Video of Mama Obama doing some Bo-braggin' on Letterman

Mama Obama said some very nice things about me on the "Late Show with David Letterman" this week...

I constantly amaze her with my superior intellect:

"Bo is wonderful. He is the smartest dog on the planet. He is my son. I have two girls and a boy."

And I know how to communicate when it's time to do my "biz" on the White House lawn:

"He will come up and he'll put his paw on your leg and he kind of nudges you and then you're like, 'What do you want?' and then he gets excited and you say, 'You want to go out?' and then he starts barking," she said.

Ahhh, the life of a famous Fur-st Dog:

"He has a very busy schedule. I mean appearances. I'm thinking about getting him an agent."

And thanks for having my pack's back when Dave talked smack about PWD's being "loopy:"

"No, they're not," Mama said, "He's a very sweet dog. I'm not being biased. He is really a good dog."

 

Gotta give a holla

out to Mama Obama...

Your braggin' to Letterman

really pumped my adrenaline.

Sayin' I'm an Einstein,

good lookin' with a fine mind,

and "Bo's oh so good!"

I'm 'bout to go all Hollywood!

And Dave, I'm not loopy

or I wouldn't be your groupie! (then again, maybe I would)

Seriously though, Mom was really on the tube to talk about the initiative she started with our buddy, Jill Biden, called Joining Forces.

Mom says it best, "This campaign is designed to make sure that every single member of our armed forces, our veterans and their families understands that they live in a grateful nation."

Visit joiningforcesallforgood.org for more information on how you can join the Force!

^{Bo Obama's Dog Blog sources: Joining Forces, The Hill}

Crate-gate: Seamus Romney defected after infamous rooftop car ride

 
How's the air up there, Mitt? Feel like hanging-out on the roof while we make a 12 hour jaunt to Ontario? I didn't think so...

In case you missed the nightmarish tale of Mitt Romney's family vacation in '83, here's how it went down:

The Romney clan piled into the family station wagon for their annual 12 hour trek from Boston to Ontario. Things being a bit snug inside, Mitt made the executive decision to put the family dog, Seamus, in a pet carrier and strap it to the roof of the car. To make the voyage even more enjoyable for his pet, Mitt made a windshield for the crate.

During the ride, one of the kids alerted Dad that there was a brown liquid dripping down the back window, so Mitt calmly pulled off of the highway and into a gas station where he hosed down the dog and the car, put Seamus back in his penthouse perch, and carried on.

Okay, I get that things were different in the 80's, no seat-belt laws and certainly not the array of products or safety standards for pet travel that we have today but come on...Seamus was clearly in distress (thus the dripping brown liquid) so what does Mitt do? Hose the poor guy off and stick him right back on the roof? You're one frigid fur-father, Mr. Romney.

According to Dr. Russell Cumming, a professor of aerospace engineering at California Polytechnic State University, "He would constantly feel a little less than 3 pounds pressing on his head for the entire trip.

Chances are the windshield would only protect the front of the dog, but the air flowing around the windshield would buffet the side of the dog -- that would be tiring," said Cummings. "My wife's a vet, and she would be more worried by the dehydration of the dog's eyes under those conditions."

We've also learned that Mr. Romney may have left an important detail out of his tale-telling...according to a trusted Politicker tipster, Mitt's sons told reporters that Seamus ran away once they'd reached their vacation destination. Who can blame him?! But wait, Romney's wife, Ann, told reporters that Seamus made it to Ontario in one piece and went on to live to a "ripe old age." Which version is true?

Whether Seamus defected or stuck around for more "good-times" with the family, there's no denying that he was terrified, tired and dehydrated after 12 hours on the roof. If that's Mitt's idea of a fun-filled family vacation, I'd rather let the vet pull a tooth without anesthetic, thank you very much.

Check-out the new Mutt Romney Blues video

 

^{Bo Obama's Dog Blog sources: ABC News, Mediaite, Politicker}

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 exposes Zuckerberg hoax | Reveals true wizard behind Facebook curtain

Beast Zuckerberg launched his Facebook page this month confirming what I already suspected - the real face behind the Facebook empire is furry (and I don't mean the 5 o'clock shadow kind of furry). No offense folks, but Facebook is way too great an idea not to have sprung from the mind of a dog. 

Now, Beast looks like he has plenty of cool-dog potential, but I thought it wise to enlist the services of the Men in Black to see if there were any skeletons in his closet. 

