Cherokee Dog Names

In the Cherokee culture, there are many fascinating and beautiful legends that live within the stories of these people. One of these legends is about a pair of dogs that guard the path to the land of souls. Their names are Alpha and Beta. According to the legend, if one wants to walk down the path, you must bring food to appease these dogs. If you give the food to Alpha, he will let you pass, but it is extremely important to remember to bring enough food to also feed Beta; because should one forget to do so, that person will be trapped between the two dogs forever.

While no one can actually meet this spotlight pair, there are a few other dogs that bear the name "Beta" in real life that we can learn more about. The first Beta that we are going to learn about is a beautiful Australian Shepherd who is owned, and trained, by Jenilee Gobin. When Beta first came to Gobin, the 2 1/2 year old Aussie was being retired from a breeder's program after having 2 litters of puppies. Because Beta had not been properly socialized when she was a puppy, the young dog was skittish, snappy, and fearful around people. It took a lot of work and patience on Gobin's part, but with positive training programs and lots of love, Beta is now a more confident and happy dog around all different kinds of people. 

The second "Beta" that we are going to introduce is one who represented the University of Virginia. He was first known at the University in 1929 where he came to live in the  Beta Theta Pi House on Rugby Road, which is where he so fittingly got his name. Sadly, Beta was hit by a car in 1939 and his funeral was a statewide event. He was transported from his home at the Beta House to the University's Cemetery. There, over 1,000 people came to see him laid to rest. Although this is a sad story, it goes to show just how important a dog can be to the people around them. 

All of the "Beta" dogs in our spotlights were important to those who interacted with them. The Beta in Cherokee legend allowed travelers to pass on their journey to the final rest; Gobin's Beta shows just how far a bit of love and hard work can go; and finally, the University of Virginia's Beta allows us to see how much one animal can touch the hearts of many.