Advice on Obama dog: no treats please

Being First Dog has its privileges, but the Obama family should be forewarned: If they let their soon-to-be new dog have free run of the White House, they may pay a price.

The Obama dog might have to go on a diet.

Gary Walters, chief usher during former President George H.W. Bush’s term, told blogger Paul Bedard of Washington Whispers that family pet Millie, a Springer Spaniel, knew which White House staffers kept the goodies nearby.

“Millie had the run of the place, including being able to know which staff members had treats,” Walters said. So after her morning nap, she’d wait for an elevator ride from the President’s residential area to the West Wing so she could visit staffers who stashed treats in their desks.

The Bushes had to put Millie on a diet. They also issued a memo, Walters said: “Stop feeding the dog.”

 

Animal shelters roll out red carpet for Obama dog

From after-hours appointments to in-home training and even dog delivery, animal shelters and rescue groups across the country are pulling out all the stops in hopes of convincing the Obamas adopt a dog from their organization, according to People Pets.

While some might think these animal groups’ actions are excessive, reality is that scheduling issues and security concerns would make it close to impossible for the First Family to visit all these shelters on their own. If rolling out the red carpet is what it will take for the Obamas to adopt a dog, whether it's a Labradoodle or a Portuguese Water Dog, we say go for it!

Photo courtesy of People Pets

Maverick: Favorite Obama dog name

We know everybody's got an opinion about whether the new First Family should adopt a Labradoodle, a Portuguese Water Dog or a mutt, but what about a name?

The Los Angeles Times blog L.A. Unleashed asked readers to submit their ideas. The winner: Maverick.

The commenter who offered up that nifty suggestion said, "Maverick -- after Tom Cruise's character in 'Top Gun.' Or did you have someone else in mind?" You mean like a certain VP candidate and his former running mate?

Of course, our sister Web site, Dogtime.com, has its own list of possible names for a Labradoodle (we like the name Freedom) or a PWD (how about Anthem?), but we think Maverick is pretty cool, too.

Any other suggestions out there?

Free food for the Obama dog

Here’s a deal that might be too good for the First Family to pass up: A company that makes “super premium” dog food is offering to provide the Obamas with free food for their new pet.

A publicity gimmick, you say? Probably, but in tough tight economic times, it’s an offer the new President should consider. K9 Cuisine, based in Paris, Ill., says its food is gluten-free and natural, without synthetic preservatives or artificial color.

Anthony Holloway, owner of K9, said, “First, we have to figure out how free shipping and delivery is handled at the secure White House, and then we hope the Obamas will accept our offer of yummy food when they get their new dog.”

Free food? Free shipping? Grab it, Mr. President.

 

Obama dog is family's choice, not ours

Now that he’s taken the oath of office, President Barack Obama should realize that everything he say is going to be scrutinized, analyzed and, in some cases, criticized.

Like his choice of dogs for daughters Malia and Sasha. Some people think Obama should drive down to the nearest shelter and get a scruffy mutt – a dog with no known heritage. Labradoodle? Nope. Portuguese Water Dog? Uh uh.

Oh, and that “girly dog” comment he made to Barbara Walters a while ago? It’s sexist.

The blog easyVegan.info, by way of Animalrights.change.org, calls out Obama for his use of the term, calling it pejorative. It also says:

“Let’s start with the stereotype of a ‘girly dog.’ ‘Girly dogs’ are much like ‘girly girls’ -- small, weak, fluffy, frilly, frou-frou-ey, in need of copious amounts of grooming, with large closets (filled with sparkly pink clothes, no doubt) and even bigger (yappy) mouths. Girly dogs, like girly girls, are feminine. Submissive. Annoying. Rather useless. Lazy. Bitchy. A pain in the ass. By extension, men who ‘own’ ‘girly dogs’ (or are ‘girly’ themselves) are gay. Which is almost as bad as being a woman.”

Wow. The blogger also claims that, by choosing either a Labradoodle or a PWD, the Obamas will encourage “greedy breeders” to cash in by selling the trendy “Obama dog.”

