With all the talk of the expectations of this President-elect, I think things like this just remind us he is HUMAN and his family is real. Not some magazine cover.

And personally, I want a puppy too. But I've wanted that before Obama even declared. It's just a really nice excuse for me to start lobbying my family...again.

Politics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain

I think with all that the country has been through.  We need to focus on the positiveness of a puppy.     

I hope he gets a basset from a shelter. The kids would enjoy it more when it was young because they're so playful at a young age, and then he and Michelle would enjoy it as it got older.

Janet + http://fuzzypinkslippers.com = love

http://urban-sunrise.net - a blog for 18-35 year olds

I've spent some time pondering this.

Now, I agree that an older shelter dog would be a more practical option, but as we know politicians are generally held to account these days for going back on their word.  Rather than be accused of waffling, they will have to choose a puppy, because that is what he said.  We don't want to be watching an ad in 2012 in which we're shown footage of Barack Obama saying "puppy" super-imposed on the image of an 8 year old rescue dog, do we?  Anyway, they'll have plenty of help.

I think a rescue puppy is definitely the way to go, though.  Maybe he'll choose a pitbull, to dispell the myth that America is not ready for a pitbull in the whitehouse.  That might prove inspirational.

Tacoma Mama

I'm good. :)

- Maria

http://immoralmatriarch.com

Way back in the primaries, they talked about how one of the Obama's is allergic to dog dander, if i am remembering correctly. So, I nominate those little white puffy Bichon Frise. I know a few people with them, and they are some of the sweetest little dogs.

First off, I want to clearly say that I am sure the Obamas will do their due diligence and choose a dog that is the right fit for their family. They are smart, thoughtful people who clearly understand both their responsibilities as public figures and parents.

However, not everyone does, which is why dogs end up in rescue. And people don't always breed responsibly or neuter their animals when they should, which is why we end up with mixed breed accidents. Which often end up in shelters.

I have been breeding and showing Scottish Terriers for more than 10 years. Here are some things every family considering adding a dog to their household should consider.

What's your lifestyle? How active is your family? What's your living situation?  Do you have other pets? Allergies? Do you intend to travel with your pet? How often are you willing to exercise your dog? And so on. 

Most breeds were developed to do specific work, and their behaviors are related to their work. Herding dogs herd. Sheep. People. Other pets. Many of the terrier breeds are earth dogs; their job is to get the badger or rat out of the hole for the farmer. Sporting dogs and hounds have jobs related to the hunt. Retrievers retriever, scent hounds track and so forth. This is one of the reasons why a purebred dog is a far more predictable choice than a mixed breed. Understanding what the dog was bred to do will help you understand its behaviors, and whether those behaviors fit your family and your lifestyle.

If you decide to purchase a purebred dog, don't buy it at a pet store. Look for a reputable breeder. The American Kennel Club, your local all-breed clubs and national breed clubs are great resources for breeder referrals. National and regional breed clubs are also where you should start if you would like to rescue an older dog of a particular breed. 

If you decide to adopt from a shelter, find out what breeds are in the mix. That will give you some clues as to possible behavior and potential adult size of your dog. All puppies are a similar size. Adult dogs on the other hand.....

But it's not as clear-cut as with a purebred. Each parent contributes 50% of the genetic material,but there's no way to know which 50%. That's why you'll often see so much variety in a mixed litter. It's also one reason why I personally am not crazy about the designer breeds like golden doodles or cockapoos etc. Even if you get something tremendously wonderful, the odds are pretty slim that you can reproduce it. Sure you could get the best of both breeds. You could also get the worst, including any genetic defects or health issues. 

The responsible breeder is always trying to improve the conformation of our chosen breed. To breed puppies that are excellent specimens of the standard and perfectly suited to do their work. That's what dog shows are all about. 

 I could go on and on. Anyone who is interested in more info, feel free to contact me directly. 

 I hope they select a puppy whose every move holds hope, grace, happiness and the shot of why-not-now that marks the Obama leadership style.  

A Golden Retriever 

Mine is unavailable for the job, however. I'm a patriot and a supporter, but the doggone dog is mine. 

Deb
www.debontherocks.com blog
www.3smartgirlz.com

Massachusetts just banned greyhound racing (it was one of the questions on the ballot), so the Obamas should consider adopting a former racer. They are very sweet dogs.

http://apostrophecatastrophes.blogspot.com

This was such an uplifting post, I signed up here just so I could comment!

Thanks for the lightness and fun.

we narrowed the choices down to

Great Pyrenees (would be a great patroller of White House grounds)

Corgi (good enough for the Queen)

Irish Wolfhound (another fierce protector of his/her charges

We did agree that it's name had to be Maverick LOL

I love that President-Elect Obama put this in the speech; yes, it absolutely shows us that he is a man and a parent as well as the leader of our country. Plus I'm a dog-lover, so mention of pooches will always warm my heart.

