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If owners and their pets really do resemble one another, what do these four-legged denizens of the White House say about their masters – and their presidencies?

1. William Howard Taft is a president often remembered for his impressive size. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that, when it came pets, Taft considered bigger to be better. While president, Taft kept a cow named Pauline Wayne on the White House grounds. "Miss Wayne" was milked to provide for the Tafts, as well as being a beloved pet.

2. In keeping with surprises, it should also come as no shock that the man who coined the phrase "speak softly and carry a big stick" chose a bull terrier as a pet. Theodore Roosevelt's dog Pete is usually acknowledged as one of the least friendly White House dogs. According to Ronnie G. Elmore, "an expert on ‘First Pets,'' Pete once infamously "tore the pants off the French ambassador" during an official visit. Today, the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is a recognized breed of short-legged terrier named for the president because another of his pets, Skip, was thought to be of the breed.

3. Teddy's distant cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt, preferred the canine companionship of a Scottish Terrier named Fala during his presidency. Fala was immortalized on film and in FDR's 1944 "Fala Speech" during his tenure in the White House. Fala accompanied the president at all times. A visit to the FDR monument in Washington, D.C. even shows a representation of Fala seated near the statue of his master.

4. Another dog who was a frequent visitor to the oval office was Yuki, Lyndon B. Johnson's popular mutt. Visiting dignitaries and heads of state were often treated to choral performances by the president and the first pet. Johnson sang the national anthem while Yuki barked along.

5. George W. Bush may have been the second son to take succeed his father as president, but his spaniel, Spot, was the first dog to succeed his mother as first pet. Spot was the puppy of best-selling author, and Bush, Sr. pet, Millie. Spot lived in the White House as an infant when Millie gave birth during George H. Bush's presidential tenure, and returned to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue when his master was elected in 2000.

6. Laddie Boy, the faithful companion of President Warren G. Harding, might win the title of most spoiled dog in White House history. Birthday parties were hosted in honor of the terrier, and he even attended cabinet meetings. A statue of Laddie Boy rests in the Smithsonian, made entirely of melted down pennies collected across the country from devoted Laddie Boy fans.

7. It wouldn't be fair to make a list of White House pets without including Socks, the Clintons' cat. While Socks never made it into any speeches, he did guest star on "Larry King Live" and "Murphy Brown." Unfortunately, Socks proved the old adage about cats and dogs when the Clintons acquired Buddy in 1997. Since the two didn't get along, Socks went to live with Bettie Curry, Clinton's former secretary, when Bill and Hillary left the White House a few years later.