased golf balls at Camp David, and hunted armadillos at the family ranch. Barney and Miss Beazley are honored today with a bronze sculpture at the George W. Bush Presidential Library.

Things you might not know

  • Barney arrived as a gift from President Bush to Mrs. Bush shortly after the 2000 election.
  • The Barney Cam series ran from 2002 through 2008.
  • Barney bit two people in 2008.
  • Barney died on February 1, 2013, at age 12, from lymphoma.

Year by year

  1. September 30, 2000Barney was born on September 30, 2000, in New Jersey, and his full birth name was Bernard Bush.
  2. January 20, 2001Barney held the role of First Dog from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009.
  3. 2002The Barney Cam series ran from 2002 through 2008.
  4. 2002Titles included Barney Cam I in 2002, Barney and Spot's Winter Wonderland in 2003, and later installments ending with Barney Cam VII: A Red, White and Blue Christmas in 2008.
  5. 2003Titles included Barney Cam I in 2002, Barney and Spot's Winter Wonderland in 2003, and later installments ending with Barney Cam VII: A Red, White and Blue Christmas in 2008.
  6. 2008Titles included Barney Cam I in 2002, Barney and Spot's Winter Wonderland in 2003, and later installments ending with Barney Cam VII: A Red, White and Blue Christmas in 2008.
  7. September 19, 2008On September 19, 2008, he bit Heather Walker, the Boston Celtics public relations director, on the wrist while she visited the White House, breaking the skin, though the incident was not reported until after the November elections.

Questions people ask

Who did Barney Bush belong to?

Barney belonged to President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush.

What breed was Barney, the Bush family dog?

Barney was a Scottish Terrier. His mother, Coors, was also a Scottish Terrier.

Why was Barney called Barney?

Barney's full birth name was Bernard Bush.

Did Barney bite anyone?

Yes, in 2008 Barney bit Boston Celtics public relations director Heather Walker on the wrist, and later that year he bit Reuters reporter Jon Decker's finger.

What happened to Barney after the Bush presidency?

He died in 2013 at age 12 after a battle with lymphoma.

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Sources

  1. Barneys Biography. georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov.
  2. Barney (dog) - Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org.
  3. Barney & Miss Beazley | George W. Bush Library. www.georgewbushlibrary.gov.
  4. Barney (dog) - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. simple.wikipedia.org.
  5. Barney (dog). Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias.
  6. Question: What are the names of the President's dogs? (Text Only). georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov.
  7. Barney — George W. Bush's Dog | Presidential Pet Museum. Presidential Pet Museum, Jul 21, 2013.
  8. Barneys Home Page. georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov.
  9. Bush Family Pets | George W. Bush Presidential Center. George W. Bush Presidential Center.

Written by TimeWalkies EditorialLast updated How we research