Bo gets acquainted with California's First Dog, Sutter Brown

California's First Dog, Sutter Brown, seems to be a bit of alright. I've been getting to know the little Corgi through various puppy press articles as well as his Twitter and Facebook pages, and I must say, I like S-Dawg's style.

Here's what I've learned about Sutter:

Sutter is so doggone smart that his pop, the Guv, offered to send him in his stead for a debate with Republican, Grover Norquist in March. I'd sure like to debate for my dad! Know any good translators, Sutter? 

He's motivated by food, the smell of food, the possibility of food, and reporters (who are a food group all their own - right bud?)

He already has admirers trained to carry liver treats with them in the event there is a Sutter siting. Very nicely done, dawg!

He's using his cuteness and herding instinct to bring Republicans and Democrats together. Forget tea with the Queen dude, let's you and I do lunch and chat. Between the two of us, we may be able to achieve world peace.

And Sutter's no slacker, on the contrary, he's using his celebrity status to help make the world a better place by donating sales from his "I am @SutterBrown" merchandise on CafePress.com to California's general fund. You truly rock cuz!

I officially award Governor Brown and the First Lady 200 Karma Kibbles for setting a good example by adopting a pup with no home to call his own. Sutter also earns 200 Karma Kibbles for sending out a Tweet on behalf of a fellow homeless Corgi.

And Sutter, you can spread some of that Corgi lovin' to more of our cousins by hooking-up with me over on the Save a Dog and Save a Cat Facebook applications. I'll show you how to help raise money for homeless pets while having fun! No joke! 

Here's the lowdown - you earn points by virtualing fostering a dog or cat, walking them, petting them, scheduling playdates with friends, etc. And for every 2,500 points you earn, money is donated to RescueGroups.org. How cool is that?!

Sutter's Rap 

My buddy Sutter is smoother than butter

He's cute and petite, with tiny little feet

He knows pet adoption is the only option

For peeps who need a pet to feed!

 Take care and stay in touch S-dawg!

 ^{Bo Obama's Dog Blog sources: Duck Soup, Café Press, L.A. Unleashed, Los Angeles Times, Sutter Brown on Facebook, @SutterBrown on Twitter}

Bo's top 10 Father's Day gift picks

 
For all those pups out there who are wondering what to give their fur-less fathers this Father's Day, fear no more! I have come to your rescue with a list of my favorite gift finds.

These gadgets will guarantee that the huMAN in your life will make room for you in his busy schedule (and we all know that nothing beats some quality mano-a-dogo time).

Dura Doggie's Beba Toy

The Beba is 3 toys in 1 - a squeaky chew toy, a treat dispenser and a fetch toy for dad to toss. It even floats! Perfect for water dogs like me. And Dura Doggie will donate 20% of the profit from your purchase to one of four charitable causes.

Nina Ottosson Interactive Puzzles 

We pups need to maintain a sharp mind in order to keep our humanoids in check, and solving these cool puzzles is just the ticket. Dad can load 'em up with your favorite treats, then sit back and watch in amazement as you skillfully crack the puzzle's code. Watch the Secret Shopper's Nina Ottosson puzzle review video.

Ballistic Dog Ball Blaster

Do your dad's ball tosses fall short occasionally? Looks like the Ball Blaster has that problem covered. The Blaster extends to 27" to add a little pep to pop's pitches and the Dental Ball that's included is gentler than a traditional tennis ball on our teeth. Good! I need my teeth in prime form for chewing basted bones. 

The New Dyson Groom Tool 

Ahhh...take a load off all fours while dad tends to your grooming needs with Dyson's Groom Tool. Take a gander at the Dyson Groom Tool review video. Bo wisdom - the more fur dad can brush away before it hits the floor and furniture, the less scolding and the more praise and approval for you!

Hilarious Squeaky Toys by Charming Pet Products

These squeak toys are a hoot! You can choose from troll dogs, balloon animals and crazy rubber chickens. And the squeak these squeally squeazers put out is superb - loud and long, just the way I like 'em. Perfect for a rousing game of fetch with the old man. Hear the squeak on the Charming Pet video.

