The best dog for the Obama family is a rescued Greyhound! (Photo alert...)

Why a greyhound? Well, they are sleak and thin like Barack. They run fast. They are gentle. There are many that need to be rescued because they retire from racing, although the Obamas want a puppy. Still, have you ever seen a greyhound puppy? Wow...

Washington DC greyhound rescue: http://www.greyhoundwelfare.org/

Here is a list of nearly hypoallergenic dogs (there is no completely zero-level hypoallergenic dog):

:hi:

I knew before I got to the bottom of this post that the very first comment was going to be from Hepburn!:hi:

The Scottie made me do it! :evilgrin:

Did you see that idiot reporter stick his hand in front of Barney's face? Stupid reporter.

Barney did what comes natural to any dog under the cirumstances. IMO, you do not approach a dog that is unknown to you when you and the dog are in a crowd with a lot of activity going on and then take your hand, palm down, towards the face of the dog.

What did the reporter expect? :shrug:

I train and breed some very man-sharp dogs. In the house, in the yard, in the car, or their kennel when I am not around, the dogs are free to decide how to handle a situation. Once they are on lead, I DECIDE HOW THINGS ARE HANDLED and they better not do anything but sit there and tolerate anything that is done to them and wag their tail, unless I tell them differently. For their tests under the German system their testicles, teeth, ears, coats, and feet are handled by four different judges. They know better thant to show aggression. If I leave them in my car and go to the grocery store, you would be a fool to open the door.

Barney is an ill-behaved dog and breed does not excuse it.

At least the girls could give him the attention he needs. I'm far from a professional, but I attribute his "behavior" to be being ill-trained, and his being ill-trained to being neglected. It's embarassingly obvious that he hates President Georgie and hates being on a leash. A long time ago, dog-owner friend told me that a dog who doesn't get the message that you're in charge will take charge himself, because that's in their nature.

:headbang:
rocknation

If the dog does not respect your authority to handle the situation, they will handle it as they see fit. I also don't believe the whole "it's the breed, they cannot help it" routine. My dogs are true "manstoppers", and if they can mind their manners when told to do so, that little Scottie can as well.

I don't think 101 would fit in the White House though!

In fact, in DC, he is part of a National Monument to one of our most beloved, my favorite, and the best prez IMO to date this country has ever had.

Here is your homework, OK? Look up the Scottish Terrier known as Fala and find out which party is the true owner the of the Scottish Terrier, OK?

Here is the bronze of Fala as he proudly sits at this presidential monument in Washington, DC:



Duh........:eyes:

Nice pictures. I'd love to see them adopt a greyhound from the racetrack that Mass just voted to close. Those dogs are going to be looking at hard times come 2010.

Do you know how huge they are? How powerful?

A dog is not great, unless it is well-matched with an appropriate owner.

I'll never forget the video of Nancy Reagan trying to walk some huge dog that Pres. Reagan got for her. Nancy Reagan, petite and very thin and weak physically, trying to walk some dog almost as big as she is, and of course much more powerful. The dog was walking HER. They got rid of the dog in short order and got one a more suitable size and with a non-dominant personality.

Dogs for little girls....that's what they are looking for.

Lucky was a Bouvier des Flandres, given to Nancy Reagan by the 1985 March of Dimes poster child, Kristen Ellis. The dog was named after Mrs. Reagan’s mother, Edith Luckett Davis.

Lucky nipped Reagan's hindquarters (a maneuver to move cattle along), enough to draw blood. Reagan did not have the patience or personality traits to successfully interact with the rambunctious dog, so Lucky was retired to the ranch.

My son grew up with an 80 pound dog, and all was well. It's a dog for the family and not just for the kids. But truly - I know I am not making the decision for the Obama family so I'm not that invested.

The best dog I ever had was my wire fox, Andy. A wire fox might be a little too nuts, though.

I'm all for the rescue of greyhounds, so don't get me wrong, but they're very tempermental as a result of their mistreatment. I know several ADULTS who have adopted them, but it's been advised you DO NOT bring one in a house with children.

