Guessing is over: It's Bo!
First Family Dog - In a long-awaited and guessed-about move, the Obama family has opened the White House to the new first pet -- a Portuguese water dog named Bo.
APRIL 12: In this handout image released by the White House on April 12, 2009, the first family dog, Bo, a six-month old Portuguese water dog sits in the White House in Washington, DC. Bo is a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and and his wife Victoria to the President's daughters, Sasha and Malia. PETE SOUZA / GETTY IMAGES BY PHILIP ELLIOTT ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON -- Bo? No jest.
The first family dag has settled by the first family -- a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog that the Obama girls are naming Bo.
The selection was one of the White House's most tightly kept secrets.
The first pooch is a gift from Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass, who owns three so-called porties and wanted the Obamas to follow suit.
''We couldn't be happier to see the joy that Bo is bringing to Malia and Sasha,'' Kennedy said in a statement. ``We love our Portuguese water dogs and know that the girls -- and their parents -- will love theirs, too.''
The housebroken puppy, which has been undergoing extensive training in recent weeks, was named ''Charlie'' by his original owners, but first daughters Malia and Sasha rechristened him Bo.
The Washington Post reported in its online editions that Obama's daughters chose the name Bo for the pup because first lady Michelle Obama's father was nicknamed Diddley. The name for the dog was an apparent reference to the singer ''Bo'' Diddley.
Throughout the day Saturday, celebrity websites and bloggers were abuzz with rumors of the first family's selection of a Portuguese water dog; one site even claimed it had pictures of the future first pet.
Obama promised his daughters a puppy during the campaign.
''This is Washington. That was a campaign promise,'' Obama said when he appeared on Jay Leno's talk show last month, as the audience roared with laughter. ``No, I'm teasing. The dog will be there shortly.''
The president and first lady had said their choice was down to either a Portuguese water dog or a Labradoodle because they were considered good pets for children who have allergies, as Malia does.
First Family Dog supplemented with material from the Chicago Tribune. Article pulled from Miami Herald.
First Family Dog posted by David Apperson http://kids.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/first-family-dog
Hear the tribute of Bo Diddley performed by Buddy Hollyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUEKu2nOLCw
Listen to the President's Message of Renewal from the White House -http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/04/11/Weekly-Address-Passover-and-Easter
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Like many others, I believe that the Obama family should first and foremost adopt a dog from a rescue/shelter. Far too many die a lonely death there either by euthanasia because their is no one adopting them, or they get sick from the stress and cramped spaces. Dog breeding (or any animal for that matter) promotes an unrealistic set of standards. Breeders are often irresponsible "backyarders" who cannot offer proper care and have no idea how to breed for good traits. And buying from pet shops promote puppy mills, the very thing I hope this administration can help shut down. There are all sorts of dogs in rescues. Many are purebred, and even hypoallergenic.
So, if the Obamas are looking for a rescued, hypoallergenic pal, they should adopt a Greyhound. Due to the racing industry, many need homes. And many more will soon now that Massachusetts has banned it. They come in all genders, ages, and colors. And they fit the first two requirements. They are great family dogs too!
Not only would it be a great choice for anyone as a pet, but it would show the entire country that adoption is the BEST OPTION! It would also bring attention to the plight of the dogs in the racing industry, and thirdly it would show those with allergies that they too can own a dog! There are no excuses not to open your heart and home to one of these amazing creatures!
President-elect Barack Obama made a now-famous Election Night promise to his daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7: "You've earned that new puppy that is coming with us to the White House."
There's no taking it back now - he said it front of a hundred thousand people in Grant Park, Chicago and hundreds of millions of television viewers worldwide.
Obama's was the first acceptance speech in U.S. history to include the mention of a family pet, though presidential pets certainly have received their share of the limelight. The White House website has an entire section devoted to the pets that have occupied their masters' chambers, and there is even a Presidential Pets Museum in Williamsburg, Va.
There hasn't been a president in residence in the White House in a long, long time who did not own a dog. Not since Woodrow Wilson, in fact.
Most presidential dogs were purebreds - a notable exception was Lyndon Johnson's mixed breed, which he named J. Edgar - but Obama hopes to adopt a "mutt" for his daughters - from a shelter where there are "mutts like me," our 44th president said in his first news conference as president-elect.
Obama disclosed that the family will need to find a "hypoallergenic" dog because his daughter Malia has allergies.
Dr. Jack Boden, veterinarian at Imperial Animal Hospital on St. Thomas, said that dogs that don't shed are the best option for people who suffer from allergies. When a dog sheds, the skin attached to the root of the hair follicle - skin that contains the protein to which some people are allergic - breaks up into small particles that can be breathed in, Boden said.
