by Rebecca Cole
Labradoodle lovers, take heart.
After months of speculation, it appeared that the selection of a first dog was at hand. People magazine, with a fetching report on its Website today, revealed that First Lady Michelle Obama has narrowed the family's choice to a rescued Portuguese water dog. All that stands in the way now is Spring break - then comes a dog in April.
"You're getting some scoops here,'' the first lady told the magazine, People reported, and "the only thing still up in the air is the name."
But is the magazine barking up the wrong tree?
The first lady's press secretary, Katie Lelyveld, threw cold water on the report today, suggesting that a decision actually has not been made.
"They have not selected a breed," Lelyveld said. "Mrs. Obama likes the Portuguese water dog, but she is only one of four votes.''
The Obamas have not narrowed the search down to a particular breed, the spokeswoman said, but "their primary focus now is that they get a dog that works with their lifestyle." President Barack Obama had allowed in an earlier interview that the family had narrowed its search to the water dog or a Labradoodle, not a breed really, but a cross between a Labrador retriever and the Standard poodle.
(First Lady Michelle Obama may grace the cover of People magazine, with the story of the dog hunt, but President Barack Obama is featured on the cover of LA Tails, a complimentary magazine for pet lovers which dedicated a recent edition to rescue puppies.)
If the Obamas do decide on a Portuguese water dog, that might be difficult, says Mary Harkins, coordinator of rescue and relocation for the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America. A very active breed, some Portuguese water dogs "are without an off-switch - they just go all day," Harkins explains. "It might be a little bit too much for a family who has never owned a dog before, especially this family."
The No. 1 reason that Portuguese water dogs are rescued, Harkins says, is because owners who bought them as puppies didn't realize their prodigious activity levels.
Intelligent and a strong swimmer, historically used as a net-tending working dog by Portuguese fishermen, the PWD was taught to dive underwater and herd fish into nets. The relatively obscure breed is described by the American Kennel Club as providing an "indelible impression of strength, spirit, and soundness."
Finding a rescue PWD may be tough: Last year, only five PWDs were rescued , she says, and she already has a long waiting list.
"It's pretty difficult," Harkin says. "We're not that big of a breed that we would see a lot of dogs."
Comments
The Obamas can adopt me and I'll find them a wonderful dog from a shelter. Pronto.
Posted by: Taffy | February 25, 2009 5:06 PM
Pet Friendly?
Ripping an animal away from it's mother only to be raised by another species, and probably put into stupid sweaters and other clothing. And this is pet friendly? Where is PETA when one needs them.
Posted by: BDD | February 25, 2009 5:13 PM
I wonder f they are vetting all the dogs and checking their past tax returns.
Posted by: Gene | February 25, 2009 5:26 PM
The Chicago Obune sure spends a lot of time on if the Obamas will ge that doggie in the window. Another example of the paper becoming a journalistic joke.
Posted by: John D | February 25, 2009 5:48 PM
Glad to hear that there is still HOPE! VOTE LABRADOODLE!
www.labradoodlesforobama.com
Posted by: ARBO | February 25, 2009 6:06 PM
Michelle may be "only one of four votes," but at the White House as in most houses, I'm betting Momma's vote is HEAVILY weighted -- President or no President.
Posted by: Kurt | February 25, 2009 6:10 PM
"
Pet Friendly?
Ripping an animal away from it's mother only to be raised by another species, and probably put into stupid sweaters and other clothing. And this is pet friendly? Where is PETA when one needs them."
Relax BDD - there was no hint that they plan to actually eat the dog.
Posted by: Hank | February 25, 2009 6:26 PM
We labradoodles are smart enough to be in the CIA!
Posted by: Bocker the Labradoodle | February 25, 2009 8:13 PM
I would run with the Obama's in which way they i could if they would let me in. I"m kind of traped down here. Just give me a ticket to the way out. But no laBRAdoodles. Thank you
Posted by: Raven | February 25, 2009 8:14 PM
"the only thing still up in the air is the name."
It's gotta be Joe the Mutt.
Posted by: Flo | February 25, 2009 8:17 PM
You mean to say the media still
considers this a story.
Who cares? It's less than trivial.
Posted by: Billy Bob | February 25, 2009 8:21 PM
So the result will be that there won't BE a rescue dog, because they have to have the "it" breed -- which they have to have because Teddy Kennedy has one.
Posted by: Liz | February 25, 2009 8:23 PM
The Water Dog is OK- they just are not very Cute.
How about a Bichon- fantastic, friendly and the girls can cuddle up at night in their beds with the dog.. They are between 10- 20 lbs. Perfect size.