Tug & Toss Cotton Rope Toy from PLANET MOMO

I don't know why our humans think they can beat us in a game of tug-of-war. Our jaws of steel are no match for their puny biceps and these tug toys can really take a beating. Watch Shakespeare-the-Great (Dane) put the rope to the ultimate test in a Tug & Toss review video.

Track'r Bicycle Trailer

Are your tiny Terrier legs no match for your dad's powerful peddling? Get him a bicycle trailer so the two of you can enjoy time together without panting yourself into palpitations. Bo wisdom - You've got to make sure your human gets plenty of exercise, they tend to become couch potatoes if we don't constantly motivate them to go outside and play. 

Fetchtastic - automatic fetch machine

Launches a new tennis ball every 7 seconds? Ahh...a doggy's dream! Is your dad ready to stop playing fetch before you are? This little beauty will keep the game going for a long, long time and save wear and tear on dad's arm. Bo wisdom - you've gotta protect pop's arm so it's never too sore to reach for the treat bag.  

Bubbletastic Bubble Machine 

Grab dad's camera cuz this toy will provide hours of entertainment as you impress with your finesse at bubble popping. And these aren't just any bubbles, these little air-balls are bacon scented! Bo wisdom - Great for when you've tugged and fetched yourself to the max and need a fun change. 

Kurgo Cargo Cape - car interior protector

If you don't have a big yard (like me), your dad will need to transport you to some wide open spaces to enjoy the fun toys you've given him and Kurgo's Cargo Cape will keep dad's car fur free. Bo wisdom - Dad will spend less time cleaning the car and more time playing with you. Works for me!

A Father's Day rap for my dad, the Prez

 

  
   
Oh yeah, oh yeah

put your paws together now

Oh yeah, oh yeah

gonna kick it with a bow wow

 

My name is Bo Obama

and I'm cuter than a llama

so it's not a big surprise

that our leader was so wise

as to pick a pup like me

one amazin' PWD

 

Oh yeah, oh yeah

let me hear you say it dawgs

Oh yeah, oh yeah

sounding better than a pond of frogs

 

Yeah, my dad's the big kahuna

man, his awesomeness is lunar

he's a dunkadelic hoopster

and a master pooper scooper

he's so crazy wicked funny

and his disposition's sunny

 

Oh yeah, oh yeah

let me hear you woof

Oh yeah, oh yeah

gonna raise the roof

 

Though his hair is getting grayer

from the lack of ozone layer

and the paparazzi's swarmin'

'round the threat of global warmin'

Big O knows just how to chill

without hooch or happy pills

 

Oh yeah, oh yeah

now give it to me louder

Oh yeah, oh yeah

man, I couldn't be prouder

 

he's no cook but I don't care

all my steaks are best done rare

he's the flyest dad I know

so on this Father's Day I'll show

that Bo his back has got 

cuz Dad is smokin' hot! 

 

Peace out.

Bo gets the scoop on Indy 500 drivers and their dogs!

  
100 years of roaring crowds, speeding cars and rain delays. The Greatest Spectacle in Racing draws a crowd of 400,000 race fans to her track and another 4 million sit glued to their tv's for the 3 hour event.

I truly believe I was an Indy car driver in a prior life. There's no sound on earth that thrills me more than the sound of an Indy car whizzing by at 225 miles per hour. I have a real need for speed that trotting around the White House lawn just can't satisfy.

I also have this recurring dream that I'm in one of those two seater Indy cars with Mario Andretti at the wheel and we're buzzing around the Speedway track, the wind whipping through my fur. If only my dream would come true. It's numero uno on my bucket list!

If you're ever lucky enough to see an Indy race up close and personal, my friend, you have just experienced utopia!

I thought I'd do a little digging to see if any of my favorite drivers had a furry, better-half and here's what I found...

Helio Castraneves (Car #3)

Helio is a three time Indy 500 winner and a lot like me...stunningly handsome with a bubbly personality and the ladies all love him.

Helio is owned by Tuggy, a Beagle, so named by Helio's son because of his love for playing tug-of-war.