And I echo other commenters--*please* adopt from a shelter, and do consider an older dog since they are the hardest to adopt out. Supporting puppy mills is *not* the way to begin the presidency, but bringing a dog who has little hope into the White House?

Now that's the American (Doggie) Dream!

--

Michelle Fabio, Esq.

Bleeding Espresso

About.com Guide to Law School

Italy Magazine Guarda! columnist

I just want to make sure that people understand that there are many responsible breeders throughout the world who are devoted to their chosen breeds. We are not puppy mills.

When you decide to get a dog, you have three good choices:

1. a responsible breeder of your chosen breed
2. a breed rescue group
3. your local animal shelter.

The only bad choice is to buy your puppy at the pet store. When you buy at a pet store, you are most certainly supporting the commercial puppy mills.

Thanks.

I own a rescued Bichon. They are hypoallergenic, and are forever puppies, in that they are joyous l'il pooches. My Bichon was 5 when I adopted her, and housebroken. Bichons can also live as long as 20 years. They are incredibly charming. Even though i thought I would get a big dog, this one caught my heart. But any rescue dog would be just fine.

~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool

This topic of conversation has made it's rounds even through the mommies at my daughter's preschool!

Having made it through our first year of "puppy" recently, I know the struggles that a young dog - no matter where it comes from, reputable and safe breeder, pet store OR shelter - are momumental.  Hence, I concur with the commenters who suggested the Obama Family look into getting an older, not geriatric - just older than 2, shelter dog.

As far as breed goes?  They need to do their research!  I think a Cavalier King Charles would be suitable - as they were originally bred to sit at the feet of kings and queens - and I understand their older daughter has some allergies to pet dander, so they will need to take that into consideration too.

I'm not too worried about it, I have confidence they'll make a good decision and I hope it brings their adorable girls much love and joy!

Stop Screaming I'm Driving!

Michelle -- I didn't take offense at all, but thank you for your comment. I agree, there is more than one bad choice. As you say there are what we refer to as "backyard breeders" who breed to have puppies for sale, not to improve the breed as a responsible breeder does.

The AKC has information about how to recognize a responsible breeder. There is a lot to it, and we do it for love, not money. My hobby in dogs has cost me far more than I have ever made from the one or two puppies I might sell in a year. 

The best offense against puppy mills is knowledge. If people are looking to add a dog to their lives, they should take the time to do their homework. Understand what breed is right for them.

If they choose to adopt a mixed breed, understand what the dog *might* be as an adult. A lot of dogs are in shelters because people didn't realize "it would get this big", or need that much exercise. 

It's also important to not assume that a mixed breed is somehow healthier than a purebred. It's not true.A mixed breed could inherit a genetic disease just as easily as a purebred. 

 Funny, I am in the process of writing a post about this subject as we speak. I have to agree with so much of what Susan Getgood has said. I am an owner of Irish Setters, and currently have a litter of puppies on the ground, my first litter since 1974. I spent six years getting ready for this litter,  finishing championships, researching pedigrees, doing every recommended health clearance for my breed, and finding a stud dog that also had all those health clearances, had a wonderful temperment, and a good history of health, conformation and ability behind him as well. If I were in this to make a living, well, I have lost thousands to get the three puppies I have.

That is what reponsible, caring breeders do. We want to be sure that we produce puppies that will be wonderful, healthy, lifelong companions first and foremost. If they are shown or used in some sort of competitive activity that is a very small part of their life, most of their time will be spent as family members. We aren't interested in the latest fad, we are passionate about our breeds and continuing on their original purpose, making money is the last thing on our minds. We feel responsible for any puppy that we produce for the lifetime of that puppy, and speaking for myself, will take any dog I bred back, at any age, no questions asked. Most of the responsible breeders I know will do the same.

 I do believe that the Obama family should probably choose a purebred dog. The allergy issue seems to be an important one, and there are a number of purebreed breeds that meet that criteria, though no dog is totally hypoallergenic. It would be very difficult to determine whether a mixed breed puppy would or would not be hypoallergenic. http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=2588 

That being said, every breed club in the United States has a purebred rescue organization. We do our very best to take care of the breeds we love and that includes making sure that we find great homes for purebred dogs that do, through no fault of their own, end up in rescue.  So it is very possible that when they make the decision, they will be able to find a purebred  that  is also a rescue. I know that the American Kennel Club and its member clubs would do their very best to help them find that puppy or adult that has it all for the family.

I am, by the way, also a proponent of shelter rescues. However many of the dogs that come into shelter situations come from situations and backgrounds that are unknown,

some never completely come around, though they can still be wonderful pets in the right homes. The Obamas however, are not yet experienced dog owners, and even though they will undoubtedly have plenty of help, that may just be too much stress for the dog and the family to try to handle.

Ginger Kenney

Twitter @gingerkenney

http://gingerkenney.com

Peru has offered to send the Obama's a four month old hairless dog, the national dog of Peru.  It's an interesting wrinkly bald thing with very large ears.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27650957/displaymode/1176/rstry/27650834/

Tacoma Mama