First dog: Picks narrowing?
We've waited in anticipation for more news on the Obama family's pick for the new First Dog.
Now, we finally have some hints.
The New York Times News Service has reported this little nugget:
The Obama family is nearing a decision on a breed for the First Dog. Before President-elect Barack Obama began his interview on the ABC program This Week, which was broadcast Sunday, his daughters -- Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7 -- asked host George Stephanopoulos to slip in this question: "What kind of a dog are we getting, and when are we getting it?" (Good for them. I like these kids. They really know how to keep the heat on a parent.)
When asked, Obama laughed and said, "They seem to have narrowed it down to a Labradoodle (shown above) or a Portuguese water hound."
The next step: Canvass some animal shelters, he said.
"We're closing in on it," the president-elect said. "This has been tougher than finding a commerce secretary" .....
Both breeds, chosen to reduce the impacts of Malia's allergy to dogs, have powerful Democratic backers. Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts owns two Portuguese water dogs, Sunny and Splash, which frequently flank him as he walks through the halls of the Capitol. Vice President-elect Joe Biden meanwhile has a Labradoodle (part Labrador retriever, part poodle) named Brother.
Labradoodles are entirely cute. But so are the Portuguese water hounds. Here's Fernando, a Portuguese water dog puppy who comes to the dog park from time to time:
About the Bloggers
Daily Breeze reporter Donna Littlejohn has shared her homes with a succession of wonderful, funny, and occasionally difficult canines -- Muffin, Fritz, Ellie, Mercy, Pilgrim and now Cowboy, an Australian shepherd-border collie, and Tess, a border collie. From strong-willed terriers to weirdly obsessed Australian shepherds, they've invaded her world with boundless energy, wet noses, muddy paws and soggy tennis balls. But they've really brought so much more than that -- like laughter and joy, some unexpected life lessons, and more than a few tears along the way.
E-mail Donna at donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com.
Josh Grossberg grew up with the usual array of animals: goldfish, dogs, hamsters, parakeets and turtles. He now owns the loudest dog in the South Bay(Video: Rocket the Dog) and is the least popular person on his block. He spends his free time in dog parks, pet shops and always has an extra plastic bag in his pocket just in case. He also has a cat.
E-mail Josh at josh.grossberg@dailybreeze.com.
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