Obama Implored to Immediately Make Good On Campaign Promise

[Cicero]

He has to buy Malia Ann and Natasha a puppy. I suggest a nice German Shepherd.

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Why not a French poodle? Or Russian wolfhound? Welsh terrier? :confused:

[boloboffin]

My money is on a black Lab.

[GStan]

My money is on a black Lab.

I'm pretty sure Muslims are not allowed to keep dogs as pets....

:p;):D

....sorry, I couldn't resist, I'll go hide in shame now.:blush:

[Gord_in_Toronto]

I'm pretty sure Muslims are not allowed to keep dogs as pets....

:p;):D

....sorry, I couldn't resist, I'll go hide in shame now.:blush:

So all he has to do is buy them a baby camel. After all, they're kids, he is the president elect, they'll believe him. :doberman::pug::dogt::bulldog:

[Snide]

I'm pretty sure Muslims are not allowed to keep dogs as pets....

:p;):D

....sorry, I couldn't resist, I'll go hide in shame now.:blush:I thought they ate them. ??

[Skepticintraining]

Odds on a pitbull named "Sarah" anyone?

[Darth Rotor]

Odds on a pitbull named "Sarah" anyone?

Wins the thread (but only if he has the girls put lipstick on it.) :D

[LibraryLady]

Golden Retriever--great with kids. Or a Cavalier King Charles spaniel

[tkingdoll]

No, he said a puppy to take with them to the White House. That's not til January. Obama wins again!

[Coffee]

He has to buy Malia Ann and Natasha a puppy. I suggest a nice German Shepherd.

Your obvious bias and partisanship has been noted. You could have suggested a Pekingese, Lhapso Apso or even a Pomeranian but you simply refuse to be bipartisan.

If people cannot come together on the choice of dog breeds then how can this nation ever heal??? :)

[Cicero]

No, he said a puppy to take with them to the White House. That's not til January. Obama wins again!

For the sake of the White House carpets, it would be prudent to not wait until they move in to get that pup. Only Stanley Steamer wins in your scenario.

[Cicero]

Your obvious bias and partisanship has been noted. You could have suggested a Pekingese, Lhapso Apso or even a Pomeranian but you simply refuse to be bipartisan.

If people cannot come together on the choice of dog breeds then how can this nation ever heal??? :)

Hold on. The last President elect who had a Shepherd was FDR, and by the time he got to the White House, Fala The Scottish Terrier was the only White House critter. We are overdue for a German Shepherd as !st Critter.

[Tricky]

No, he said a puppy to take with them to the White House. That's not til January. Obama wins again!
You think maybe it's a seal?

[not_so_new]

Hold on. The last President elect who had a Shepherd was FDR, and by the time he got to the White House, Fala The Scottish Terrier was the only White House critter. We are overdue for a German Shepherd as !st Critter.

I vote he goes for a Collie... but I am biased.

:p

If not a Collie then I think a Shepherd is a great choice (Shepherds are one of my favorites). I hope it's not a foo-foo dog, let's have something with some strength to it.

[Darat]

Afghan Hound.

[Cicero]

I vote he goes for a Collie... but I am biased.

:p

If not a Collie then I think a Shepherd is a great choice (Shepherds are one of my favorites). I hope it's not a foo-foo dog, let's have something with some strength to it.

Lassie, OK. Rin Tin Tin, OK. Taco Bell Chihuahua, NG.

[Grizzly Bear]

Lassie, OK. Rin Tin Tin, OK. Taco Bell Chihuahua, NG.

He must buy me a hamster, nothing will do but a hamster

[Ranb]

He could score points by rescuing a dog from the pound.

Ranb

[Jeff Corey]

.






<----------Agreed. Schatzi here is mostly shepard and was rescued.

[not_so_new]

He could score points by rescuing a dog from the pound.

Ranb

.






<----------Agreed. Schatzi here is mostly shepard and was rescued.


Yes, rescue is the only way to go!

Both our dogs are rescues, great GREAT dogs... love them.

[Cicero]

Providing a good home and life long commitment for the care for any canine is laudatory. Whether the origin of the dog's previous domicile was a breeder, family home, or pound, the end result is the same if that dog is stuck in a temporary situation.

For some breeds, it is imperative to know the breed line to insure the health and temperament of the animal.