Now, some of your other choices might suit better.

BTW, my vote is for allergy shots and a Laborador. :)

Laborador's are FANTASTIC with children and, studies have shown that the longer a child is exposed to animals, the less their allergies become.

Edited to add a link to the story about children, pets and allergies: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=116852&page=1

I have had two and they were as kind, loving, patient and gentle with the kids as could be.

There are exceptions to every rule--the "high prey drive" ones are best in homes w/o cats or kids, but the majority of my friends and acquaintences with greys had no problems with kids and mine were amazing with them.

Because it's utterly false. Greyhounds are big pushovers: docile, unaggressive and gentle. My children were 5 and 8 when we adopted our two retired racers.

Retired racers are unfamiliar with living in houses though. They don't know stairs, windows (ours each tried to go out the sliding door while it was closed), TVs, etc., etc. They are fast learners though and very easily trained. They are leash trained very early so there is no tugging and pulling like other dogs. Give them a comfy bed or a spot on the couch and they will become a happy, loving member of the family in no time.

It says (I'm paraphrasing):

Greyhounds are built to run fast, to course after deer. Descriptions include lovable and tractable, high-strung, easily upset by sudden movements, stubborn, trainable only while calm. There is a divided opinion on the temperament of the Greyhound, some sources praising its friendliness and gentleness, others focusing on its potential for being high-strung and nervous.

Then it has a chart of ratings of different categories of temperament, as reported by owners. This is a factual chart, as reported by dog owners. For "emotional stability," it is rated low-very low. For obedience learning, it is rated low-very low. For "sociability with children," it is rated low-very low.

I'm sure the Greyhound, like all dogs, is a wonderful dog for some people to own. But clearly, it is an inappropriate dog for two young girls.

I have been around Greyhounds plenty and they are as gentle as can be. They may be a little bit harder to train than some other breeds, but they can be very good around kids and I know this from personal experience. No chart is going to convince me that my personal experience is wrong, I have never seen a mean greyhound in my life. They may exist, but it certainly would not be hard for the Obama's to find a good greyhound if that is what they want.

Facts are facts. But they are generalizations. There are always exceptions.

Greyhounds are huge, powerful dogs very well known for being high strung. That you have had good experiences between greyhounds and young girls is great. But that would be an exception, according to the reports of owners of the breed.

BTW, the neither the chart nor the description ever said the greyhound was mean. I think maybe you took more offense at the "high strung" description than the other owners of the breed intended.

I'm such an objective person that I am always baffled by what people take offense at. I have a rescued mutt and a rescued cocker spaniel. I previously had a rescued cocker spaniel and a rescued Lhasa Apso. Each of the dogs, and kind of dog, I had, had certain traits which would've made each one suitable, or not suitable, for certain types of owners. That doesn't mean any of my dogs was bad. He or she just wouldn't have been as good a fit with some owners as with others.

Me....I wouldn't do well with a dog that needed constant attention or activities with humans, since I live alone and work long hours. My dogs must be able to entertain themselves, plus play with me and go on walks and go through training, etc. Doesn't mean a hyper, needy dog is a bad dog. He just wouldn't be very happy with me, or me with him. A good match is what is most important.

High strung? Stubborn? Nervous?

Ridiculous!

They are the most easy to get along with animals I've ever had the joy to own. As I said, those who come from racing backgrounds have never set foot inside a home, so there are certain adjustments, all minor.

But temperament-wise, a pack of 5-year-olds could climb all over them and smother them with petting and kisses (I know, mine did!) without so much as a raised eyebrow. In fact, they are SO docile, when out for a walk we would have to be careful that OTHER dogs we encountered didn't get aggressive. Not because ours would attack, but because ours would be completely helpless and not have the faintest idea how to defend themselves. Literally. A nasty dog of most any size would have had his/her way with either of our two grays, assuming they were on a leash and couldn't outrun them.

If that book indeed says what you claim, it only proves, once again, that one does not have to know what one is talking about when one decides to put pencil to paper.

about the different breeds.