Frequently brushing the dog is good for both the dog and owner who suffers from allergies because it stimulates oils in the skin to keep the coat shiny and gets rid of fur that would otherwise be spread throughout the house.
"By and large, short-haired dogs with single coats - no undercoat - seem to be the best recommendation for allergy sufferers," said Boden.
Some of the breeds and mixes that are considered hypoallergenic are Chihuahuas - both long-hair and short-hair - Bichon Frisé, Greyhound, Schnauzer, Poodle, Goldendoodle or any Poodle hybrid, Yorkshire, Silky Terrier and any from a long list of non-shedding terriers.
Many websites have emerged to help the Obama family find a dog, including www. obamafamilydog.com, and thousands of people have given opinions on personal blogs and on news websites.
But since the Obamas have stated they would like to get a dog from a shelter, what better place than from one here in the Virgin Islands?
If the Obamas are interested in Chihuahuas, The Humane Society on St. Thomas has three cute little Chihuahua-mix puppies up for adoption. The three are 2-month-old sisters found in the Crown Bay area and brought into the shelter on Oct. 19. All are in good health and have up-to-date shots. Dolly is a short hair mix and has a cream coat with a little touch of white, and Loretta and Reba are both tan with short hair. All three have sweet dispositions, the Humane Society staff say.
On St. Croix, the Animal Welfare Center has more than 100 dogs waiting for adoption, and most are mixed breeds.
Shortly before Election Day, the AWC put two of the mixed breed puppies up for adoption: "Obama," a black and white Crucian mix, and "McCain," a lab-bulldog mix. McCain was adopted the day before the election, but "Obama" is still waiting for a home.
A White House would be nice - big lawn, lots of room to run, two adoring little girls to play fetch with.
"Obama" has qualities of "leadership and and can-do attitude" said Animal Welfare Center's communications director, Gretchen Sherrill.
Other St. Croix shelter puppies that might work for the Obamas are "Sticky," a black terrier mix with longish fur and brown eyes, and "Chrissy," also a terrier mix. "Chrissy" has short tan fur with a white chest and belly and a dark brown face.
"I think it'd be great to have a Crucian in the White House; we'd love for the Virgin Islands to be represented through man's best friend," said Sherrill.
To find out about animals for adoption on St. Croix, call 778-1650, on St. John, call 774-1625 and on St. Thomas, call 775-0599.
First dogs
The dogs that belonged to the presidents of the United States. As Harry Truman said, "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog."
- George Washington: Mopsey, Taster, Cloe, Tipler, Forester, Captain, Lady Rover, Vulcan, Sweetlips and Searcher, all foxhounds.
- Thomas Jefferson: Briards and foxhounds.
- James Monroe: Spaniel.
- John Tyler: Le Beau, a greyhound.
- Abraham Lincoln: Jip and Fido, unknown breeds.
- Ulysses S. Grant: Faithful, a Newfoundland.
- Rutherford B. Hayes: Grim, a greyhound; Duke, an English mastiff; Hector, a Newfoundland; Dot, a terrier.
- Grover Cleveland: Unnamed Japanese poodle.
- Benjamin Harrison: Dash and various dogs of unknown breeds.
- Theodore Roosevelt: Pete, a bull terrier; Sailor Boy, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever; Skip, a mixed breed; Manchu, a Pekingese; Jack and Peter, both terriers.
- Woodrow Wilson: Davie, an Airedale.
- Warden Harding: Laddie Boy, an Airedale; Old Boy, a bulldog.
- Calvin Coolidge: Peter Pan, a terrier; Paul Pry, an Airedale; Rob Roy, a white collie; Prudence Prim, a white collie; Calamity Jane, a Shetland sheepdog; Tiny Tim and Blackberry, both Chow Chows; Ruby Rough, a collie; Boston Beans, a bulldog; King Kole, a German shepherd; Bessie, a collie; and Palo Alto, a setter.
- Herbert Hoover: King Tut, a German shepherd; Big Ben and Sonnie, both fox terriers; Glen, a Scottish collie; Yukonan, an Eski.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt: Fala, a Scottish terrier; Majora, a German shepherd; Meggie, a Scottish terrier; Winks, a Llewellyn setter; Tiny, an English sheepdog; President, a Great Dane; and Blaze, a mastiff.
- Harry S. Truman: Feller, a cocker spaniel; and Mike, an Irish setter.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower: Heidi, a Weimaraner.
- John F. Kennedy: Charlie, a Welsh terrier; Shannan, an Irish cocker spaniel plus their puppies: Blackie, Butterfly, Streaker, and White Tips. Also, Pushinka, a gift from the premier of Russia, who was the daughter of Laika, the first dog in space.