[tkingdoll]

For the sake of the White House carpets, it would be prudent to not wait until they move in to get that pup. Only Stanley Steamer wins in your scenario.

Pft. The white cleaners they're going to hire will take care of that :D

[Pookster]

He could score points by rescuing a dog from the pound.

Ranb


Not elitist enough.

[Cicero]

Pft. The white cleaners they're going to hire will take care of that :D

You mean they are going to stiff George Jefferson?

[JoeTheJuggler]

Pft. The white cleaners they're going to hire will take care of that :D

You mean the Bushes are staying?
:)

[Cicero]

You mean the Bushes are staying?
:)

No. Just Barney's tics and fleas.

[jj]

Basset. He'll either get a Basset or a newfie-lowenberger mix. :)

[daredelvis]

He could get a Rat Terrier. The last president to have one of them was Teddy, and there are plenty of rescue Rat Terriers available. Of course there is a reason for that...

Daredelvis

[Alferd_Packer]

A sheltie, It could run around the house barking at everyone.

Or a Beagle. It could scour the White House grounds for terrorist rabbits.

[Amapola]

I suggest a greyhound, if he wants a rescue dog. They are beautiful and elegant when awake, and spend all day long sprawled in impossible positions, sleeping. They appear to have no aggression at all.

(My neighbor rescues them and I have been really impressed with them. I had no idea they were such nice dogs.)

[Jimbo07]

I'm pretty sure Muslims are not allowed to keep dogs as pets....

:p;):D

....sorry, I couldn't resist, I'll go hide in shame now.:blush:

Oh yeah?! I can take the level of conversation much lower...

A Rottie Cross...

:duck:

ETA: We have a Rottie Cross (opinions range from Shepherd to Blue Healer), and she's a beautiful animal... she was also a rescue dog.

[Alferd_Packer]

I suggest a greyhound, if he wants a rescue dog. They are beautiful and elegant when awake, and spend all day long sprawled in impossible positions, sleeping. They appear to have no aggression at all.

(My neighbor rescues them and I have been really impressed with them. I had no idea they were such nice dogs.)

This is a dog for two little girls. They want a dog they can play with, not a dog that spends all day sleeping.

Greyhounds don't fetch.

A black lab would probably be the best.

[boloboffin]

There is new information on the dog front. Malia is allergic. They want a shelter dog, though, where most dogs are "mutts like me," and that's a direct quote from the President-Elect.

iOXEfZ9zhf8

My vote now is for a rescued Labradoodle. Nice and muttalious, but hypoallergenic. I've been looking at the pictures and I want one now.

[Darat]

See: http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?postid=4184687#post4184687

And:

http://forums.randi.org/picture.php?albumid=5&pictureid=144

http://forums.randi.org/picture.php?albumid=5&pictureid=8

[dudalb]

Irish Wolfhound.

[boloboffin]

It's true -- because it's a mix, labradoodles can be just as allergy aggravating as any dog out there. But I'm sure that's something they'll test. Then again, allergies can develop down the road, so I don't know.

That's a great lovely beast you have there. :)

[godofpie]

Bill Murray in stripes We're all very different people. We're not Watusi, we're not Spartans, we're Americans. With a capital "A", huh? And you know what that means? Do you? That means that our forefathers were kicked out of every decent country in the world. We are the wretched refuse. We're the underdog. We're mutts. I love our new president. I wish I could vote for him again. Bichon Frise are pretty cool but pricey and not usually found at the pound. Another option is to decide what kind of dog you like and then see if you can find a rescue organization that deals with that breed.

[Jimbo07]

Jimbo07 for the win! :D


A Rottie Cross...


They want a shelter dog, though, where most dogs are "mutts like me," and that's a direct quote from the President-Elect.


Damn, I like this president guy!

:cool:

[gdnp]

Yep. Good natured mutt. Nothing purebread, nothing elitist/designer. I suspect he has already put together a search committee to vet potential candidates...

[LawnOven]

A mini-daschund or a sheltie.

[Cicero]

The majority of lap dogs are compulsive fear biters. That would send out the wrong message for the foreign policy challenged president elect.

[Dr Adequate]

The majority of lap dogs are compulsive fear biters. That would send out the wrong message for the foreign policy challenged president elect. Yeah, it was just the other day that Bush's dog bit a journalist (http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/The_First_Dog_Bites_Reporter.html). I forget, is it dogs that grow to be like their masters, or vice versa?

