Obamas’ Dog on Deck?

If you follow politics at all, you know that President Obama is heading overseas this week for  a NATO summit.   Why am I posting the President’s travel plans on a blog dedicated to all things dog?  Well, on his recent appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Obama said his girls’ new puppy would be in place when he returned from the summit.  Could it be that the much awaited puppy has recently been born & is about ready to be weaned and sent to his new home?  Inquiring minds want to know!!!

Until next time,

Good day, and good dog!

Update on the Obamas’ Dog Choices

Apparently, the Obamas have narrowed their choices for a new first dog to either a Labradoodle (shown above, on the chair) or a Portuguese Water Dog (shown above, on the lawn). 

Everyone has an opinion on which they should choose.  Even Senator Edward Kennedy, who lives with three Portuguese water dogs, released a statement advocating the breed after President-elect Obama announced his family had narrowed its choice down to just two breeds.

Many people have expressed concern that neither of these breeds is likely to be found in a shelter.  Not so for Labradoodles, says Stephanie Shain, of the Humane Society of the United States.  “Sadly, every time (and I mean EVERY time) we see a kind of dog become suddenly popular we see a huge growth in the production of those animals in puppy mills (mass breeding operations – awful places), a huge increase in the number of people buying them, and a spike in the number of that kind of dog in shelters and resuces.

 

It happened decades ago to Cocker Spaniels (circa lady and the Tramp) and more recently with Dalmatians (101 of course).

 

Labradoodles came on the scene a few years ago. Shelters are likely to classify them as a “poodle mix”, not necessarily a “Labradoodle”, although some will mark them as such.

 

They are out there in need of homes…loads of them. ”

See the rest of Ms. Shain’s comments here, in a transcript of an online public chat held on January 15th. 

And don’t forget to vote for name here.

Until next time,

Good day, and good dog!

A plea for the Obamas to adopt a shelter dog

I received the following e-mail from blog reader Cynthia Sharpley.  Love the term “mutt-i-gree”.

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Saturday Survey: Name the First Dog

As promised, we have closed the survey we used as the initial phase of voting on a name for the Obama family’s soon-to-be-adopted dog.  Below are the top five answers from the survey, and we need your votes to find the winner!  Thanks to all who submitted ideas.

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The Importance of a Presidential Puppy

From MSNBC blogger Helen A. S. Popkin:  More on the Obama’s dog choice

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The Obama’s Dog

OK, the economy is tanking and we have two wars going on, but it seems everyone is more interested in which dog the Obamas will take to the White House.  The news today includes an article from allergists, asserting that there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog.   And, different breeders are offering potential dogs to the First Family-elect.

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More Dog-Related Political News

Michelle Obama recently announced that the family plans on adopting a rescue dog once their lives settle down after the election.  We have previously blogged about the fact that the McCains live with a houseful of pets, while the Obamas have none.  They had considered getting a Golden Doodle because one of their daughters suffers from allergies. 

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