Obama Narrows First Dog Choice to Labradoodle, Portuguese Water Dog
Photo credits (l-r): pgaa.com, Getty Images North America, Hydrangea CC 2.0In the race for the closely watched appointment to the incoming Obama White House, that of who will be the Obamas' family dog, there are now two front runners: the Portuguese Water Dog, seen above to the left, and the Labradoodle, seen above to the right.
"This has been tougher than finding a commerce secretary." On ABC's This Week, Barack Obama revealed to George Stephanopoulos that the search had narrowed to the two breeds. "We're now going to start looking at shelters to see when one of those dogs might come up," said the President-Elect. "This has been tougher than finding a commerce secretary."
While both the breeds have much in common, including a medium build and a reputation as high-energy hounds, the two breeds are distinct. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Portuguese Water Dog is "prized by fisherrmen for a spirited, yet obedient nature, and a robust, medium build that allowed for a full day's work in and out of the water." The dog has historically been used for "retrieving broken nets, herding schools of fish, and carrying messages between boats and to shore." Take that, Lassie.
The Labradoole, meanwhile, isn't recognized as an "official" breed by the AKC, but is one of the most popular dog breeds today. A mix of a Labrador retriever and a poodle, the dog was first bred in 1989 in Austrailia. Because the hybrid dog is a relatively recent creation, puppies can have a wide range of characteristics, but most are friendly, energetic and good for families with children.
No word on the when the official selection will take place, but we certainly hope that we'll see the First Dog make an appearance on Inauguration Day.
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