[kallsop]

I love our new president. I wish I could vote for him again.


Move to Ohio.

As far as the dog breed, he doesn't need a loud guard dog and it's really for the kids so go for something cuddly that doesn't bark.

[Cicero]

Yeah, it was just the other day that Bush's dog bit a journalist (http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/The_First_Dog_Bites_Reporter.html). I forget, is it dogs that grow to be like their masters, or vice versa?

Ask Cesar Millan. If the Obama family gets a critter from the pound, they might want to get his evaluation first. That would make a kick-ass episode!

[Cicero]

Move to Ohio.

As far as the dog breed, he doesn't need a loud guard dog and it's really for the kids so go for something cuddly that doesn't bark.

Loud guard dog? A trained guard dog would never be an indiscriminate barker. My GS doesn't bark even on Halloween when hundreds of trick-or-treaters ring the bell. He greets them with silent dignity. It is the Basset Hounds, Poodles, Chihuahuas, Pekingeses etc, that bark incessantly and for no reason.

[JoeTheJuggler]

This is such a cool thread!

When I was very young, my father used to tell us that black people were all afraid of dogs and that dogs hated black people.

Seriously!

And I'm not THAT old or from the Deep South!

[creativecritter41]

OH dear me!! Dare I say, if this was McCain we'd be ridiculed for talking about a stupid dog purchase and not the economic crisis that is staring us right in the face? I mean really... is this news worthy?

This is so reminiscent of the media coddling Obama during the campaign.... Can we make a thread on how long it will take the media to turn on him?

And I'm not THAT old or from the Deep South! Are you saying your dad is a racist and all people from the south...deep south are the same? How stereotypical of you... I think you saw it on a episode of King Of The Hill but it sounds better if you personalize it.

[Cicero]

OH dear me!! Dare I say, if this was McCain we'd be ridiculed for talking about a stupid dog purchase and not the economic crisis that is staring us right in the face? I mean really... is this news worthy?

This is so reminiscent of the media coddling Obama during the campaign.... Can we make a thread on how long it will take the media to turn on him?

Are you saying your dad is a racist and all people from the south...deep south are the same? How stereotypical of you... I think you saw it on a episode of King Of The Hill but it sounds better if you personalize it.

The breed selection of the official White House critter would provide insight into Obama's decision making ability, and will reveal the personality of the First Family.

[Tricky]

The breed selection of the official White House critter would provide insight into Obama's decision making ability, and will reveal the personality of the First Family.
I predict that you will criticize them for it. And that the sun will appear in the eastern sky tomorrow morning.

[JoeTheJuggler]

OH dear me!! Dare I say, if this was McCain we'd be ridiculed for talking about a stupid dog purchase and not the economic crisis that is staring us right in the face? I mean really... is this news worthy?
I see two mistakes right off:

1) You're assuming we can only talk about a light fluffy story OR the economy and not both.

2) You're confusing a forum discussion thread with the news.

[Cicero]

I predict that you will criticize them for it. And that the sun will appear in the eastern sky tomorrow morning.

If the choice is a Shep (preferably), Dobie, Rottie, Pit Bull or Lab, rest assured, I will applaud the choice. However, even if they chose a foo foo dog, it would still make a great "Dog Whisperer" episode.

[Dr Adequate]

OH dear me!! Dare I say, if this was McCain we'd be ridiculed for talking about a stupid dog purchase and not the economic crisis that is staring us right in the face? I mean really... is this news worthy?

This is so reminiscent of the media coddling Obama during the campaign... Yes, the media were constantly trying to distract us from how the Republicans had screwed the economy with silly stories about dogs; and Cicero, the arch-conservative who started this thread, is following slavishly in their ultra-liberal footprints, because he wants to "coddle Obama" in some way that I am temporarily unable to specify.

[Tricky]

If the choice is a Shep (preferably), Dobie, Rottie, Pit Bull or Lab, rest assured, I will applaud the choice. However, even if they chose a foo foo dog, it would still make a great "Dog Whisperer" episode.
I can pretty much guarantee you it won't be any of the first four. Lab is possible, but not likely. Probably a small dog they can travel with easily. Certainly they won't pick any dogs that are considered dangerous by a large portion of the population.


