History's Best Study Buddies: 5 Noble Pets Who Deserve an Honorary Degree

As graduation season approaches, everyone is celebrating the grads. But what about those loyal study buddies who purred through early-morning cram sessions or warmed your feet under the desk during the toughest exam periods? That’s right, our pets deserve an honorary degree for all those sleepless nights.

You’re not alone in having your four-legged friend as your best assistant. History’s greatest minds, writers, and rulers also relied on their pets during long, work-filled nights. Here are 5 historical study buddies who literally made history with their owners.

1. Newton and Diamond, the patient assistant

Legend has it that Sir Isaac Newton’s favorite dog, Diamond, once knocked over a candle, setting fire to years of the physicist’s research notes. Newton supposedly just said: “Oh, Diamond, you have no idea how much damage you’ve done.” The scientist continued to adore his dog, who loyally assisted with his most important discoveries.

2. Dickens and Bob, the bossy cat

Charles Dickens’s cat, Bob, didn’t tolerate his owner overworking. If he decided the author needed to stop scribbling, he simply snuffed out the candle on the desk with his paw. Typical cat behavior, right?

3. Freud and Jofi, the therapy dog

Sigmund Freud’s Chow Chow, Jofi, wasn’t just present during long reading sessions; she also sat in on patients’ therapy sessions. According to Freud, the dog’s mere presence helped calm people down. She was the original psychologist’s assistant.

4. Catherine the Great and Zemira, the empress’s shadow

The Russian empress adored Italian Greyhounds, especially Zemira, who followed her everywhere in the palace. During long nights spent on state affairs and writing letters, Zemira always rested at the empress’s feet.

5. Lord Byron and Boatswain

The famous poet loved his massive Newfoundland dog so much that whenever he was creating, Boatswain was always lounging right beside him. When the dog passed away, Byron wrote him an epitaph that became one of literature’s most beautiful tributes to a dog.

Reward your own furry assistant!

If your dog or cat was persistently by your side while you wrote seemingly endless assignments, they deserve some real recognition this year. Forget a plain paper certificate! A custom, historical-style pet portrait looks way better on the wall and makes a perfect, hilarious keepsake of your late nights together.

Imagine your pet proudly posing as “The Crown Prince.” Picture them in an elegant, cream-colored tunic with gold buttons and a sky-blue silk sash, looking like they just graduated summa cum laude in couch-surfing.

Or if they’re the type who dictated the pace while you studied (and loudly demanded treat breaks), then “The Emperor” style is the winner. In a commanding, gold-embroidered deep blue coat and feathered hat, they’ll look exactly like the one running the household.

Such a stunning portrait isn’t just a brilliant graduation gift for yourself or a graduating friend, but it’ll also be the coolest decoration in the room. Celebrate the fruits of your hard work the way true aristocrats do!