What kind of dog should Barack Obama buy for his daughters??

[Kevlar281]

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

[honeychile]

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."

[epchick]

Originally Posted by honeychile

One of the Obamas' daughters suffers from allergies, so poodles -- which do not shed -- would be an ideal choice, Peterson said.

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.

[33girl]

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.

[texas*princess]

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

I would suggest a MaltePoo

[epchick]

Originally Posted by 33girl

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).

That is what I was always told. I had a poodle from the ages of 6 until I was almost 18. I do know the hair was always softer compared to other dogs, but I do know that my poodle used to shed, although it was very little.


I was also told that chihuahua's have hair like people as well, but shoot my 3 year old Chihuahua sheds more than any cat I know.

[sceniczip]

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