Obama family picks Portuguese water dog

[Hepburn]

It's official. The Obama family will be getting a dog in April. The much-anticipated announcement came from Michelle Obama during an interview with People magazine.

The first lady told the magazine the family will be getting a rescue Portuguese water dog who is "old enough and a match for the family dynamic".

Obama said the presidential pooch will arrive at the White House in April after daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, return from spring holiday.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/deadlineusa/2009/feb/25/obama-family-portuguese-water-dog

:loveya: I am so glad for the girls!

[ddeclue]

1. Most people take less time and effort to buy a car than this dog has taken.

Just go to the pound and pick out the first one that you take a liking to!

:eyes:

[skeewee08]

2. I believe one of his daughters has allergies, so that is what took so long.

[ddeclue]

6. OK then:

they should have gone to Toys R Us and gotten THIS dog:



:rofl:

[Rhiannon12866]

31. Awww. That's very cute,

but there's nothing like the real thing, coming from a kid who had dozens of stuffed animals, but then we got a puppy. And you can still have pets even if you have allergies. It just has to be one that doesn't affect the little girl adversely. :-)

I'm allergic to cats, always have been, but I've had three. Then I learned from my vet that the reason that my long-haired cat could sleep on my pillow without affecting me is that long and short-haired cats have different dander, and I'm apparently not allergic to long-haired cats. Who knew? :shrug:

BTW, here's my little "wild man," a Brussels Griffon, doesn't shed much, but they can be one-person dogs and are not the best breed for young children because they're so small... :loveya:

Jack:

[ddeclue]

44. I actually know someone who has one of these...

She loves the little doggies, schnauzers, dauschunds, etc.

She runs a rescue and has 9 dogs right now.

[Rhiannon12866]

48. That's very cool. Kudos to your friend. I have friends in rescue and they're amazing people...

Brussels Griffons are very unusual, can't count the number of times someone's asked me "what kind of dog is that?" LOL. :D

I adopt senior dogs from rescue, with the exception of Jack, who found me at five months. He's two now, was called "the wild man" in rescue. Now I know why I adopt senior dogs... ;)

The dogs in my sig are my dogs, Meneken and Jack, never imagined that I'd actually have two, have only seen one other in real life. Meneken turned me into a little dog person. I called about an eight-year-old cocker spaniel, but ended up with a nine-year-old Brussels Griffon, my baby, was such a good pup that I took him everywhere with me. I lost him last year... ;(

Meneken:loveya:

[karynnj]

25. That and they've been pretty busy this last year

:)

[XemaSab]

3. To be fair, they needed a hypoallergenic dog

:shrug:

[Hepburn]

4. Probably would have been easier if the oldest daughter...

...was NOT allergic to dogs. Makes it a bit more difficult.

[high density]

7. I think they were making sure the dog had paid its taxes.

Too much embarrassment already in this department.

[ddeclue]

8. They needed a dog with a security clearance from the FBI?

:rofl:



These guys have already had "background checks"...

:rofl:

[EmilyAnne]

18. Oh good grief. Yeah, the Obamas are just such assholes.

[moriah]

23. I'm just glad they realized that just because you want a purebred....

... doesn't mean you have to buy it from a breeder.

There are so many purebred animals in shelters that are truly great friends. *hugs her ">Ninja kitty* We adopted him from a shelter.

Petfinder is also a great place to look if you are just wanting to see a few of the animals available at your local shelters. And who knows, if you go to pick up your new pet to discover that you may not be that compatible, there will very likely be another furry friend in need who you bond with better.

[Norrin Radd]

5. Cats rule, dogs drool.

j/k

[Hepburn]

11. Ummmmmmm.....

....my Scottie just read that and she is PISSED!

:hi:

[ddeclue]

12. I like them both but cats are cooler...

:rofl:

[Hepburn]

14. I wouldn't know cuz...

...I am allergic to cats! <Haaaaaaaaa - chooooooo>

[Norrin Radd]

45. Cute pic.

[Median Democrat]

9. Arrgghhh! He Should Have Chose A Corgi! A Portuguese water dog?

A Portuguese water dog? I thought Obama was Hawaiian. Hasn't he listened to Frank Lima. Yet, he chooses a Portuguese water dog.

He should have chose a Corgi.

<>

[Flying Dream Blues]

24. I had no idea Corgis were

Hawaiian.

:silly:

[Hieronymus]

27. Corgi's shed terribly .. a problem for the daughter with allergies.

[rucky]

10. Great choice.

But does the White House have a pond?

[Hepburn]

13. No, but there is a reflecting pool in front of the Washington Monument...

...:evilgrin:

[elocs]

15. ABC News just said that was Michelle's choice and that there are 4 votes in the family.

It's not over till it's over.