According to this source (http://www.petsdo.com/blog/top-ten-10-most-dangerous-dog-breeds), After in depth research and analyzing the studies performed by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the CDC, and the Humane Society of the United States, we have compiled the top ten most dangerous dog breeds.


Pit bulls
Rottweilers
German Shepherds
Huskies
Alaskan Malamutes
Dobermans
Chows
Presa Canerios
Boxers
Dalmations.
Why am I not surprised that so many of your choices are on that list.:D

[Cicero]

I can pretty much guarantee you it won't be any of the first four. Lab is possible, but not likely. Probably a small dog they can travel with easily. Certainly they won't pick any dogs that are considered dangerous by a large portion of the population.


According to this source (http://www.petsdo.com/blog/top-ten-10-most-dangerous-dog-breeds),


Pit bulls
Rottweilers
German Shepherds
Huskies
Alaskan Malamutes
Dobermans
Chows
Presa Canerios
Boxers
Dalmations.
Why am I not surprised that so many of your choices are on that list.:D

All the more reason for the First Family to select one as their pet. These breeds have been stigmatized, ostrasized, demonized and criticized because they are misunderstood. By selecting one of these "dangerous dogs," Obama could do for these breeds what red ribbons did for AIDS.

Do you think it is onerous for the family to travel with a large breed on Marine one and Air Force One? I manage to do it flying commercial.

[Tricky]

All the more reason for the First Family to select one as their pet. These breeds have been stigmatized, ostrasized, demonized and criticized because they are misunderstood.
Misunderstood. Right. Misunderstood by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Misunderstood by the Center for Disease Control. Misunderstood by the Humane Society.

Obama could do for these breeds what red ribbons did for AIDS.

Why would he want to encourage people to select breeds that so many reputable agencies say are more dangerous?

Are any of those breeds even hypoallergenic?

Do you think it is onerous for the family to travel with a large breed on Marine one and Air Force One? I manage to do it flying commercial. Maybe not. Truthfully, that was my bad anyway. Dogs, and children are not likely to travel with the president except on vacations. I was wrong to raise it as an issue.

[Cicero]

Misunderstood. Right. Misunderstood by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Misunderstood by the Center for Disease Control. Misunderstood by the Humane Society.

Why would he want to encourage people to select breeds that so many reputable agencies say are more dangerous?



Center for Disease Control? What beef do they have with large breeds? Every dog gets a rabies shot in order to get a license. My vet would give them an argument about Shepherds being "dangerous" in and of themselves. He would tell these bug wits that shady breeders and irresponsible owners are at fault, not the animals.

What sort of Humane Society would discourage adoption of these breeds when their mission is to find homes for all breeds? You mean The Inhumane Society.

[gdnp]

The CDC takes on some issues that are not typically considered diseases: anything that causes injury or premature death. Thus they have weighed in on smoking, seatbelts, playground equipment, etc. I see no reason they would not also weigh in on dogs, given the number of ER visits related to dog bites.

This issue strikes close to home for me, as we had a dog with guarding issues who was quite unstable and attacked people without warning. Otherwise the smartest, most obedient dog I have ever had. 3 different trainers told us that this dog would never be safe around strangers, and thus we had to have him put down. Unusual behavior in an Australian Shepherd, a breed I researched carefully. The breeder came with excellent references, and my only regret is that I did not have him put down earlier, before he bit my mother and my cousin and completely terrorized the children.

In my mind buying one of the more dangerous breeds is like buying a car that has low rankings by Consumer Reports. You may not end up regretting it, but the odds are higher than if you choose one of their top picks.

[Amapola]

In fairness to the breeds of dog that have been singled out as "dangerous"... One of the reasons is, all these dogs are relatively large. *IF* they do bite, it's a serious thing. Being bitten by a chihuahua, although perhaps far more likely, is not as serious. Therefore these bigger breeds end up being responsible for more damage. This does tend to cast them in an unfairly bad light. Not all of them are bad.

And to be fair to the other side, for this reason, these breeds are more likely to be involved when a human has been fatally bitten.

One of my vets told me Cocker Spaniels were the worst breed about biting. I don't know if she was going by nationwide statistics, or personal experience.

I agree with Cicero that having Cesar Milan get involved in evaluating a dog for the first-family-to-be would be very cool. In fact, I think it would be great if people were much more educated about animals. For one thing it would really help out the dogs.