Your experiences are your experiences, right? So are the experiences of other owners of Greyhounds, and other breeds.

Also, when you research dogs (and I hope you do), you'll see that it doesn't mean much to get all upset about a general description. Full breed dogs have general traits. This is the advantage of getting a full breed dog. But those are GENERAL traits. There are always exceptions to the rule, and many who fall on the cusp of certain ranges of traits.

Then there is also the "well bred" vs. "puppy mill" type of full breed dog.

It doesn't mean any type of dog isn't good. Not at all. But there are definitely behavior and personality traits associated with certain breeds, as definite as their physical traits. If you are looking for a dog for an elderly person who stays at home a lot and watches TV, for instance, you're not gonna want to get that person an inside-hyper dog that needs a lot of exercise and requires a high level of social contact. Not that the person couldn't MAKE the dog work. But it would just be easier to get a dog known for not being hyper indoors, doesn't need a lot of people around, and is content to lie around for hours on end, while being devoted and loving to a human. Like a Basset Hound.

Just easier to start out with one that is known to already have the traits you're looking for.

I love all dogs. No offense was meant to Greyhounds. American Cocker Spaniels, esp. rescue ones like mine, are known for being hard to potty train and being sometimes unpredictable. Mine is not. But I don't take offense when someone says that. It is a generalized fact, is all.

As a member of a greyhound rescue group I can assure you the majority of rescues I've had experience with make wonderful family dogs. Remember, when the books were written few greys were owned as pets so I wouldn't go by their findings. These are gentle quiet dogs that would be wonderful for the girls. If the right one is chosen for them. And any good adoption agency would do just that. Many of our greys go on to families who come to adopt a second and even third. Which might be the one downside for the Obama's. Greyhounds are like potato chips, it's hard to have just one!

All the Greyhounds I have seen have been very calm and gentle dogs, my sister has a two year old and the dogs have always been very good with him.

Every time I go to PetSmart to get cat food, the Grayhound Rescue folks are there with their dogs, and I want one so badly. Of course my cats would never allow it, so I must leave them for someone else to adopt, but they're just the coolest dogs.

but honestly, pretty much the only one of these that look like a proper dog to me is the samoyed. I guess it shows how much I know about dogs, huh?

Regardless of what type of dog they get I hope they treat it right, and that they keep it on a leash when they're supposed to.

I swear, sometimes the things some people do to their dogs should constitute animal abuse. Since I'm not a dog person and have nearly no positive experience with dogs (the only dog I'm not actively afraid of is my landlord's 12-year old sheltie) I am afraid that some dog breeds are rumored to be less stable than others. I saw the BBC documentary about the hideous eugenic destruction of some dog breeds because of KC regulations, and I wouldn't want the Obama girls to get a less than healthy puppy. Nor do I want them to be in danger from the dog. I have not been bitten by a dog myself, but was a witness to a German Shepherd attack on a playmate while a child, so hence my fright of dogs, and insistence that they follow leash laws. I absolutely hate it when I have to ask dog owners to please hold their dogs so I can pass on the street, and they counter with the absolute nonsense "but he's such a nice dog".

that they were once used to smuggle lace and the silly haircut was actually the way they were trimmed to accomodate that use

They were originally bred to swim, to help hunters retrieve ducks and such that were in the middle of a lake. The hair was originally cut like that to help keep their joints warm when swimming, but elsewhere was cut short to reduce drag.

I have had two miniatures, and they look like sheep with a even cut. They do have to have haircuts because their hair grows to great curly lengths. In the winter with a longer haircut, I have been walking and someone said, "Whose polar bear?"

travel well. (Granted, they might not be getting out there as much as the adults of the first family, but there still might be a fair amount of going to and fro for them :) )

Nice compilation of pooches, btw!

Might be hard to find one in a shelter, I presume.

Glancing through your photo gallery of dogs, some of the woollier ones made my nose start itching just looking at them - and I'm not even allergic to dogs or cats!