[Jackeens]

16. Shit, this could be Coleman/Franken all over again.

[elocs]

17. Was/is there an actual decision date on what kind of dog they will choose? n/t

[Rhiannon12866]

29. Heard this on MSNBC too, that Michelle is just one of four votes...

Also, that the little girls would be doing the "pooper scooping," while Bush*s dog had "people" to do that. (Talk about a bizarre job! Wonder what the qualifications are... LOL.) :crazy:

They quoted a conversation between Michelle and Sasha, that the youngest insisted on April 1st (guess April means as soon as it gets here, to her... :D ) But Michelle said that they have to wait until after Spring vacation to get the dog, since it would be wrong to get a dog and then leave him/her for a week. Wise woman and a great role model for the girls... :-)

[BlooInBloo]

19. Haircut much?

:rofl:

[FailureToCommunicate]

20. M$M wails "Why can't Obama close the deal?!?" Now, the Jindals. What kind of

pet are THEY considering? THAT'S what America REALLY wants to discuss... (At least DU...)

[bread_and_roses]

21. I'm just glad they chose a rescue

- too bad it couldn't' be a mutt, but with the allergy situation that wasn't going to be feasible. But good for them for setting a good example via rescue.

[Hepburn]

22. I agree....

...I have friends with two daughters and the dad is allergic to dogs. So, they, too had to choose very carefully. I believe they have a Labradoodle or a Goldendoodle. And, like the Obamas, it took a long time to find what they could have and wanted in one dog.

[Raine]

26. SWEET

I'm so happy for the girls! :bounce:

[BreweryYardRat]

28. That is one HAIRY fuckin' dog.

Goddamn, that's almost hairier than an Old English Sheepdog!

[OnyxCollie]

30. My friend has three week old PWD puppies.

Ready for adoption in April.

[Rhythm]

32. OMG the cute! I'm DYING here...

*thunks over dead*

[Hepburn]

34. Don't cha just wanna reach into one of those pictures and...

...give one of those darlings a loving! :hi:

[Rhythm]

36. I'd have more dogs if we had a bigger place and more resources.

As it is, as soon as we can find somewhere bigger to move into, Toby (our 3 1/2 yr old Goldie) will be getting a playmate.

[Hepburn]

39. I did Scottie Rescue when I had a large home and a yard.

Not many Scotties around...except where I lived. The park down the street was literally Scottie Town. LOL! People would kind of look and then figure out that the park looked different because of the wee four-legged lasses and lassies running about!

Good for you on doing rescue. I absolutely ADORE and LOVE dogs. I am totally crazy about them and if I were not so old and had a bit more yard I most likely would be doing rescue again. However, I have down sized and it would not be fair to doggies to have them in the small yard I now have. Quite adequate for my one Scottie, Maggie, but not for any more than one. So, I know how you feel.

:hi:

[Hepburn]

33. OMG.........

......I love puppies!!!!!!! :loveya:

Thanks for the pictures!

[Hepburn]

35. Here is a black and white darlin' PWD that is a bit older....

...

Cute as hell, IMO!

[Norrin Radd]

46. Cuteness overload.

[Rhiannon12866]

37. I heard on KO that Ted Kennedy suggested the breed to Mrs. Obama on inauguration day.

He has two... :-) :hi:

[Hepburn]

40. Oh, so cute. The doggies look like 4-legged Teddy Bears! n/t

[Rhiannon12866]

41. They are adorable.

I'd enjoy it if they got one of these dogs. It would be fun for all of us... :D :hi:

[Hepburn]

42. I like your doggie pal in your signature....

...very cute! :hi:

[Rhiannon12866]

47. Thanks! Those are my dogs but they are two, Brussels Griffons, both rescue.

Meneken is the one winking and sticking his tongue out and Jack is the blinking one, LOL. :D :hi:

Meneken:loveya:



Jack:loveya:

[Jennicut]

50. Awww, Teddy's dogs are so cute.

Seems like a great breed for those suffering with allergies.

[roody]

38. PWDs are good for the economy. Keeps dog groomers working.

[yy4me]

49. I have a friend who has two of them. She tells me that they are

very smart but very labor intensive. She keeps a spotless house and would like the dogs to always look clean and groomed too. Not possible. The Obama's are going to need a full time groomer just to keep them looking presidential.

[Withywindle]

43. D'awwww, so cute!

And that looks like a real run-around-and-play kind of dog. Smart and active.

Water dog, eh? Is there a swimming pool at the WH? (I'm thinking of the German Shepherd I had as a kid who loved my grandparents' swimming pool more than life itself. My dad takes credit for teaching me to swim, but it was really the dog. :D)