- Lyndon B. Johnson: Him and Her, both beagles; Freckles, their puppy; Blanco, a white collie; Yuki, a mixed breed; J. Edgar, a mixed breed.
- Richard Nixon: Vicky, a poodle; Pasha, a Yorkshire terrier; and King Timahoe, an Irish setter. Checkers, a cocker spaniel, immortalized in a 1952 political speech by vice presidential candidate Nixon, died five years before Nixon was elected president.
- Gerald Ford: Liberty, a golden retriever.
- Jimmy Carter: Grits, a mixed breed.
- Ronald Reagan: Lucky, a Bouvier des Flandres; Rex, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
- George H. W.Bush: Millie*, a springer spaniel; Ranger and Spot, two of Millie's puppies.
- Bill Clinton: Buddy, a Chocolate Labrador.
- George W. Bush: Spot, Millie's daughter, an English springer spaniel; Barney and Mrs. Beasley, Scottish terriers.
* While in the White House, Millie was a busy dog. She "co-authored" a children's story, "Millie's Book," with the help of First Lady Barbara Bush and she gave birth to a litter of six puppies, one of which was Spot, who returned to the White House with President George W. Bush, making Spot the only dog with the distinction of being a second-generation presidential dog.
- Contact reporter Genevieve Ryan at 774-8772 ext. 340 or e-mail gryan@dailynews.vi.
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I think that Obama should get a 2nd or 3rd generation Cockpaoo for his puppy. They are very sweet and the 2nd and 3rd generation ones are very mellow. They can be a little mischevious but overall they are very sweet and great dogs. They are also hypoallergenic!
http://bichonrescue.org/
any breed (non allergic) can be found as a rescue pup....
bison frise is a great breed as are the larger poodles ( my preference!)...they are sweet smart good natured and good with kids. my brother has 2 and two young girls aged 12 and 10. i have a small monster dachshund!
Top Ten ReasonsWhy President-Elect Obama is Like a Greyhound
10. He's elegant.
9. He's lean.
8. He's smart.
7. He listens really well.
6. He knows how to handle a crowd.
5. He surrounds himself with smart people.
4. He loves his family.
3. He looks you in the eye when he talks to you.
2.He's unfailingly polite and well-behaved.
1. He knows how to run a race and win.
The Obama family needs a greyhound in the White House. Thousands are discarded yearly, so this would be a 'shelter' dog, needing rescue. They are perfect for people with allergies. They are quiet and don't bark, so wouldn't interrupt any major decisions being made. They don't shed a lot, so the White House furniture would not be destroyed. They look as gorgeous in public, as the Obama family, and so would fit right in, though Obama may have to budget for the greyhound's clothing. This Greyhound Guide tells more about what they are like as pets. A Washington, DC local greyhound rescue organization can answer questions and more.
I. and others in Greyhound Rescue, know we change the world for the better, one greyhound adopted at a time. We know "we must be the change we want to see" (Gandhi). We know President-Elect Obama is the change we need.
Claudia Presto & Greyhound Gang
Dear Obamas: I hope that you will consider adopting a poodle puppy from a rescue organization.
Here is why:
1. Since you have to be concerned about allergies you may not be able to adopt a dog from a shelter.
2. If you can't adopt a dog from a shelter, then get a dog from a rescue association. All pure bred dogs have rescue associations.
3. Two of the best known breeds of dogs with "hypo-allergenic" coats are poodles and wire fox terriers.(*)
4. Poodles have fallen out of fashion, mainly because people associate them with: silly haircuts, little old ladies, being too girly, and the French. (And people associate all of those things together also but whatever.) However, you can show people why their ideas about poodles are not correct and why they should not be prejudiced against poodles!!***
5. Poodles are much easier dogs to have as pets than terriers.
6. Poodles were originally bred to be guard dogs which means that they make good family dogs. Guard dogs just bark to warn of intruders. They are not mean. In fact they are quite gentle. They are more focused on people (than terriers which are focused on chasing after animals) and they are easier to train. Poodles also make good search and rescue dogs.
7. The standard poodle is a wonderful dog: smart and gentle and loyal and protective. It might be a little big for the girls at this age--although they are growing fast. You are a tall family so you might want a bigger dog. However, the larger the dog, the more dander. (No dog is completely allergy-free.)
8. The minature poodle is a great size. (15-20 lbs.) They have a big dog spirit in a more portable package. They can sit on your lap and you can carry them around. (The smallest size is a toy but that is more of the "little old lady" sized dog).
9. Even though everyone thinks poodles are French they actually originated in Germany. But the French will still be excited if you adopt a poodle because they are very fond of this breed. And the French have not been very happy with our country lately so that is an additional bonus.