Others do have an undercoat, but not much of one, or they don't shed much.

I don't know if poodles have an undercoat, but I do know that they don't shed. Yorkshire Terriers don't shed, either, and I know that they don't have an undercoat. Their fur is more like silky hair that a person has.

Unfortunately, both poodles and Yorkies don't do well with children. A dog for children has to be non-skittish, be fine with sudden movements or kids roughhousing with them, loud sudden noises, a child's playful squeal. A lot of the toy dogs don't do well with those situations, plus some are too delicate to be exposed to a child's roughhousing.

It's gonna be tough to find an appropriate dog, but I'm sure they will.

they will do is lick them to death

But Lhasa Apsos are not known for having lovable, friendly personalities.

But maybe they can find one.

do not shed. Dogs with hair shed. That's what makes poodles such a popular dog to mix with other dogs. people think the mix won't shed either, but it ain't necessarily so. I'm thinking the ones that shed are more of an allergy problem. Then, every room in which the dog is allowed has the hair, instead of just the room where the dog is at the moment.

He's a wonderful dog, don't get me wrong. Beautiful, playful, intelligent, loving but protective.

But he sheds. All the time. Every day.

Everyone I know who has Aussies says they shed.

I can't imagine them being "hypoallergenic" or even close. More like HYPERallergenic.

I dogsit for friends who have a rescue greyhound - he is the gentlest, laziest, and best with cats (they have 4 cats too, and they all sleep together) dog I have ever known.

No problems whatsoever, as those kitties own the place and the greyhound is their plaything.

However, I wouldn't suggest one for a child because of their size. Dh's grandmother had an adopted greyhound (ex-racing) and regularly knocked her down, at one time breaking her hip. Greyhounds are sighthounds and a challenge to train, especially off-leash. A poodle, labradoodle or something along that line would be easier to handle and train.

One breed which I would NOT recommend would be dachshunds, of which we own two.
They are far too obnoxious and self-centered, and would rip apart those White House antiques like a couple of mini-rottweilers.
Love them to death, however.

And some might be fine with cats, and some will not be safe around cats.

They ought to go pick out (rescue) a mutt from the pound. Sneds a pretty poor message to choose some AKC registered (read Elite) bred status symbol which are basically bought and sold as a commodity. Not only are mutts just as deserving and lovable as their aristocratic cousins, its would be a statement of diversity in the melting pot!

Matter of fact, I'll give them my dog that I saved from the pound here. She's a 35 lb. holstein terrier (black and white :) ).

...are very smart and affectionate...

I like greyhounds, but I think the girls are going to want a more cuddly dog personally. I know that greyhounds are very gentle, but they tend to be independent, especially the rescued racing dogs who haven't had a whole lot of close human contact in their youth.

My personal choice would be a Basenji or a Samoyed. They are smaller dogs and generally pretty well behaved and cuddly. Just my opinion...

choice for a family with a young child. When my son was a tot, I researched very carefully.

It has fur, not hair, so it does not shed and is therefore likely to be hypo-allergenic. Despite its name, it is not a true terrier, so it is not high strung like a terrier. It has ALWAYS been bred as a pet, rather than, say as a hunter or a herder or a watch dog, so it is very gentle. I had a visiting young toddle stomp gleefully hard on the dogs guts while the dog was lying on its side. (The child meant nothing by it.) The dog dis not even growl, just yelped and ran to hide.

When fully grown, it is about the size of a cocker spaniel and looks like a mini sheep dog, although many groomers cut the hair away so that the eyes and muzzle are not covered, like this adult.



As a puppy, OMG, it just could not be cuter, but I could not find a good pic online.

Supposedly, they were never sold, only given away, because they were considered a lucky charm. As the story goes, the then Dalai Lama gave some to an English doctor, in gratitude for her care.

Because they are pets, there are not many AKC rules about how they should look. The breeder from whom I bought told me the genetic black is best for breeding and you can show any color but beige. So, of course, I bought her beige puppy. (I'm a Democrat. I always choose the underdog, whether literally or figuratively, duh.)

