The First Dog

The Obamas welcomed Bo into the family on Easter Sunday. © White House Photo

Obama family welcomes new member

 

 

By: Nicole Stefano

 On Election night, President Barack Obama told his daughters, Sasha and Malia, “you have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us to the White House.” There had been an ongoing debate about what breed of dog the First Family will call their own. Well they finally came to a decision, a Portuguese Water Dog.

 

On Easter Sunday 2009, the press confirmed that the Obama pup had finally arrived. The First family was given a six month Portuguese Water dog from Senator Ted Kennedy. The Obamas have named the dog, Bo, after blues singer, Bo Diddley. Michelle’s father was also named Bo. The new family member was to make his White House debut on April 14.

 

The Obamas were looking for a dog to rescue that was “old enough” and “a match” for the family, said First Lady Michele Obama. The family said they would bring the new dog into The White House sometime after the girls’ spring break in April.

 

The first lady stated that the family wanted to adopt a rescue dog from a shelter, rather than purchasing an expensive purebread with papers from a private breeder. This caused a lot of excitement and applause from animal activists and shelter representatives.

 

“We are thrilled at the prospect the Obama family will make pet adoption their first option and head to their local animal shelter or rescue group, where there are many extraordinary animals just waiting for a forever home,” says ASPCA president and CEO Ed Sayres.

 

“Rescuing a dog is a great option. When you adopt an animal from a shelter it has already been medically examined and is up to date on it’s shots,” says Camden County Animal Shelter manager, Julie Zammer.

 

“We encourage anyone looking for a new pet to follow (Obama’s) lead and adopt anew loving companion from your local shelter,” Mim Carlson, Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society Executive Director, said in a statement. Adopting senior pets from shelters can help reduce pet overpopulation, the organization said. Mature pets have also already gone through potty-training stages.

 

“I’m pushing for a Portuguese Water Dog,” says Claire McLean, founder of the Presidential Pet Museum, part of Presidents Park in Williamsburg, Va. “They’re very intelligent, have a good reputation, they’re easy to train, and they’re good with kids. And they don’t shed.”

 

So what makes a Portuguese Water Dog the perfect “match” for the Obamas? The AKC breed standard for the Portuguese Water Dog describes it as “an animal of spirited disposition, self-willed, brave, and very resistant to fatigue. A dog of exceptional intelligence and a loyal companion.”AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson said, “One of the great benefits of a purebred dog is predictability – knowing what you are going to get. In the case of someone with allergies this is particularly important, so a Portuguese Water Dog would be a great choice for the Obamas.”

 

The AKC has been trying to help the president make good on his promise to his daughters so they set up a website where more than 42,000 people cast their vote on the right breed of dog for the First Family. The poodle was chosen from a list of five hypoallergenic breeds which well suited the family because Malia suffers from allergies.

 

“We hope the Obamas consider the survey results,” said Peterson before the first family made its choice. “The poodle is a breed that doesn’t always get the respect it deserves, but it is truly an ideal family pet. They are currently the eighth most popular breed in the U.S., according to 2007 AKC registration statistics, and the breed spent more than two decades in the top spot – a true testament to its suitability as a family pet. And while Poodles require frequent grooming, their consistent and predictable coat is crucial for Obama’s daughter and all who suffer from allergies.”

 

During the 1970′s and 1980′s, poodles were the most popular breed in the country, but they were long ago beat by Labrador retrievers.

 

After the choice of breed, the only question that remained was what would they name the new addition? The AKC was also trying to help with this decision. “Lady” is the number one name for females while “Bear” is the top name for males. There are countless websites with polls trying their hardest to assist the family with names.

 

“Oh, the names are really bad. I don’t even want to mention it,” Mrs. Obama says. “I think, Frank was one of them. Frank! Moose was another one of them. I’m like, no, come on, let’s work with the names a little bit. It’s all great and gracious attention. People are just being as helpful as you can imagine. So I know that we will find the perfect breed. And we’ll find people who are caring folks who will help us find the dog of our dreams.”

 

The Obama girls were of course the most excited about the new companion. “One of the things I didn’t anticipate is the level of the excitement about the dog. I knew my kids were excited. They’ve been excited for years. They’ve even calmed down, because they feel like, ‘They said we’re going to get one, so let’s just shut up about it.’”