Visit Helio on Facebook, Twitter and heliocastroneves.com  

Danica Patrick (Car #7)

Danica's my GIRL and I'm picking-up a real strong vibe that this may be her year to capture that checkered flag.

It's rumored that Danica is owned by a Schnauzer named Billy, though I was unable to verify that little tidbit.

Visit Danica on Facebook, Twitter & danicaracing.com 

Dario Franchitti (Car #10)

Dario has two Indy 500 wins under his helmet and is the reigning champ. 

A Scotsman by birth, Dario currently lives in Tennessee with his wife of 10 years, Ashley Judd and their two Cockapoos, Buttermilk and Shug.

Buttermilk was a gift to Ashley from her mother, Naomi, in 1999. Buttermilk and Shug? I'm suddenly craving a sweet buttermilk biscuit...

Visit Dario on Facebook, Twitter and franchitti.com

500 trivia tidbit: The 30th annual Indianapolis 500 was to be run in May, 1942. Tickets went on sale in the fall of 1941 but after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December, the race was cancelled. As a matter of fact, all automobile racing was banned in the USA, primarily due to rationing. The track would not reopen until 1946 when the 30th Indianapolis 500 was finally held.

The little guy in this video is a dog after my own heart! Way to go cuz!

Indy 500 resources: Official Indy 500 site, 100 things you should know about the Indy 500, Live stream from the track, How to throw an Indy 500 party, "Back Home Again in Indiana" lyrics, "Take Me Out to the Brickyard" lyrics

^{Bo Obama's Dog Blog sources: Dogs and Cats 101, Wikipeida, Indianapolis Motor Speedway}

Bo reveals the meaning of dogs in dreams

 

I'm fascinated with dreams and their hidden meanings, so much so that I keep a voice activated recorder next to my dog bed so I can record details of particularly vivid dreams that wake me during the night. Sadly, when I listen to my recordings the next morning, my barks make no sense to me. What in the sam hill was I barking about?! Grrr...

I've learned that animals in dreams can be interpreted in a variety of ways but most often they represent either emotions we're feeling (but are unable to express), or some aspect of the dreamer's personality

My cousins and I are thought to be spiritual guides who accompany dreamers through the hidden side of life (my personal dream guide is a ravishing, pink poodle). We're also associated with the following attributes: friendship, loyalty, generosity, protection, intuition and fidelity (tired of dreaming about Chihuahuas and Dobermans nipping at your ankles Arnold?)

If the dog in your dream:

­­­­­Snarls at you, chases you, or bites you - someone whom you think is a friend is not a friend at all

Prepare to update your Christmas gift list

Is a black dog - the dog could represent your own depression, pessimism, grief or it could be telling you that the dark side and true intentions of someone close to you are being revealed

I take umbrage with this interpretation folks, I have a beautiful ebony coat and hope that my presence in dreams means that you're about to win the lottery or a lifetime supply of liver dog treats

Is barking happily - you are happy and have many friends

Second only to my dream of the sky raining sirloin steaks, this one's my favorite

Is barking ferociously - you "bark" commands to others in your life and you are a control freak

Chill dude! Seriously!

You are buying the dog - you're lonely and need companionship

Hey peeps, just adopt one of the homeless pets posted on Facebook's Save-a-Dog or Save-a-Cat to remedy this little dilemma

Is being dressed-up by you - this symbolises your own attempts to cover-up your character flaws

In my opinion, this dream really means that you're one whip short of butter and should go immediately to your local shelter to adopt a cat to dress-up. I hear they love it...honest 

A puppy - represents either your need to care and love something or your need to be loved. If you are carrying the puppy, this means you are able to successfully repress your instinctual side.

Repress, shemess...I don't repress anything except my urge to go potty in the Oval Office

Dr. Bo, dream interpreter extraordinaire, is in the house and ready for business. Leave me a comment about your animal dreams and I'll tell you what they really mean!