Down side. Not that many left Tibet, so they can be overbred.

You can find a dog of almost any breed, including, that has been rescued and needs a permanent home.

If they get one of these, expect the SS to be chasing him down Pennsylvania Ave on a regular basis.

confinement. And are great escape artists.

I don't think the SS man would like to be on doggie detail!

Basenji's take "escape artist" to a whole new level. :)

Holy crap? Seriously? I thought my dog was smart, but that is crazy!

My dog once maneuvered boxes after we moved in so that she could reach a bowl of candy corn my fiancee had put out for Halloween. She moved 2 smaller boxes near a larger box that was close to the top of the bureau. She then used the boxes like steps to get to and eat nearly 2 pounds of candy corn. The 16 spots of sugary puke I cleaned up over the next 24 hours did not make me happy.

Sounds like she is smart! Of course, getting sick might have cured her of that. ;)

Basenji's are an interesting breed and their owners "often brag about the amount of destruction" their dogs have wreaked. I never even heard of them until I realized I had one in my mixed pup - now I'm reading everything I can on them. She's a trip. And yes, she can climb trees. :)

Getting sick didn't cure her, she still after anything and everything that is remotely food. We have to crate her when we leave the house because she's also figured out how to open the fridge door. I don't know how she does it. She's an Australian Cattle Dog mix (i think she might have some pit bull in her too, but I'm not sure.) She is incredibly intelligent. When she sees us putting on our shoes, she'll get into her crate because she knows we're leaving. She can identify which toy we want her to get when we tell her (donkey, baby, and ball). She plays hide and seek with her tennis balls. I want to get her into the agility dog training at some point. I'd even like to get her trained to be a rescue dog just to give her something to do.

OMG! That's awesome - and scary! (Pics please?)

BTW - welcome to DU! Have you visited the Pets forum? Sounds like you might like it there. :)

I'm thinking of doing agility with my pup too "just to give her something to do" and to get some energy out of her (mainly so she'll stop molesting me!) I'm a firm believer in "A tired dog is a good dog."

My mixed pup is part Basenji. I'm really wishing we knew that before we adopted her! (Just kidding - she's awesome and Basenji's are incredible - but I wouldn't recommend them for the Obama family yet.)

sorta sounds Democratic :)

in the White House atmosphere. And the ones who are lower drive are foofy. I vote greyhound, too. While they are a bitch if you lose one in a large field, they are pretty laid back in the house and generally have placid-to-shy personalities.

My vote is for a yorkie. Of course, I have one, which makes me biased, but I have granddaughters, and they dress her up, carry her everywhere and she's very gentle with all kids. Also, they don't shed, which makes them great for people with allergies (like me)

I'm a sighthound person myself. Greys are very sweet and good-natured, and while they're not rough-and-tumble dogs, they're fine with kids who treat them with regard and respect, they love comfort and affection, and are very calm and elegant. The Obama girls don't look like rough-and-tumble little monsters, in any case! :) So the personality match might be very good. You always want to meet the individual dog, of course.

I'm also a big fan of poodles. Lively, cheerful, and very smart!

Basically a wire-haired or curly-haired breed is best for a hypoallergenic choice (I question the Samoyed on that list - the coat structure doesn't seem to work for hypoallergenic), or of course one of the hairless breeds (some people don't like them, but I find them very appealing and unique - however they do tend to have more health problems than coated breeds), or a breed like the Yorkie which has the distinction of having no undercoat, just the silky topcoat. It's usually the undercoat that causes the allergy problems. Terriers, however, of any size, are feisty, and don't always make the best childrens' pets.

Personality-wise, I still think a short-haired sighthound, poodle, or labradoodle would be best.

omg, i love them!

Her face was just like that Maltese in the picture. And you couldn't have asked for a better dog. She actually saved us from having our house set on fire once, when my brother's blankie fell onto his night-light and started smoldering!

Good doggie!

