Portuguese Water Dog? Goldendoodle? Labradoodle?: The Search is on for Presidential First Mutt
Choosing a Hypoallergenic Dog for the First Family
From the moment the newly elected President uttered his words of promise on stage in Grant Park in Chicago on November 4, the nation has been abuzz with speculation as to which particular kind of dog will be chosen. Everyone from dog breeders to those with a casual interest have expressed an opinion on what breed or type would be best. Or worst. Or should not even be considered.
It is a strange phenomenon, this avid interest in the dog-in-chief. It is also heartening to see so many people taking such an interest in something so inconsequential and mundane as the choice of a family pet for the President-Elect's and his family.
Things did not get any better when President-Elect Obama held his first press conference Friday, November 7, and answered Chicago Sun-Times reporter Lynn Sweet's question about the dog choice. "This is a major issue," he deadpanned. Increased interest came with the information that one of President-Elect Obama's daughters, Malia, is allergic, so the Obamas are in the market for a hypoallergenic dog. President-Elect Obama also mentioned that the family would rather adopt a 'shelter dog.' He then said that this could prove problematic because shelter dogs tend to be mutts. Then he added, much to the shock of most present, "...like me."
"Mutts like me." This bit of self-deprecating humor by the President-Elect has also led to a tremendous interest in mutts and all things mutt. And the information given has opened up speculation of the potential First Dog or dog-in-chief (the mutt-in-chief?) to include mixed breeds as well.
One of those "mutts" is the goldendoodle, a mixed breed of golden retriever and poodle. This seems to be the preferred dog of Malia. Goldendoodles.com refers to the shaggy dog as having a greater longevity than both parent lines and as being "allergy friendly." Goldendoodles grow to 25-45 pounds.
A Portuguese Water Dog is also rumored to be in the running for First Dog. The Portuguese Water Dog Club of America website lists the breed as hypoallergenic due to its lack of a shed-able undercoat. They are a medium-sized dog and grow to between 35-60 pounds. The PWD (as they're referred to) is a pure breed that dates back centuries. But if a mutt is what the President-Elect wants, a Portuguese Water Dog will not become the First Dog.
Labradors have been mentioned as a possible choice as well. Labrador breeds are short-haired dogs and can grow to 55 -70 pounds, although some males have been known to get as large as 100 pounds. A Labrador and poodle mixed breed, a Labradoodle, would probably be the dog the Obamas would choose (poodles are especially hypoallergenic dogs). Labradoodles are slightly larger than poodles.
All these breeds are known to be good with children.
In the end, the choice of the mutt-in-chief or the purebred-in-chief will be the decision of the First Family. And what better dog than a mixed breed mutt for the First Dog? President-Elect Obama's joke aside, there is nothing more American than a good ole mutt. Pure lines are distinctly un-American.
Because America is a mutt nation, a melting pot born of the best and worst, the disenfranchised, the dispossessed, the adventurous, the rich, the poor, the lande, the slave, the indentured servant, the royal and the remittance purebloods. We are a nation of the indigenous, the European, the African, the Asian, and every conceivable mix of race imaginable.
So our President-to-be refers to himself as a mutt. And so are we all -- mutts like him. How many Americans among us can say that we are not? Not one.
It would be only fitting for the First Dog to be a mutt. Of course, then he would be the First Mutt.
Source:
Boston.com
CNN Television
Goldendoodles.com
PWDCA.org
Wikipedia.org
Published by Saul Relative
WVU graduate, with degrees in History, English, Secondary Education, Computer Programming, and Psychology (and nearly a degree in Political Science). Originally from West Virginia, with stints in Virginia,... View profile
Barack Obama's Comment Offended His Children and Mine by Referring to Hi...Mr. President Elect, my child is NOT a mutt.- Barack Obama and the BreedistsDiscrimination in our country doesn't stop with humans
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8 Comments
Post a CommentI love your picture of the Goldendoodle.
We're all problematic, SummerIsEnding. I believe he was referring to the problems of finding a hypoallergenic dog amongst the myriad mutt combinations, but you never know. Obama seems to be a very introspective person...
Is he implying mutts are no good by saying they are problematic!? Wouldnt that be like saying, he himself is no good if he is so quick to refer to himself as a mutt? Yikes, I voted for him!
I'm voting for the Goldendoddle, though I'm sorry there has to be a doddle involved. Darn those allergies!
With a war overseas and a dismal economy, the nation sits quivering on the edges of their seats in anticipation as Persident-elect Obama chooses his................dog?
It will be fun to have young ones in the White House again...and their dog, of course! (Hope it doesn't bite anyone, like Bush's dog recently did.)
can't wait to see which one, great job!
I'm eager to see which breed they choose. I wonder if they will go with a mutt or not. I also wonder how come there is never a kitten or cat. There must be a tradition of dogs in the White House - compared to cats.