Is Greyfriars Bobby the most visited statue in Edinburgh? We think so! The little Skye terrier sits just across from Greyfriars Kirk where legend says he stood vigil for his dead master for 14 years.

Bobby was already a legend in his own lifetime. While he undertook his vigil, he also visited nearby Traill’s coffee house for his lunch, supposedly trained to respond to the One O’Clock Gun at the Castle. Visitors to the city learned about Bobby’s story and others came to witness his loyalty.

Bobby died in 1872, with the statue by William Brodie being installed a year later thanks to the generosity of Baroness Burdett-Coutts, a philanthropist and animal lover. The memorial originally included a public water fountain, the remains of which can be seen underneath the statue.

From the mid-1800s onwards, attitudes changed towards dogs, which had previously been viewed as part of a working household rather than cherished family members. Embracing dogs as pets led to a growing interest in sentimental stories of doggy devotion, and Bobby stood out as one of the most devoted of all.

In recent years, a tradition of rubbing Bobby’s nose for good luck has sprung up, which is affecting his statue badly. We’re encouraging tour guides and visitors to remind others to show their devotion without touching the statue.