Sheesh. Lighten up. Let the Obamas buy the dog they want, just so long as it comes from a rescue group or shelter; it will inspire others to do the same thing. And the President’s use of the term “girly dog” was most likely a reference to celebrity divas like Paris Hilton, who are frequently seen toting their Chihuahuas on the red carpet. It was hardly an insult.

Besides, he’s got a few more important things on his plate than worrying about people’s interpretation of the word “girly.”

 

Milwaukee mayor has Obama dog advice

Listen, it’s really not up to us – any of us – which pup the Obama family picks for First Dog. But that hasn’t stopped people from throwing in their two cents and pitching their favorite pooch.

The latest to sound off: Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who told blogger Jackie Loohauis-Bennett of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he favors the Portuguese Water Dog over the Labradoodle.

Barrett, of course, owns a Portuguese Water Dog (who would've guessed?) and says his family shares allergies similar to those of Malia Obama, the 10-year-old daughter of Barack and Michelle Obama. But he says his dog, Bailey, fits in nicely.

"We have the same allergies as the Obamas and Bailey is wonderful," Barrett said. "A Portuguese would be a great choice. He loves to play. The biggest problem is the kids don't play enough with him. He could play all day."

We’re assuming the new President won’t have much time to play, either. But maybe one of the Secret Service guys can toss a ball to the new dog.

A different kind of Obama dog

Is there a dog in Barack Obama’s future? You bet there is.

No, we’re not talking about a Labradoodle or Portuguese Water Dog. This is much more serious.

On inauguration day in Washington D.C., the Secret Service will provide ample protection for the incoming President in the form of four military police dogs. Their assignment: Make sure there’s no trouble during the Presidential inauguration next Tuesday.

In a news release issued by the Armed Forces Press Service, Army Staff Sgt. Sarah Goulart, a training noncommissioned officer in charge for the 947^th Military Police Detachment, said: “The dogs that are going to be going out there … [are] patrol certified. That means they can do security missions, [and] if they need to be released on somebody, they can be released to detain them.”

The dogs, from Fort Myer, Va., are expert bomb sniffers but will also work crowd control during the inaugural festivities. In their regular jobs, they work at least four hours a week in explosives detection and patrol training.

Among the dogs is the one pictured here, Mike, shown working with his K-9 handler, Army Staff Sgt. Daniel Konrardy.

Now, let’s see a Labradoodle or Portuguese Water Dog sniff out a bomb.

Obama dog: Mutt prints help cause

It doesn't matter that the Obama dog is going to be either a Labradoodle or a Portuguese Water Dog, which is what the President-elect told George Stephanopoulos on ABC's "This Week." A few staunch holdouts are still hoping for a mutt.

Pia Salk, an animal advocate who works with Adopt-a-pet.com, pounced on Obama's first post-election press conference in which he said "a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me" and that the family should adopt one for the White House. So she contacted Shepard Fairey, the artist who created the popular "Hope" portrait of Obama that was used during his campaign, and asked if he could use his art to help save shelter animals. He agreed.

The result is a limited-edition of 400 numbered and silk-screened prints of a dog, done in a style replicating the "Hope" print with the word "Adopt." Proceeds go to saving shelter animals through Adopt-a-pet.

OK, so a Labradoodle and a Portuguese Water Dog don't exactly fit the profile of a mutt. But at least the Obamas will be looking for their dog in a shelter.

Obama Dog segment on CNN

DogTime's own Maggie Canon appeared on CNN yesterday to update the world on President-elect Obama's dog search..

Labradoodle leads for Obama dog

The polls are open, and it looks like people favor a Labradoodle over a Portuguese Water Dog in voting for First Dog. In a CNN poll, the Labradoodle (a Labrador Retriever-Poodle hybrid) is leading 60 percent to 40 percent, with almost 94,000 votes in. In the Fox Forum, the margin is 62-38.

The polls are open -- or you might want to wait and vote in our poll, which will be available shortly.