Norwegian Dog Names

You absolutely cannot talk about famous dogs from Norway without mentioning the brave hero by the name of Bamse. Bamse was a Saint Bernard who was a symbol of freedom during the Second World War. His story begins in Oslo, the capital city of Norway, when Erling Hafto, captain of Thorodd, the whale-catcher, brought sweet little Bamse and took him to the sea. During the World War II, Thorodd became a part of the Royal Norwegian Navy, and Bamse was considered one of the crew members.

Bamse’s name means teddy bear in Norwegian, and rightfully so, as he was in charge of lifting the morale of the crew, which he did impeccably! During the battle, Banse would take his position on the gun tower, bravely facing the perils before the ship. He was a brave dog, and his many heroic acts did not end up forgotten. He saved a lieutenant commander from an attacker who was ready to strike a deadly blow by pushing the man into the sea. He often kept the peace on the ship by breaking up quarrels among the crew by being a sweet little doggo, putting his paws on their shoulders and calming them down. Banse was so smart and independent, he even had a bus pass which he “used” to go to the Bodega Bar and bring the crew members back to the base.

 Not many dogs can brag about their awards, especially war honors, but Bamse could! Even though most of them were awarded posthumously, this amazing dog was awarded the PDSA Gold Medal for devotion and gallantry. The bronze statue of Bamse sits on Wharf Street in Montrose, and it was made by Alan Herriot, a sculptor from Scotland, and unveiled by none other than The Duke of York! And that is not the end! A book was written about this pupper, called Sea Dog Bamse, written by Angus Whitson and Andrew Orr, which became a bestseller!

So, obviously, Bamse was one brave dog! The gentle Saint Bernard is proof that there is hope even in the darkest of times, and that someone as small as a dog can become the symbol of freedom and happiness for the entire nation. And, finally, when you think about your own dog, isn’t your beloved pet your own symbol of happiness? Just like Bamse brought up the morale of his ship’s crew, your own puppy brings up the mood of your entire household, earning their medals each day. Maybe they are not awarded by princes, dukes, and kings, but to your own personal Bamse, you are the king, you are their light and they are yours.