There's one at my little guy's play care sometimes. Their long, sleek lines are a joy to behold. He's a rescue, and had a bad habit of nipping the other dogs' in the behind when they ran. :(

I would recommend a Schnauzer, if they can find a rescue puppy. They are sweet and smart, and funny! We had 2 when I was a little kid, Barnie and Sophie. They didn't shed, and they didn't bite - even with 2 rowdy little girls playing with them.

The Scottie is precious. They're such stocky, solid little guys, and black is my favorite color!

Beagles aren't on the hypoallergenic list, mine sheds, but they have the best personality in the world for kids. Loud, though!

I love greyhounds, and the idea of rescuing one, but little girls probably want something a little more furry and snuggly.

voting again for the Tibetan Terrier, bred quietly as pets by Buddhist monks for 2000 years and considered to bring good fortune to the family. (Hey, we still have re-election to worry about.) And cuddly. And hypoallergenic. And gentle with kids and adults. A terrier in name only (TINO), it's not as high strung as true terriers. And you can get a rescue Tibetan. And it's pretty dang cute, too, even as an adult. Look at this adult. And, as you can see, they love snow and cold. Chicago, where it will be in 8 or so years, can be cold in winter.

I think its funny all the attention this has gotten...but having kids and a dog in the White House...now THATS what I'm looking forward to!!!! : ) (and I love how President Obama said he wants a mutt, like himself... I just LOVE THAT MAN!!!!!)

:loveya:

Our doodle is the greatest dog! And as this picture shows, they're great with kids:

While I think a rescue greyhound is a good idea, an Italian Greyhound would be a better choice. Hypoallergenic, compact, freindly, and gentle. The downside is they are difficult to housebreak, but I'm sure the Obama's can find the resources of a good trainer.

and that any dog that weighs less than 100 lbs when grown doesn't really count as a dog in my mind. I grew up with Newfoundlands, but I suspect that they're not hypo-allergenic and I don't know that the ahem, ahem wetness would do well in the White House. I also love Bernese Mountain Dogs, but recognize that they wouldn't be a great choice in this case; the blizzard of black, rust and white hair that would float through every room in the White House would be a bit much.

Samoyed's are often good dogs, but tend to be aloof.

Portuguese Water Dogs are great dogs, and the one pictured here is show clipped; the PWD working clip is far nicer.

Any of the cow dogs are smart and self-directed; I'd suggest that the president would have to get a small herd of cows or sheep to put out on the lawn to give such a dog something to do in it's spare time.

The poodle-crosses (golden-doodles, labra-doodles, etc.) are good dogs, and smart as a dog is likely to get. The only dog smarter that I've met is a Puli - that might be a stretch :-).

A BdeF (Bouvier des Flandres ) is certainly big enough when grown, and with the right training would work very well with the Secret Service to keep the girls safe.

One of the best things in the world is scratching your dog. I've never seen a Bergamasco in the flesh, but I just can't imagine digging my fingers into that coat and having the intense tactile experience other dogs provide.

All in all, I'd suggest that the First Parents get a shelter to round up a whole passle of appropriate puppies and then let the girls come in and pick one. They're all good dogs. It would be really neat to do that at Best Friends, but lots of the dogs there aren't adoptable, that's how they get to be residents.

poodle show cut. Makes them look silly and what they are, are "real" dog dogs. I CAN see Obama walking a poodle with an all-over short trim. They are smart, big, strong dogs.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://www.dogsindepth.com/nonsporting_dog_breeds/american_eskimo_dog.html&h=336&w=400&sz=31&tbnid=26Ok_uSNkcMJ::&tbnh=104&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Damerican%2Beskimo&usg=__51Hw3kqMh08BvAe-VekKjNb9Jro=&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=4&ct=image&cd=1

They can be a bit ornery, willful, and/or nippy if they're not raised right, but raised the right way, they are great (as are most dogs).

Doctors told my parents when I was a child I should never have a dog because of severe allergies. As soon as I was old enough to move out, I bought a dog and have always had them since. Some I've had problems with, some not. The ones that were best with my allergies were a poodle, a shitzu and a yorkie. I'm sure there are many other breeds just as good for people with allergies and I wish them luck and happiness with which ever breed they choose.

