Rescues are the best.

My folks have rescue dogs, unfortunately, my wife won't let me get a dog until I get her a yard.

I do a little volunteer work for one of the local no-kill shelters. I call, write letters and threaten to sue folks who don't get their pets spayed and neutered or who otherwise don't abide with the adoption contract... Harassing folks who treat animals badly can be somewhat cathartic :)

Yeah just about every breed has a rescue organization(s).

I just love doggies :) I see pictures of them on rescue sites, shelter sites, and watch them on the dog shows. I want to take all of them home with me :)

It's amazing this article hit the front page today, but here is the latest on the First Dog...

Then, the country's premier pet shelter, Best Friends Animal
Sanctuary in Utah, launched a Web site to encourage the first family to adopt a dog from a shelter - meaning the Obamas should not buy from a breeder or a pet store that might be stocked by puppy mills. To the shelter's joy, first-lady-to-be Michelle Obama announced on "Entertainment Tonight" that the family would indeed adopt a rescue dog.

But, she said, the dog would not be adopted until spring, after the family has settled in - opening up the possibility of a brouhaha erupting within the first family itself.
http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer...860.xml&coll=2

I think a pug would be a wonderful "first dog"! They are wonderful with children and have such sweet temperments. There is a pug rescue society in almost every state!:)

Re poodles, the standards can actually be pretty butch. :) My ex boss had 2 and they were AWESOME dogs (much too awesome for her, but I digress).

They should definitely be able to find some sort of hypoallergenic dog through a rescue. I do hope they go with a mutt, so there's not the danger of a "breeding fad" that always happens when famous people get pets - everyone wants one of whatever the breed is and it leads to inbreeding and unhealthy doggies.

If it has to be a hypoallergenic dog I vote for a rescue greyhound.

I just read on a rescue site that the Obamas have adopted two black toy poodles, cute as can be.

Excerpt from FOX NEWS:

"In his election victory speech Tuesday night, President-elect Barack Obama promised his two daughters that they'd be moving into the White House with a new puppy. Now the dogosphere is engaged in widespread speculation over the breed of the presidential pooch-to-be.

Or pooches-to-be. The American Kennel Club hopes that the pet will turn out to be a pair of 6-week-old toy poodles, rescued by Flora's Pet Project/Poodle Rescue in Connecticut. First lady-to-be Michelle Obama said in an interview last month that the family was interested in adopting a rescue dog after the election.

The puppies were transported to the AKC's New York offices, where they were to be photographed professionally Thursday in the hopes of catching the Obama family's attention.

"The dogs were in an unfortunate situation and were not being cared for properly," said Marianne Smith, a spokeswoman for the rescue agency. Smith said the puppies were "voluntarily surrendered," but declined to give further details."



"In an online presidential dog poll conducted by the AKC in August, the poodle breed was the top dog among 42,000 respondents. Other contenders were the soft-coated Wheaten Terrier and Bichon Frise.

In a Communispace.com survey of 308 people taken after the election, 25 percent of those polled predicted the Obamas will get a golden retriever; 15 percent said a "pound dog," and 14 percent said a Jack Russell terrier.

Promoting her poodles, AKC spokeswoman Lisa Peterson said: "We hope the Obamas consider the survey results.... This poodle is a breed that doesn't always get the respect it deserves, but it is truly an ideal family pet."

"The poodle is a highly versatile breed," she said. "It's extremely intelligent and easily trained. This dog is going to visit many places, and so you want it to have good manners."

One of the Obamas' daughters suffers from allergies, so poodles -- which do not shed -- would be an ideal choice, Peterson said. The breed's obedient temperament and intelligence also make it a perfect candidate, she said.

In a letter to Obama in September, the AKC offered its assistance in choosing the White House dog and urged the Illinois senator to consider the toy poodle if he were elected. The AKC said it didn't send a letter to John McCain, because the Arizona senator already has 24 pets, including four dogs.

From 1960-1982, the poodle was the number one breed in America. Winston Churchill, Grover Cleveland and Richard Nixon all reportedly owned one.

Past White House breeds include George H. W. Bush's Springer Spaniel "Millie," Ronald Reagan's King Charles Cavalier Spaniel "Rex" and Caroline Kennedy's Welsh Terrier "Charlie." President Clinton's dog "Buddy" was a chocolate lab."

I do have to say that shedding is not the reason why an animal is good for people with allergies. Poodles do in fact shed (just like Chihuahuas and pretty much most other dogs that have hair). The cause of allergies are the amount of dander that comes off of the dog.

Bigger dogs, like a golden retriever, have more dander thus creating more allergies. Poodles, chihuahuas, terriers have less dander and that is what makes them "safer" for people with allergies, even though it isn't a 100% gaurantee.

OK, I thought that poodles did not shed because they have hair (like people) as opposed to fur which is why you have to take them to be groomed (the hair keeps growing like a human's). If you didn't have them groomed their hair would just keep growing, as opposed to something like an Old English Sheepdog that has a coat that can be kept neat with brushing.

I mean, a beagle and a poodle can be the same size and if you've ever been around a beagle you know that they're WAY more "doggy" (i.e. dandery) than a poodle.

I don't know if this has been mentioned, but I think one of Obama's girls is allergic.

I would suggest a MaltePoo :)

One of my aunts had a standard poodle when I was little - we called him "Tony the Pony". All I remember about him was that he kept pushing me down, knocking the wind out of me!

Most of the Bichon Frise groups agree with that, 33. While the bichon is probably the best choice for the Obamas, most rescue organizations hope that they don't get one for exactly that reason. There's one Bichon rescue group who spends over $10,000 monthly to vet bichons from puppy mills and abused dogs! I wouldn't believe it myself, if they didn't include their monthly statement in with their newsletters.

FYI, poodles and bichon frises are NOT related, even though they look as if they might be. I do feel allergic to poodles, but not to bichons.

My dad is allergic to dogs and has had both a poodle and a bichon and had allergic reactions to both of them, I hope the daughter isn't the same way since it would be nice for them to have a puppy :)

All the country needs are more people wanting stupid overpriced "designer" dogs. Go to the pound and get one for a huge fraction of the price.

I think they should get a pit bull and name it "Lipstick."