Yuki

Yuki was a stray mutt who became one of the most unusual presidential pets — a dog who sang duets with the president of the United States.

Yuki (Japanese for 'snow') was a small white-and-brown mixed-breed dog found by the Nixon family in 1969. He was a stray, wandering the streets near the Nixon compound in Key Biscayne, Florida. The Nixons took him in, and he quickly became President Nixon's favorite pet.

Yuki had a special talent: he loved to howl. And Nixon loved to howl with him. The president would play the piano, and Yuki would lift his head and howl along. The two performed 'duets' that were captured on video and shown to delighted White House visitors. For a man known as stiff and serious, Nixon was surprisingly playful with Yuki.

Yuki had free run of the White House. He was known for his friendly personality and his habit of sneaking into important meetings. He'd curl up under the president's desk during cabinet meetings, occasionally letting out a howl that made everyone laugh.

After Nixon's resignation in 1974, Yuki went with the family to their home in California. He lived out his days there, remembered as the mutt who made a president sing.