I also had in the past two miniature poodles who were fun and brilliant. :)

PS...I am keeping fingers and toes crossed the the new First Family will find the dog of their hearts at a shelter. I do know that if they came to NYC and checked out the dogs in the shelters here, they would be able to find the pup of their dreams. :)

Such a kind, loving breed and what a great way to up adoptions off-track for these purebreeds that get put to death if they can't find homes!

find a Westie Rescue Group (they exist) and get one of those. It's about time a Westie was a White House dog!

Westies have strong personalities, refuse to be ignored, need regular exercise, and can dominate, if they are not handled correctly. This is beyond the ability of a child.

We have a local Westie rescue group. They will not adopt out to households with young children, and prospective owners must go through an interview to see if they can appropriately care for them.

Westies have certain needs. I have two rescue dogs. I am fairly good with dogs, but even I, a dog-owning adult, would think twice about getting a Westie because of the demands it would put on me. They become problems if they don't get what they need.

Still....they are the cutest darn dogs in the world. I just love 'em. Maybe I will get one one day, maybe after I retire when I have more time.

and they were the most awesome dogs ever. We did fine with them.

I used to have one and everything he touched became white with his fur. I absolutely adored him, but I can't believe they're hypoallergenic. I recommend against Labra- or Golden doodles. I'm a pro pet sitter and every one I have ever met is totally wired. They combine the very high energy (that requires a lot of exercise) and the goofiness of the retriever with the high strungness of the poodle. They combine the strength, heft and power of the retriever with the spring and athleticism of the poodle. They get very large and can be hard to handle. They are so smart that they can be very, very manipulative. If you're a first time dog owner and maybe not as smart as the dog, they will gain the upper hand and be difficult to manage. They're very good natured, but not the easiest dog.

They need a small dog that is easily controlled, but not so delicate that they could harm it or that is skittish around children (Yorkies are inappropriate for young children, though Yorkie would be fine for the older girl).

Greyhounds are quite large and it would be difficult for a small girl to play with one. The Havanese is a possibility...small but not too small, and they are playful & good natured. Bichon frise would be excellent, but they look hoity toity, so I don't think the girls would go for one of those. They belong to snooty people, oftentimes. Goldendoodle seems an excellent choice.

Many of the ones in your list are not at all good for allergy sufferers. Shih tzu & Llasas have very thick undercoats and shed profusely.

No traditional terriers. Terriers have very strong personalities, and owners must be good at training and controlling them. Plus, they need a lot of scheduled exercise. Like Cairn Terriers, Fox Terriers, etc.

Poodles aren't good for children. They can be high strung, and are delicate.

It's gonna be tough. Combining allergies with young children makes for a very small list to choose from.

Large dogs tend to have a more laid back disposition and tend to allow more mistreatment before doing anything than a small dog would. That said, these girls are 10 and 7. They aren't really that small and should know better than to mistreat a dog. I don't see why they shouldn't have a large dog. I'm sure there will be someone on staff to help train, house breaking and manners, whichever breed or mutt they choose.

Hannah is an SPCA dog who very well might be hypoallergenic. She already has considerable experience living in an historic home. Hannah has also been the very telegenic model of several Internet Photoshop send-ups.






Unfortunately, Hannah also has something of a habit of pooping on the floor of that historic home, which is why she's on thin ice there. She also has a habit of attacking and attempting to maim any and all other dogs, and she chases squirrels without regard to safety or command.

Truth be told, I think Hannah may be a white supremacist. She is particularly violent toward black cats.

But I have a lot of faith in the Obamas, and I'm certain Hannah would eventually make a good fit as First Dog. There is less concern about Hannah pooping all over the White House now that George Bush has done exactly the same thing for eight years.

The reason I ask is....I have a rescue dog (Rosie), and she looks a LOT like that picture, except her ears are prick instead of droop. I have no idea what kind of dog Rosie is, except that she seems to look a lot like a JRT.

