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!