Portie - or porty - is the new white house dog

Well, finally a story everyone has been panting after. It's "barking" news, and we "unleash the news" a Portuguese water dog has been chosen by the Obamas as the first dog.

The president has been "dogged" by reporters who have been "gnawing" at the story since he made the mention at grant part. As we are "sinking our teeth" into the story, here is our first impression.

Well, I can't say that I am not disappointed that its not a shichon in the white house, but the Obamas have chosen and there it is.

Now we can put it behind us and get back to shichons.

Obamas Make a Dog Breed Choice - a Portugese Water Dog

According to the LA Times stpory Obama Portugese "First Dog will be a rescued Portuguese water dog, says Michelle Obama". The Obamas have chosen a Portugese Water Dog as their top, or their official white house dog.

Well, at least we know what type of dog breed we will have in the white house. Too bad its not a shichon.

Photo by Hollow-Industries.

Dog paws, dog booties and melting salt on sidewalks

As you know I love to watch my shichon play in the snow. Especially when the snow is fresh and his fur is grown out I think he looks just like an ewok-dog when he struggles through the drifts.

Here is what I mean



However what I have noticed is NOT fun is when are walking around on the sidewalks and they start to limp because their little paws are hurting. I have observed this several times and I am starting to suspect that rock salt put on the sidewalks to melt the snow away may be hurting my shichon.

I concerned about this and have been thinking this over and one of the reasons that I have been having such a hard time about this is that I am also vehemently opposed to any type of dog clothing. I think that in general the dogs dont like it, they look stupid and it borders on animal abuse.

Here is however a site which may change my mind. Check out the dog booties site created by some folks from Minesotta - and they know what cold means. I love that their tag line is:

When it is 50 below, do you really think man's best friend cares if his boots are pretty?

What do you think?

Obama puppy

So what are the Obamas waiting for? They moved in, the girls are in school - what else is there to be done? Is Barrack too busy to shop for a puppy for his girls? Clearly he doesn't have his priorities straight. I would highly recommend a design breed - a mutt if you like, Mr. Obama - shichon.

We are waiting with anticipation for your next appointment, the appointment of the white house dog!

Happy New Year

I can't help but to re-use my post from last year... Here is our little teddy bear dog as Santa!

Top white house dog breeds for Obama

Unfortunately the shichon - the cutest teddy bear dog breed of the mix breeds will not appear in the results of the American Kennel Club poll to help recommend the next white house dog.

In August, more than 42,000 Americans cast their vote in the AKC®'s poll to determine the right breed of dog for the Obamas at www.presidentialpup.com. The Poodle was chosen from a list of five hypoallergenic breeds, each with distinct characteristics that made them uniquely suited for Obama's daughter who suffers from allergies.

The top white house dogs in question were:

- bichone frise
- The Chinese Crested
- The Miniature Schnauzer
- The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
- The poodle

Of course we feel deeply disapointed that no mixed breed dogs made it on the list so a shichon is a write in for us. All of the dogs on the list are hyperalergenic and so is our little teddy bear shichon.

Of course it would be fitting that Obama pick a mutt - after his own admission.

First Dog exclusive: Will a shi-tzu beat out the shichon?

I was disappointed to see that a shichon was not included in this Vote for first dog - the white house dog Chicago Tribune poll.

Barack Obama promised his daughters they could get a puppy if he ran for President. What kind of dog should the Obama family bring to the White House?

Currently the "shelter dog" is running in first place with Goldendoodle in second place with 2166 votes and a shi-tzu in third place.

However to a keen eye an interesting trend emerges. the Shi-tzu is in third place with 1587 votes and a Bichon Frise is in fifth place. However if you combined the two dogs, which is what a shichon is - a Bichon Frise and a Shit-tzu - you get a front runner.

There you have it... the Shichon deserves the presidential obama family first dog spot in the administration - the white house dog.

Shelter dog (11052 responses)

53.8%

Chihuahua (252 responses)

1.2%

Bichon frise (1193 responses)

5.8%

Yorkie (1221 responses)

5.9%

Chinese Crested (97 responses)

0.5%

Schnauzer (985 responses)

4.8%

Basset hound (622 responses)

3.0%

Goldendoodle (2166 responses)

10.5%

Shih Tzu (1587 responses)

7.7%