10. Poodles are energetic enough for two active girls. Poodles love to play.
11. Poodles are one of the smartest breeds. They are acrobatic and can be trained to do lots of tricks.
12. ***If poodles are "girly" then being "girly" means being smart, and athletic, and affectionate and fun! And adorable. So there!
13. Poodles can be different colors: black, brown, white, golden (apricot), and grey. Just like Americans!!
14. You do not need to trim their hair in the silly frou frou styles that you see in dog shows.
15. When you let poodles' hair grow naturally it is very fuzzy and curly and cute.
16. The great thing about these dogs' coats is not only are they non-allergenic (because they are hair rather than fur) but they don't shed!!
16. To help with allergies keep the dog clean -- use a good non-irritating shampoo -- and feed it a good diet so that you don't have dander -- that is the other problem with allergies.
17. The best thing for allergies is to have poodles professionally trimmed by stripping (it doesn't hurt the dog -- don't worry!) rather than cutting the hair with scissors.
18. DON'T get a labradoodle. A labradoodle is no guarrantee that the dog will have the coat of a poodle. You could end up with the very allergenic and higly shedding coat of a lab. Also these "designer breed" dogs are a marketing hoax (for the very reason that you can't guarantee what a mixed breed will be like) and they have become a breeding fad which has made the problems with puppy mills even worse.
19. (*)I am a wire fox terrier (see my profile picture.) Wire fox and some other terriers also have the poodle kind of non-shedding coat. But terriers are much more independent and fiesty than poodles. My human person doesn't recommend that you get a wire fox terrier because we are notoriously difficulty to train. People who don't understand us think we are insane. People who adore us say that we are highly energetic and have lots of personality.
20. Remember that the dog you pick will become a popular dog in the entire nation. If the first family adopts a dog like a wire fox terrier then this breed will become a fad across the country. Lots of people will adopt us. Then they will discover that we are kind of nutty and they will want to get rid of us. They won't spend the time it takes to train and exercise us. Then they will abandon us to shelters.
21. It is great to support a rescue organization. Very often these are puppies that have been rescued from puppy mills. Rescue organizations will call attention to the problem of puppy mills and that is also a very good thing to do.
22. Here is a picture of cute poodle rescue dog:
http://www.bumperfound.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/xpresso-2.jpg
23. You can also donate to a shelter to show your support for all the wonderful mutts that need homes. Mutts generally are the healthiest dogs you can find. And too many of them need good homes.
24. In the end the most important thing is that the girls should get the dog they love.
Mr. President:
I have suffered with severe dog allergies for 40+ years. Just this year I was treated for my allergies with a non-needleless acupuncture called NAET. I am here to tell you that after those treatments I now have a Goldendoodle named Kenai that is the love of our life. He sits with me, I pet him and he sleeps with us and my allergies are no longer an issue. I hope this information will be helpful to you and Michelle. I never thought I would get to really love an animal like this. Even though doodles are not rescue dogs they are wonderful additions to the family and you can give a donation to a shelter.
Makiah's Bill
NOW, that WE have children in the White House, let's make 'the children' the nation's TOP PRIORITY, as they are in Barack and Michelle's life.
Let's be a part of the integral age, while surfing the agriculture, industrial, information, conceptual, integral, magic and utopian ages. Let's ALL be part of the Dream Team, of playing the ultimate game of life.
Let's get Makiah's Bill on every desktop of every congressman, senator and the President of the United States of America. This is a TOP PRIORITY bill coming from the bottom UP...Let's start the NEW Year, January 20th 2009 with the world's highest priority, the children.
makiah.com
Dear Michelle and Barack, Malia and Sasha:
Please, please adopt TWO "puppy dogs" when your family is ready (maybe brothers, or sisters, or one brother with one sister). Each will have a canine sibling friend, and each of your daughters will have a puppy dog to simultaneously hug, care for, confide in, be comforted by, play with, celebrate, and share.
Two is almost always better than one. The world knows that your family has room in its heart and in its home for TWO puppy dogs (we call our three adult dogs "puppies" because they are permanently innocent, attached, dependent, loyal, cheerful, hopeful, and more. Thank you for opening your doors to at least one dog. It is quite possible there is no greater, no purer, unconditional love than that of a dog for its family. (And most dogs are happier when they are not the ONLY dog in the home.)
Thank you most of all for your glorious campaign and your exemplary dignity, intelligence, and humanity. The world is a better place because of you and your family.
Wow what a great day yesterday was for America. Thank you Barack and Family. You made the USA so proud. I hope you and your family take a nice vacation asap. Now I know you want to get your children a dog. Please take a good look at boxers. There great with children. Again thank you for making the whole world have hope again.
Sincerely,
Wayne