So I'm just curious.

She's about beagle-sized and shaped, but she has an ack-ack bark instead of a roo-roo howl. She only barks when she's playing. She won't fetch or even chase a thrown object unless it's a toy of hers.

It's the same dog in all those pictures, but only the first one is un-manipulated.

They are the ones who shared their Daddy with us the last two years.

Because of their intensive and abused training they cannot be taken off the leash, and if they are off leash they will bolt and keep running.

People who rescue greyhounds should be given medals but having talked with several of them it is no picnic and not the playful type of pup that enjoys a lot of close contact with children.

They like to do a bit of sprinting then it is couch potato time. They are very gentle with children. It is true they need to be leashed when not in a confined area as they will take off after something but a fenced in area for free running is fine and leashed when not.

I've met a couple greyhounds (one of my coworkers from my previous job was a volunteer for a greyhound rescue group). Most often, it was Wally, who was just an awesome dog. Very mellow, at the office, he'd just lay down and snooze most of the time (they're sprinters - no endurance, so greyhounds tend to spend a lot of time sleeping.) Very mellow, not dominant at all and he enjoyed all the attention from us fellow dog lovers. Be careful if the dog sees a rabbit on the White House grounds - they will chase 'em! Do make sure they get proper exercise and they'll be fine.

Of course, any rescue dog would have to pass behavior testing - most humane societies will not allow dogs to be adopted that will snap at you if you do things like grab their food dish, get nasty if other dogs are around, etc. I'm confident that Obama and the humane society/greyhound rescue group that he chooses will do due diligence on this.

Certainly, Obama can handle this - he's the frackin' President - surely, there's staff that can help him with the dog, is there not?

It depends on the doggie.

I work in greyhound rescue. The reason the greyhound shouldn't be let off a leash is that it's a sighthound and it will by instinct chase after things. The same way a retriever would. Only instead of run and return, the greyhound runs until it catches. At 45mph you won't catch him. But I doubt these girls would have to worry. Besides rescued greyhounds are trained to walk on a leash at a very young age.

Saying it's no picnic is crazy. I don't know one greyhound owner who would say that. We're all trying to find ways to squeeze in one more grey into our homes. As for children, we have several families who've adopted greys. If the right dog is matched a grey would be wonderful. I know my male adores my nieces and nephews even though the youngest one falls on him once in a while. They're usually curled up together on the floor.

Borders are absolute sweethearts, playful, small (well under twenty pounds), easily trained, and one of the more mellow terriers. But they do have that terrier spark & need a significant amount of daily exercise and consistent training to be happy, well behaved and to keep from getting round (oh they love to eat!)

They look like little mutts and were bred to run with horses & hounds to flush fox out of holes if they go to ground (which is why they are a little taller & leggier than other terriers). However, this inbred trait makes them very unreliable off leash because they WILL go after squirrels with a single minded relentlessness that could get them run over.

Here is a pic of my now deceased Roxanne.

One of the best dogs I have ever had the pleasure to share my life with.

Maybe not so cute as some of the others, but boy are they fast! Lots of fun playing catch!

one of each! :-)

there are many breed specific rescue places across the country. I'm sure his office is being flooded with emails. I think he can definitely find a hypoallergenic dog from a rescue.

The coolest political dog EVAH is a border collie.

...but she doesn't really have an "Off" switch.

:rofl:

YORKIE

some of these breeds. And if I remember correctly, the Bedlington may not be the best choice for children. Also a breed with a coat that demands extra care or specialized care may not be such a great idea either.

He gave me the impression that a hypo-allergenic dog had to be purebred. But you're saying there's no such things as a 100% hypo-allergenic dog, and your pics indicate that the length of the dog's hair is not a factor. I guess it will all depend on how allergic Obama's daughter truly is.

At any rate, thanks to all for the education. Because DU-ers represent so many different walks of life, I can always count on someone being qualified to explain things like this!

:headbang:
rocknation

Job creation!