What Kind Of Pets Did Native Tribes Keep?

The Native American tribes of the Great Plains lived closely with the natural world, and their relationships with animals were not only practical but deeply spiritual. While their connection to the iconic horse is well-documented, Plains tribes also kept a range of other animals as pets or companions, each treated with a mix of affection, respect, and purpose.

Dogs were the earliest and most widespread domesticated animals among the Plains tribes, predating the horse by centuries. Tribes such as the Lakota, Cheyenne, Blackfoot, and Comanche used dogs for a wide range of roles: hauling travois (sled-like carriers), guarding camps, helping in hunts, and providing companionship. Dogs were highly valued; they were often named, fed alongside the family, and treated with genuine affection. Some accounts note that children were raised with dogs as playmates, and certain dogs were even considered spiritual protectors. In stories and songs, dogs frequently appear as loyal companions or as symbols of selfless bravery. When a dog died, it was not uncommon for it to be mourned or buried with small ceremonies.

With the arrival of horses in the 16th and 17th centuries—introduced by the Spanish and spreading northward through trade and raiding—the horse rapidly became central to Plains life. While not "pets" in the modern sense, many horses were treated with a level of reverence and care that bordered on sacred. War horses, in particular, might be painted with protective symbols, given special names, and sung to before battle. A favored horse could be braided, adorned with feathers, or given a share of a family’s best food. Horses were often considered part of the extended family, and in some tribes, horses were believed to have their own spirits or to act as mediators between the human and spiritual realms.

Some Plains tribes also kept smaller animals as pets, particularly by children. Birds such as crows or hawks might be raised if found injured or orphaned, and raccoons, foxes, or even wolf pups were sometimes tamed. These were less common but not unheard of, especially in more settled camps or among families that had the means to care for them. These animals were often treated tenderly, seen as gifts from the Creator or as teaching companions that reinforced a child’s bond with the natural world.

The treatment of animals by Plains tribes was grounded in a worldview that saw no firm line between humans and animals. They were all “relatives” in the great web of life. An animal was not merely owned—it was known, respected, and understood. Whether a dog sleeping by the fire or a child’s hawk companion perched on a wrist, these animals were companions in both daily life and the spiritual landscape of the Plains. The Native peoples of this region didn’t simply keep pets—they formed relationships with them, ones shaped by kinship, utility, and mutual respect.

To learn more about the lives of the native tribes, check out the History At The OK Corral episode linked below. Brought to you by History At The OK Corral: Home Of History’s Greatest Shootouts & Showdowns!