^{Bo Obama's Dog Blog sources: Dreamhawk.com, Dream Moods, Inc., whats-your-sign.com, inoutstar.com}

Bo salutes U.S. Navy Seals Team 6 and Cairo, their Belgian Malinois teammate!

 

 
This is one of those occasions where it is perfectly acceptable to hate both the player and the game. Bin Laden had to go and I'm proud that one of my canine cousins was a member of the elite Navy Seals team who completed the mission.

The 4-legged team member was a Belgian Malinois named Cairo, the only team member to be identified by name. German Shepherd, Dutch Shepherd and Belgian Malinois breeds are favored by the military because they possess the best overall combination of keen sense of smell, endurance, speed, strength, courage, intelligence and adaptability to climatic conditions, essential traits for Military Working Dogs (MWD's). 

Last year a company by the name of K9 Storm Incorporated was awarded an $86,000 contract by the U.S. Navy to supply protective gear for their war dogs. The K9 Storm Intruder Vest is bullet proof, stab proof and shrapnel proof. It includes an infrared and night-vision-enabled camera as well as a transmitter and receiver.

United States Navy Seals dogs complete a rigorous training program to become the best of the best at detecting explosives and enemy troops. They are also expert trackers, scouts and sentries. We look forward to learning details of Cairo's role in the Bin Laden mission.

I'm so proud of my dad, President Obama, and all the men, women and canines in uniform who worked tirelessly to bring Bin Laden to justice, many of them making the ultimate sacrifice for their country. 

If you'd like to learn more about the role of dogs in our nation's military, visit War Dog Heroes.

^{Bo Obama's Dog Blog sources: K9 History Pages, Wikipedia, Foreign Policy, HuffPost Green, Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, Discovery News, K9 Storm Incorporated, Dog Files, DogTime.com} 

Happy Mother's Day to my mama, Michelle Obama! (A rap from Bo)

 
Michelle Obama's

my hot mama

she calls me sweetie

I steal her Wheaties

but she won't hollar

or yank my collar

keepin' her cool

my buddies all drool

jealous? yeh, maybe

cuz she's the gravy

a Bo exclusive

and that's conclusive

she's so busy

it makes me dizzy

gettin' kids to move

steppin' to the groove

dancin' The Dougie

my hip hop bunny

Mama's so fly

she can even stir fry

so on this Mother's Day

this I gotta say

Michelle's da bomb

so glad she's my mom!

 

Every state gets to choose an official state dog? Where do I sign-up?

 
 
State birds, state flowers, state songs, it only makes sense that a proud member of the awesome canine family represent each of the great states in our nation. What stumps me is why only 11 states have made the leap and picked a pup. What's up?

Could the wheels of progress have slowed due to some hissing from the feline catnip gallery? Be cool kitties, your day will come. 'Til then, just keep sniffing those catnip toys and chill. 

All you humans need to write your senators and state representatives to let them know that having an official state dog breed is crucial to the moral of your state's residents. I mean really, how utterly humiliating it must be to be known as one of the 39 dogless states! 

I'd like to give a special bark-out to our friends in Illinois. I see you haven't picked your state dog yet...I wanted to remind you that my peeps and I won't be living in this big White House forever. Someday we'll pack it up and head on over to the great Land of Lincoln where I'll have plenty of time for public appearances and ribbon cutting ceremonies (should you decide raise your coolness quotient by selecting the magnificent Portuguese Water Dog as your official state dog).

State	Dog	Year
Alaska	Alaskan Malamute	2010
Louisiana	Catahoula Leopard Dog	1979
Maryland	Chesapeake Bay Retriever	1964
Massachusetts	Boston Terrier	1979
New Hampshire	Chinook	2009
North Carolina	Plott Hound	1989
Pennsylvania	Great Dane	1965
South Carolina	Boykin Spaniel	1985
Texas	Blue Lacy	2005
Virginia	American Foxhound	1966
Wisconsin	American Water Spaniel	1985

 

Proposed State Dogs

 



State	Dog	Year Proposed
Georgia	Golden Retriever	1991
Washington	Siberian Husky	2004

^{Bo Obama's Dog Blog sources: NETSTATE.com, Wikipedia}