Here's what they found:

Beast loves his parents, Mark and Priscilla, and they love him back (they prove it by giving him plenty of treats and lots of cuddling)

Beast likes messing with his humans by pooing on their nice, white carpet (manipulation of one's parental units is a clear sign of superior intelligence)

Beast is NOT a member of the life saving Facebook applications Save a Dog or Save a Cat

What up dawg? Save a Dog and Save a Cat are part of your virtual Facebook kingdom! The homeless pups, kitties and their furless supporters would really like to feel some love from the Wizard.

Don't be a Puli-punk, Beast! Hop on your Mellow Lick Toad and pay them a visit. If the Toad is in the shop, try clicking your ruby doggy dishes together three times while chanting, "All pets need a home, all pets need a home, all pets need a home."

If you agree that Beast Zuckerberg would make a first-rate mentor to the adoptable pets on Save a Dog and Save a Cat, show your support by visiting Bo Obama's Dog Facebook page and "liking" my link to this post. 

And Beast, if you're tuned in, give me a shout-out by leaving me a comment. I'd be happy to take you under my PWD wing and give you a few pointers on how to awaken the cool-dog in you!

  

Bo shines the spotlight on royal pets and noble companions

While watching the Oscar winning movie, The King's Speech, I got to thinking about that famous quote by President Harry S. Truman, "If you want a friend in Washington get a dog," and how it doesn't just apply to diplomats in the good ol' USA. World aristocrats have kept pets throughout the ages and no doubt sought, and received, some much needed solace from their courtly critters during a lot of very trying times. They knew we would always keep their secrets and never slip any hemlock in their wine.

 
As you may have seen in The King's Speech, Queen Elizabeth II grew up with dogs and remains an avid dog lover. She currently owns at least ten dogs including Labradors, Spaniels, and her favorites, the Corgis along with a new breed concocted by her royal breeders, Dorgis - a cross between Dacshunds and Corgis. Maybe they'll have me over for some canine crumpets and black dog tea soon!

 
Queen Anne of Hungary owned dogs, as did Charles II (pictured with his siblings); Catherine the Great; and Queen Victoria whose childhood favorite was Dash, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and later in life, Sharp, a smooth coated Border Collie type.

 
Some rather exotic royal companions included Akbar the Great's falcon; Cleopatra's pet leopard, Arrow; Queen Catherine of Aragon's monkey; and Queen Elizabeth I's ermine. I don't know for certain if Elizabeth actually owned a pet ermine or, if the artist added the rodent to the painting because it was the symbol for royalty, and the tiny gold crown (around his neck) the symbol for majesty and purity at that time. Hey, Dad, where's my gold crown??

We animals have been advising, amusing and comforting great leaders for eons and will continue to do so just as long as we are loved, admired, played-with and spoiled, as payment-in-kind for our noble contributions. 

^{Bo Obama's Dog Blog sources: NNDB, The Border Collie Museum, flickr.com, Falconry a World Heritage, Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, Egyptian Dreams, Follow the Piper, Royal Family History}

Bo pays tribute to war dog veterans! Have a war dog story to share?

I can't say enough about the brave humans who have valiantly defended our country for the past 234 years. They are my heroes and I salute them all this Veterans Day and every day!

In this post I would like to pay tribute to my cousins, the courageous and loyal dogs who have always been there, accompanying our troops into battle, keeping them safe from harm and lifting their spirits as they fight the good fight. They don't need headlines or ticker-tape parades. All they ask, is for a soft touch, a little food and a warm place to sleep whenever possible. 

There are so many great stories of dogs in battle, more than I can list in one short post. If you have a war dog story you'd like to share, please leave it in a comment and I'll publish it in my "Salute to War Dogs Part II" post!   

The Revolutionary War

In October of 1777, during the Battle of Germantown, American soldiers noticed a little Fox Terrier wandering between the battle lines. They scooped him up and were able to identify him by the writing on his collar as belonging to the leader of the opposing troops, General Howe.

Instead of taunting the British by claiming the dog as a war prize, Washington, a dog owner himself, cleaned him up and had him returned to the General under a flag of truce with a note which read: "General Washington's compliments to General Howe. He does himself the pleasure to return him a dog, which accidentally fell into his hands, and by the inscription on the Collar appears to belong to General Howe." 