[Tricky]

What sort of Humane Society would discourage adoption of these breeds when their mission is to find homes for all breeds? You mean The Inhumane Society.
They probably would like to match these breeds with appropriate families. Since young kids tend to have less sense on how to deal with dogs, they might try to match them with families with no young children.

I don't believe The Humane Society is in favor of getting a pet to anyone who will take them. Especially gerbils.

[Cicero]

The CDC takes on some issues that are not typically considered diseases: anything that causes injury or premature death. Thus they have weighed in on smoking, seatbelts, playground equipment, etc. I see no reason they would not also weigh in on dogs, given the number of ER visits related to dog bites.

This issue strikes close to home for me, as we had a dog with guarding issues who was quite unstable and attacked people without warning. Otherwise the smartest, most obedient dog I have ever had. 3 different trainers told us that this dog would never be safe around strangers, and thus we had to have him put down. Unusual behavior in an Australian Shepherd, a breed I researched carefully. The breeder came with excellent references, and my only regret is that I did not have him put down earlier, before he bit my mother and my cousin and completely terrorized the children.

In my mind buying one of the more dangerous breeds is like buying a car that has low rankings by Consumer Reports. You may not end up regretting it, but the odds are higher than if you choose one of their top picks.


Contrary to Rolls Royce advertising, automobiles do not have breeding. Comparing Consumer Reports car reviews to some amorphous breeder recommendation is folly at best. The insight into a purebreds temperament is to be found in the family lineage and personal interaction with the subject dog before making a commitment.

There are no such things as inherently dangerous breeds, only inherently dangerous and unconscionable breeders and owners. If a person buys a dog whose parents were selected for their aggressive nature, then you will get an aggressive offspring. If you are a passive owner and abdicate control of your dog, they will never understand what the boundaries are.

It sounds as if your hound was just not breed for your lifestyle or intentions. I think your "trainers" were incompetent and concentrated all their feckless efforts on the dog while ignoring you.

I don't know how you missed this common warning label on the breed you chose to be around your children:

***.."Aussie Shepherds with strong working instinct may show more reserved, guarding behaviors along with a tendency to chase or nip at running children or strangers if not properly trained. Its protective instinct and behaviors can be frightening to children, strangers, and small animals. Those bred for a more family-oriented temperament are more friendly and affectionate with strangers and more reliable around children."..***

[Tricky]

There are no such things as inherently dangerous breeds, only inherently dangerous and unconscionable breeders and owners. If a person buys a dog whose parents were selected for their aggressive nature, then you will get an aggressive offspring. If you are a passive owner and abdicate control of your dog, they will never understand what the boundaries are.

Are you seriously suggesting that there are no breeds which have been selected for their aggresive tendancies? Or that most of the vetenarians are lying to us.?

Certainly, good training can reduce the chance that a so-called "dangerous breed" will harm someone, but it doesn't eliminate the possibility or change the statistics on dog attacks.

Why do you think four out of your favorite five breeds are among those most often used as guard dogs? Pure training? Heck, St. Bernards and Great Danes are bigger than any of your favorites. Why are they so rarely used as guard dogs? If it's all training, then it would make sense to use them. Could it be that they aren't inherently aggressive enough?

[Kaylee]

Peruvians crazy about their national dog, a bald and often toothless breed popular among Incan kings, offered Monday to send a hypoallergenic puppy to the Obama family. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/us_obama_dog)


http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/thum_4302491ad324cfa43.jpg (http://forums.randi.org/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=14274)

Think the Obamas will go for it?

Galvez has a 4-month-old pedigree puppy to send to the Obama family. For now, she is calling it Ears because it has two large, perky ones.

"But if we send it to the United States, its official name will be Machu Picchu," she said, referring to the ancient Incan citadel, Peru's top tourist attraction.

Yoda would be more apt, I think... :D

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/4302491ad60bcb062.jpg (http://forums.randi.org/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=14275)

Whatever the Obamas decide, kudos to the Peruvians for turning this into a diplomatic opportunity. :D ;)

[gdnp]

Contrary to Rolls Royce advertising, automobiles do not have breeding. Comparing Consumer Reports car reviews to some amorphous breeder recommendation is folly at best. The insight into a purebreds temperament is to be found in the family lineage and personal interaction with the subject dog before making a commitment.
How well can you diagnose springer spaniel rage syndrome in a 12 week old puppy?

