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
The Pickens Plan: For those who would like to become an active participant in a solution for our nations energy needs I urge you to join with T.Boone Pickens in his quest for a cleaner planet through alternative energy.
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Call 949.645.1701 for information on how Green Wave Energy can help you save the planet.
Alternative EnergySource: David Apperson
url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy
We need and want your support. You can see Cartoon Matilda's political message at toonecards.com . We encourage you to send out the message to all your friends and family. You can also get a campaign button.
http://www.adoptapet.com/cgi-bin/public/petsearch.cgi/pet_details?pet_id=1811113
Ahimsa Rescue Foundation
Breed: Poodle (Miniature) / Labrador Retriever Mix
THERE IS A SOLUTION TO FINDING AN ALLERGY-FREE PUPPY THAT IS IN NEED OF RESCUE!
It is called pure-bred rescue. In Michigan (and probably in many other states) there are pure-bred rescue assocations for nearly every kind of AKC dog classification. These are puppies/dogs that have usually been well cared for. Typically the owner has passed away, had to move into an assisted living situation or other life-changing event that prevents them from keeping their dog.
While most are at least a year old, it is possible to find puppies. In fact, we adopted a four-month-old puppy from Poodle Rescue many years ago - in our minds the greatest dog ever :)
Probably the best allergy-free breed is the Poodle. They are smart, friendly, great with children and as loveable as can be. Plus, they come in all sized from teacup to toy to mini to standard. We have adopted two pure-bred rescue poodles in Michigan with great success.
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!
Yorkies can, and often do, SMILE. Just like people :)
Yorkies are very protective and make good "alarm dogs".
Yorkies are loving lap dogs - they love being in your lap.
Yorkies as show dogs have very very long hair, but; we keep ours clipped to 1/2-to-2-inches.
Yorkies love toys - lots of them.
Yorkies love to play tug-of-war.
Yorkies love to play fetch.
Yorkies who are loved, think they are people too....
Dear Mr. President-
Yorkshire Terrier is your very best choice for a puppy. They have NO UNDERCOAT and they DO NOT SHED. They are ENERGETIC, LOVING, SMART and LOYAL. We have 3, and they are full fledged members of our family. Yorkies are small dogs, average is about 7-pounds. If the girls have alergies, it is highly unlikely that Yorkies will cause them to react adversely.
Very sincerely,
Roger K Mukai
P.S. It was an honor to listen to you speak in my home town of Leesburg, VA!
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.
I am a proud mother to Eva, who is an 8 year old living in Beaverton, Oregon.
She is determined to give Obama a puppy for his girls! She has painted him a picture, emailed his brother in law at Oregon State with photos, and even made a short video! She thinks that Obama would love her cream colored puppy, and his girls would too!
We have helped raise these puppies, that are now 10 weeks old. They are a lab-poodle mix, and are hypoallergenic. They are calm, gentle, smart, and come from a line of service dogs. They will be between 30-40 lbs. full grown. They have soft, silky fur, and are nearly potty trained. My husband has had bad allergies, and he is not affected by them at all. Eva wants to bring the puppy to the White House, as a present to the Obamas.
Eva would love to email photos of the picture she painted of her, Obama, and the puppy. And also photos of the puppy! How do we do this?
Email us at reneeb@theguidancegroup.com
Thank you!
It feels like the whole world is smiling at us. I get goose bumps when I say "President Obama" to myself.
I have voted in every election for the Presidency since I was old enough to vote. But this year, because I lost my house to foreclosure in Florida, I'm living in Indiana. Ruby Red Indiana. I didn't try to register to vote here because all of the red tape I encountered when I tried to get an Indiana Driver's License. I was still registered to vote in Florida, but I haven't lived there in 2 years. When the absentee ballot packet arrived from Florida, I didn't open it. It seemed wrong, and I didn't want anything to taint Sen. Obama's election.
I had no idea that I would feel so strongly about the 2008 election until after the DNC. I was inspired, but felt helpless because I couldn't vote. Being involved with the Campaign through this website probably saved me from having a nervous breakdown. Every time I got tired of making calls, I remembered how I felt after the 2000 Election when I lived in Broward County, Florida. And, again how I felt after the 2004 Election.
I ended up making nearly 900 phone calls for the Obama Campaign. I went out and put up stickers, and put a sign in our yard. We live right next door to a Polling Location. I made calls for nearly 7 hours on one day. Making the calls made me feel anxious. I had never worked with a campaign, only voted. I ended up catching the flu. Still I persisted because I didn't want to be left with the feeling that, by not voting, I lost the election for Sen. Obama. I made calls in Indiana, Virginia, Ohio and Colorado. Not Missouri. Privately, I like to think that Obama won in the 4 States where I made calls through sheer force of my will.
The most difficult part of the Campaign, for me, was the day of the election. My heart was pounding all day and night. I felt like I was waiting for the jury to come back. I will never forget seeing all of the people celebrating in the park with President-Elect Obama. The people, crying openly, with boundless emotion. I wish I had been there.
I could not relax -- I wanted to see who won Indiana. As the night wore on, I got the sick feeling that Indiana was just too Red, and that McCain would win by a small margin. When I woke up on Wednesday, I raced to the TV to see the final results. Still Indiana had not been called. I was glued to the television set all day, until, WE WON! Even 3 days later, I'm living in a haze. What do I do now? I'll recover eventually. I'm looking forward to the Inauguration and to the day when the Obama family moves in to the White House. My vote for the new puppy's name [if it's a boy] is "Buster."
Congratulations Senator, soon to be President, Obama!
Congratulations Senator, soon to be VP, Biden!
I hope funnypeople like me will occasionally lighten that
heavy load on your shoulders over the next 50 months (or more).
I voted by mail this year and hope others will do the same in future elections.
It's so convient. The downside is it eliminates excuses for NOT voting.
Good luck with the new puppy.
Be well,
-Tuba
The Obama's are getting a puppy!
Check this blog:
http://web.me.com/thefirsthound/Site/Blog/Blog.html