Howe praised Washington's actions as those of a true gentleman and never seemed to pursue the rebels with the same zeal he had in the past.

The Civil War

A letter from General Custer to his wife, Libbie. June 12, 1876 reads, "Tuck regularly comes when I am writing, and lays her head on the desk, rooting up my hand with her nose until I consent to stop and notice her. She and Swift, Lady and Kaiser sleep in my tent."

When the battle of Little Bighorn began, Custer's orderly, John Burkman, was unable to keep Custer's dogs from following their beloved master into to the fight. A Cheyenne warrior, Wooden Leg, remembered seeing a lone dog standing on Custer Hill after the battle had finished.

WWI

Sergeant Stubby entered combat in February of 1918. He served with the 102nd Infantry, participated in 4 offensives and 17 battles. He was wounded by a hand grenade in April but, once recovered, returned to the battlefield to be with his men.

He warned his unit of poison gas attacks, located wounded soldiers and, due to his acute sense of hearing, alerted troops of incoming artillery shells. Stubby's remains are displayed in The Price of Freedom: Americans at War exhibit at the Smithsonian.

WWII

The first official war dog training for American forces began during World War II. By 1945 10,000 war dogs had been trained for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

Kurt, a Doberman, saved the lives of 250 Marines in the battle of Guam when he alerted them to the presence of Japanese troops. A life-sized bronze statue of Kurt was erected in his honor and is displayed at the War Dog Memorial in Guam.

^{Obama Dog Blog sources: Reader's Almanac; custerwest.org; olive-drab; Wikipedia}

Fun Bo Obama Word Search Puzzle

 

How many words can you find in Bo Obama's word search puzzle?

 

Drag to select words. You have 5 minutes!

 

Have fun!

 

Bo Obama Word Search game » make word search

Suggestion for Obama dog name

I saw this old bumper sticker still selling at CafePress and thought, wouldn't this be a fine name for the First Dog? Bark Obama -- I like it.

'Lucky' name for the First Dog

We’ve discussed dog names in the past, but recently Wendy Diamond – a well-known author and one of the judges on the recent “Greatest American Dog” TV show – offered her own thoughts on the subject.

Frankly, we’re not sure why there’s a rush to pick out a name – after all, the First Family is still at least a month away from rescuing a new pet – but Diamond informs us that Lucky has been the most popular dog name for many years in this country. In fact, her Maltese rescue is named Lucky Diamond -- not because of its popularity, but, as Diamond notes, “I felt so lucky to have rescued the cutest little dog that to date has completely changed my life.”

There have been some unusual names for presidential pets through the years, she says. George Washington, for instance, owned a number of Foxhounds and gave them names like Mopsey, Taster, Vulcan, Sweet Lips and Tipler. Abraham Lincoln, whose dogs’ breeds were unknown, named them Jip and Fido (a name that became so popular it became a cliché).

As we’ve noted before, readers of this site like the name Chief for the new Obama dog. But Lucky’s not bad, either.

 

How to pick the right Obama dog name

Remember the good old days when people named their dogs Spot or Fido?

Apparently, they’re over. Now you need a formula.

Well, you don’t need a formula. The First Family does.

Lucky for the Obamas there’s a company that conjures up product names and has stepped forward to create a moniker for new family dog – whether it’s a Labradoodle, Portuguese Water Dog or some other type of rescue.

Strategic Name Development of Minneapolis polled U.S. citizens who supported President Barack Obama in the election and own a pet. The group preferred names of people, either real or fictional, such as Linus, Scooby and Cleopatra.

The company then formulated criteria for choosing a name using the acronym PETNAME. The letters stand for: Politically optimistic (such as Gerald Ford’s dog Liberty); Easy to pronounce (and easy to spell); Tell a story (something about history or character); No more than two syllables; Atypical (avoid obvious names like Sam or Bear); Made in America (no foreign-sounding names); and End with a vowel sound (they’re easier for pets to hear).

The winner: RahmRod, which combines the names of the Obama Administration’s top dogs – chief of staff Rahm Emmanuel and senior adviser David Axelrod.

Do you like that name? It doesn’t exactly roll of the tongue, does it? As far as we’re concerned, the Obamas should just let daughters Malia and Sasha pick out a name for the next Obama dog.

Of course, they could also choose the name our readers favored in an informal poll: Chief.

Much better than RahmRod, don't you think?