There are no such things as inherently dangerous breeds, only inherently dangerous and unconscionable breeders and owners. If a person buys a dog whose parents were selected for their aggressive nature, then you will get an aggressive offspring.
Australian shepherds are not bred for their aggressive nature. Ever. The parents were not aggressive, and the puppy did not seem particularly aggressive at 12 week. If you are a passive owner and abdicate control of your dog, they will never understand what the boundaries are.
Trust me, we were not passive owners. we consulted 3 different trainers, and followed through between visits. The dog would sit, stay, heel, come when off the leash even when a squirrel ran by. He would also attack anyone and everyone without warning. None of his lineage or siblings displayed any such behavior, at least according to the breeder.
It sounds as if your hound was just not breed for your lifestyle or intentions. I think your "trainers" were incompetent and concentrated all their feckless efforts on the dog while ignoring you.
"90% of training a dog is training the owners, not the dog." How many times did I hear that? You seem to be working on the basis of a No True Scotsman fallacy

I don't know how you missed this common warning label on the breed you chose to be around your children:

***.."Aussie Shepherds with strong working instinct may show more reserved, guarding behaviors along with a tendency to chase or nip at running children or strangers if not properly trained. Its protective instinct and behaviors can be frightening to children, strangers, and small animals. Those bred for a more family-oriented temperament are more friendly and affectionate with strangers and more reliable around children."..***

We are not talking about normal herding behavior here, but unprovoked aggression. A dog displaying guarding behavior typically goes through various stages: First they will stare, then curl their lips and snarl or growl, then bark, then snap, then attack until the threatening person backs off, which terminates the attack. Our dog would go directly from a stare to an all-out attack, biting and holding on. If you backed off he would pursue you. This happened both with strangers and with me and my wife: the only difference is that after he attacked us he would grovel and pee on the floor, typical submissive behavior.

Two different trainers with extensive experience (one who stopped by on the way back from an appearance on Good Morning America) diagnosed this as Springer Spaniel rage syndrome. (http://www.vetinfo4dogs.com/daggressp.html)

Then again, you never met the dog but have one in your avatar, so I guess that makes you an expert.

[Cicero]

Then again, you never met the dog but have one in your avatar, so I guess that makes you an expert.

Anybody who proudly proclaims:

***.."and my only regret is that I did not have him put down earlier..."..***

when the animal has no life threatening (or interminable pain) health problems, or a court order to be destroyed, is indeed impervious to enlightenment from either expert or novice.

[BenBurch]

I think its the kids who need to decide. I'm betting they pick a Westie from the Westie rescue groups...

[gdnp]

Anybody who proudly proclaims:

***.."and my only regret is that I did not have him put down earlier..."..***



I do not proudly proclaim. I regretfully state. I have owned 6 dogs in my life. He was my favorite. He was, however, a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. The easy thing to do would have been to send him back to the breeder and have her try to place him. I saw that as an abdication of my responibility: like selling a car to someone when you know the brakes are bad.

when the animal has no life threatening (or interminable pain) health problems, or a court order to be destroyed, is indeed impervious to enlightenment from either expert or novice.The dog, who I loved dearly, had an incurable mental disorder that made him a danger to my family and anyone else that entered our property. Court orders to have a dog put down typically come after the dog has caused serious injury or death. Don't you think that is a bit late? Do you want another Congo (http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2008/06/policecongo_involved_in_anothe.html)?

[Cicero]

It seems First Lady To Be is waffling on when the parents make good on their puppy promise. Michele Obama has pushed the selection time for a dog back to Spring 2009.



cleon:
So much for H.G. Wells.

[Cleon]

It seems First Lady To Be is waffling on when the parents make good on their puppy promise. Michele Obama has pushed the selection time for a dog back to Spring 2008.

So that's how they won the election. They've mastered the art of time travel.

[Cicero]

Seems my canine choice was somewhat on target as it was selected by the VPOTUS-elect.

"Biden selected a three-month-old male German shepherd from one of breeder Linda Brown's litters, a puppy that will turn out to be a "big boy," Brown said with a chuckle."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=404x27111


Of course there will be protests from those who beleive Biden should have adopted a rescue animal.

[Darth Rotor]

German Shepherd's dangerous?