I know the Pres. wants a bigger dog- its a thing for some men- not all - Thankfully!!
But its for them. Go with the Cutest--- BICHON FRISE!!!
Posted by: Cat | February 25, 2009 8:29 PM
I think M's vote is more equal than the others when it comes to pets.
Prima inter pares, one might conjecture.
Anyway, as a rescuer of rescue dogs for 30 years, I'm glad they found a rescue dog of the breed they wanted.
Posted by: ornery | February 25, 2009 8:33 PM
PWDs are the best! We love ours! Our PWD had a longer than average puppyhood but now she is pefectly happy relaxing on the sofa with us. She loves to be with us, she is great with our grandbaby, and she is so funny! Whoever says that PWDs are not cute have surely never seen our PWD!
Posted by: Barbara | February 25, 2009 9:56 PM
If they had really wanted a dog, they would have had one before now. There has almost always been a dog in the white house. Seems to me that a dog for them will be simply window dressing and not a valued member of the family. At least what ever dog they do get will have lots of good HIRED care even if it will only be trotted out with the president for photo ops.
Posted by: lacey | February 26, 2009 7:28 AM
There's always HOPE! Cartoon Matilda (a Labradoodle) has been campaigning since Dec 1st for 1st dog. Help her persuade the Obama's to pick the Labradoodle by sending out her plea to the President to everyone you know! You can see it at toonecards.com. Wags & Licks
Posted by: Matilda 1st Dog | February 26, 2009 10:13 AM
The adoption of any dog with the temperament and characteristics appropriate to a high profile family such as the Obamas will always be the "right" choice because it involves the compassionate rescuing of an animal in need of a loving home.
However, choosing to rescue a mixed breed dog such as the Labradoodle might be quite symbolic given that our President himself is both a biracial and bipartisan leader!
Posted by: Animal Lover | February 26, 2009 4:15 PM
Join Matilda, Arbo and Bocker for the Million Doodle March on Sunday March 29th. Labradoodles were bred to be service dogs, so let these three serve the Country! Join the facebook cause Million Doodle March!
Posted by: Matilda 1st Dog | March 4, 2009 8:39 AM
The Portuguese Water Dog are wonderful pets, their curly hairs are so handsome and they are good for allergic people. A good choice for the Obama family, now some questions remain: male or female, how will they call it?
Posted by: Obama dogo | March 13, 2009 11:51 AM
A Labradoodle is a mutt and comes in three types of coats: Hair, fleece and wool. The real Matilda is often mistaken for a PWD. Did you know that black dogs are discriminated against? If the Obama's choose a black Labradoodle (from a shelter) they get the best of both worlds. Labradoodles were bred to be service dogs. That's why Matilda 1st dog joined paws with Bocker and Arbo to create the Million Doodle March to help promote the Labradoodle as a service dog with their work with autistic children. Paws for the cause!
Posted by: Matilda 1st dog | March 17, 2009 1:30 PM
Some of the questions that will be raised about the First Dog are serious. The ways in which the Obamas deal with the following issues are sure to send important messages about responsible care to those homes that already contain America's 60 million dogs.
* Considering the pet food debacle, what will the First Dog eat? Organic pet food? Wheat and corn-free? Vegetarian? What brands?
* Will the snow and ice-melting products used on the White House sidewalks be pet-safe?
* Does everybody know not to use cocoa mulch on the Rose Garden?
* Who is in charge of patrolling the premises so plants and foods that are toxic to dogs - grapes, raisons, chocolate, onions, artificially sweetened products -- aren't at drooling-mouth level?
* Where will the Obama dog sleep at night? In the bedroom with the children or in a crate somewhere else? Will it be the right size crate?
* Are the Obamas using biodegradable poop bags? It might sound like a funny question but savvy environmentalists will want to know.
Then, there will be fodder for comedians and national news segments:
* Who will train the most famous dog in the world not to bite reporters or will that lesson be discreetly skipped?
* Will the dog have a Secret Service code name? What should it be?
* Will the dog sport a diamond-studded collar and sleep on a $500 dollar doggie bed as befits its celebrity status?
* When the Obama children have sleepovers, will friends bring their canines for doggie night out?
* What famous person or figure from history will the dog dress as for Halloween?
* Who will be the official White House doggie photographer?
* Which dog toys will grace the gleaming and carpeted floors and new playground?
* Does the dog's name have ethnic or historical origins? Does it more creatively top previous First Dog names such as Spot, Buddy, Millie, Lucky, Grits, Liberty, Checkers, Him and Her, Feller, Heidi, Duke, Pushinka, and King Tut?
Posted by: Allen and Linda Anderson | March 17, 2009 9:28 PM