To whom?

My cousin has had two, both excellent and fantastic dogs. A well trained German shephers is a fine dog. Then again, with all the SS around, a dog well suited to protect the kids might or might not be the right breed.

By the way, who says the dog has to travel on AF one?

Leave dog at home when traveling. Dog can handle it. There is bound to be someone on WH staff who can keep an eye on the First Canine.

DR

[Cicero]

Obama has narrowed his selection down to a Labradoodle and a Portuguese Water Dog. If only he was as deliberative in his choice for Commerce Secretary as he is for his family pet.

[gdnp]

Obviously this item of vital national interest has kept you up at night.

[Cicero]

Obviously this item of vital national interest has kept you up at night.

Well, you can tell a lot about a person in regards to the type of dog they chose for a family companion. I can't help it if Obama agonizes over this decision more than his cabinet selections. Perhaps he knows that the dog selection is a life long commitment, while a cabinet selection has a life expectancy of a year (or less) to four years.

[gdnp]

Well, you can tell a lot about a person in regards to the type of dog they chose for a family companion. I can't help it if Obama agonizes over this decision more than his cabinet selections. Perhaps he knows that the dog selection is a life long commitment, while a cabinet selection has a life expectancy of a year (or less) to four years.

Or alternatively he has been too busy with his cabinet choices to give this much thought...

[Tricky]

Or alternatively he has been too busy with his cabinet choices to give this much thought...
Or alternatively alternatively, he's letting his daughters have a big voice in the choice, and he's giving them time to "shop". I think I read something though where he said this was "Harder than picking his cabinet." I'm pretty sure it was tongue-in-cheek.

[Cicero]

Or alternatively alternatively, he's letting his daughters have a big voice in the choice, and he's giving them time to "shop". I think I read something though where he said this was "Harder than picking his cabinet." I'm pretty sure it was tongue-in-cheek.

His tongue may have been firmly planted in his check before his decisions were made public, but now I'll take what he said at face value. Gov. Napolitano for Homeland Security? Head scratch.

[Puppycow]

Labradoodle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labradoodle)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/db/Labradoodle_Assistance_Dogs.jpg

Portuguese Water Dog (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugese_water_dog)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/C%C3%A3o_de_agua_Portugu%C3%AAs_2.jpg/250px-C%C3%A3o_de_agua_Portugu%C3%AAs_2.jpg
(Never heard of that one before)

[Cicero]

"During his visit to Europe last week, President Obama held a town hall meeting in Strasbourg, France, taking several questions from the audience. You just knew one of them had to be about a dog.

One young woman in a crowd of mostly French and German students asked, "I was wondering if the dog was already in the White House or not."

The president's response: "This is a very important question in the United States, what kind of dog and when we're getting it." Ah, but there were no additional clues. All he added was that a new puppy "should be there soon."

Maybe they can call the pooch "Raptor" in memory of the doomed F-22.

[Puppycow]

Why don't they just get a dog already? Why is this so hard?

[Darat]

Didn't they say sometime ago that they were looking to get the dog in April?

[Redtail]

Maybe they can call the pooch "Raptor" in memory of the doomed F-22.

What?

[webfusion]

Yep. Good natured mutt. Nothing purebread, nothing elitist/designer. I suspect he has already put together a search committee to vet potential candidates...

Ouch.


Apparently, the Portugese Water Dog is one of the possibilities.
http://animal.discovery.com/tv/dogs-101/puppy-polls/obama-puppy/poll.html

[Cicero]

Didn't they say sometime ago that they were looking to get the dog in April?

"In April, Mrs. Obama says – after she and the President take daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, on a vacation for spring break.

Here's a sample of a typical family conversation on the matter: "So Sasha says, 'April 1st.' I said, 'April.' She says, 'April 1st.' It's, like, April!," Mrs. Obama recalls. "Got to do it after spring break. You can't get a new dog and then go away for a week."

But they didn't say what year.

[rwguinn]

Didn't they say sometime ago that they were looking to get the dog in April?
They won't let you adopt a pet if you're never at home!

[mhaze]

See: http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?postid=4184687#post4184687

And:

http://forums.randi.org/picture.php?albumid=5&pictureid=144

http://forums.randi.org/picture.php?albumid=5&pictureid=8

Darat is right - the rank, muddy, matted, totally gross Bouvier de Flanders is the only suitable dog for the White House. Just wait until that demon of a devil dog races in comes in from the rain and shakes the mud, fleas, ticks, half eaten poodles bones and chunks, water, and other unthinkable things from that six inch coat, while there is some high level social function.

Yes sir eeee. Them ladies would shriek, they would. The entire White house would develop a strong smell like rancid pig fat mixed with rotten fish. The bottoms of clean trousers and skirts would fade to a brown over the last foot near the floor, from the trillions of fleas.

Not a kind and gentle house dog, but the only known dog to bite Hitler, upon which he issued orders to kill them all. And the Bouvier (Let us not desparage it's ancestry by calling it dog) knows nothing but herding sheep. Or things like sheep.

Sheeple would do nicely.

[Dr Adequate]

Not a kind and gentle house dog, but the only known dog to bite Hitler ... You say that like it's a bad thing.

[Cicero]

You say that like it's a bad thing.

Hitler tested one of the cyanide capsules on Blondi, his GSD, before he and his bride Ava chomped on them. . Maybe Obama should reconsider and get a German Shepherd as revenge for what happened in April, 1945?

[mhaze]

You say that like it's a bad thing.Did not mean to so imply. It's an unusual breed, typically very intelligent, very independant, yet the worst nightmarish version of "Bethovan ".

[Cicero]

Portuguese water dog named Bo. The 6-month-old puppy is a gift from Sen. Ted Kennedy.


http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/04/white_house_dog_and_water_houn.html

This is an example of a Kennedy contribution that far exceeds what Camelot Caroline could offer to the First Family.

[Dr Adequate]

American water dogs not good enough for him eh?

[Cicero]

American water dogs not good enough for him eh?

Hell, I wanted him to get a GSD from the Czech Republic.

[TjW]

Hell, I wanted him to get a GSD from the Czech Republic.

Yeah, right. If they kept a dog was sent out of its birth country against its will, certain portions of the media would lambaste Obama for caching a bounced Czech.

[gdnp]

Finally, our long vigil is over and Ted Koppel can go back to his regular program...

[Cicero]

First Puppy Addresses Nation

"I am thrilled to be the newest member of the Obama administration. Although not a rescue, as many of you had hoped, I did come from Ted Kennedy, and while I appreciate his service to the nation, I am pleased to no longer have to drive in a car with him.

But even though I am an Obama, I am also a Kennedy. So as I assume office, I say to all of you ask not what your country can hump for you, ask what you can hump for your country."

And now something for the HufPo audience:

"Although I hold a position of considerable influence, I do not read newspapers or watch television. Rather, I sniff trees, bushes and garbage. That is how I pick up information. Dried pee -- that is my Fox News. (For some of you, I'm guessing it's yours, too)."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-marshall/first-puppy-addresses-nat_b_186422.html

[mortimer]

How long before the puppy has to withdraw his nomination as First Dog because he has past unpaid taxes?

[Cicero]

How long before the puppy has to withdraw his nomination as First Dog because he has past unpaid taxes?

Or because Bo-bama's tics outnumber Camelot Caroline's nervous tics. But the pooch would be dead from Lyme Disease before he could match that number.

[Dr Adequate]

When will the White House release his birth certificate?

[Cicero]

PETA at it again.

"Now that you have brought a dog into your family, we urge you to take a most important action—have Bo sterilized. We are sending you a coupon good for one free sterilization at PETA's SNIP clinic, which you are welcome to use or pass on to a member of your Cabinet or someone in a low-income neighborhood of Washington, D.C." President Ingrid Newkirk,


http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2009/4/13/peta-urges-obama-to-snip-bo-the-first-dog.html

But Bo-bama is already neutered.

[gdnp]

Thank god. I couldn't sleep with the worry.

[Puppycow]

Oh, look. Bo already has his own wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_(dog)).

Compare to Barney's wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_(dog)).

ETA: Barney's page doesn't mention whether he was neutered.
It does have this nuggest however:
Barney has also been criticized by Russian President Vladimir Putin who feels a world leader should own large robust dogs, not smaller breeds such as the Scottish Terrier. At a later date, when Putin introduced Bush to Koni, his black labrador, Putin is reported to have remarked that Koni is "(b)igger, tougher, stronger, faster, meaner, than Barney."[2]:rolleyes: