# Help the Obamas pick a dog! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 8, 2008, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716 "2008-07-08T17:09:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716/41 "2008-07-09T14:55:53Z")
Standard poodles are the way to go. I have two (both black) and they are increcible dogs. Both are smart as whips, good natured, very active and fun, and easy to maintain. I’ll post some pictures of both Jake and Lulu when I get home tonight. BTW, poodles are actually of German origin, so we can easily get around the French connection. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716/42 "2008-07-09T15:10:02Z")
It will make Putin happy! ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716/43 "2008-07-09T15:18:44Z")
[QUOTE=Sailboat] American Pit Bull Terrier. They’re great with children (used to be called “nanny dogs”) and they love strangers. An APBT would be a fine greeter for the White House. They come in a variety of colors, but half black and half white is a classic look for an APBT. The very name says “American”, and the American Pit Bull Terrier used to be a [symbol of our country](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ww1.jpg). My wife is allergic to dogs but not to our two (an APBT and a pit bull mix). And they’re shorthaired. And they sure could use an image boost. Sailboat [/QUOTE] This. Preach it! ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716/44 "2008-07-10T03:49:39Z")
[QUOTE=Leaffan] Bichons are absolutely wonderful dogs. They’re intelligent, alert, playful, and very affectionate. I have one. Can you tell? [/QUOTE] Dude. You’re Canadian. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716/45 "2008-07-10T06:26:58Z")
I’ll say this – if I was looking for a small dog I’d be seriously interested in a Bichon. And I’m a lab person. They are admittedly awfully cute and fluffy, but they’re also quite bright and fun. They do share one thing with my favorite on the list, the poodle – they need grooming. Poodles kick all kinds of ass, but they need a fair bit of grooming. And no, I’m not thinking of that ridiculous show cut (my apologies if we have any poodle show people here, it’s nothing personal) but even a puppy cut needs upkeep. So if you have a poodle you are going to really need to find a good groomer. I would think this would not be an issue for the Obamas. Given the list, I’d go with a standard poodle. Bichons would be my second choice. The rest of them – no. ---
**Author:** ![zenith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zenith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zenith)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716/46 "2008-07-10T06:30:27Z")
[QUOTE=Attack from the 3rd dimension] We up here in the northern wastes have often noticed how polite, pleasant and just generally nice Minnesotans are. That’s why we call Minnesota ‘Baja Canada’. 😉 [/QUOTE] Minnesotans drive as badly as Mexicans so “Baja Canada” is quite apt. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716/47 "2008-07-10T06:58:23Z")
He better just go to a shelter and get a mutt. That’s the only acceptable solution. The AKC’s pimping of purebred show dogs only further lowers my opinion of them. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716/48 "2008-07-10T07:10:16Z")
An [Andean Double-Nosed Tiger Hound.](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6940289.stm) No, I’m not making it up. Seriously. That would be amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716/49 "2008-07-10T11:52:19Z")
[Siberean Husky](http://www.richmondsiberian.org/images/Huskies/husky18.jpg) Because you want a dog that makes your president look like 8/10 wolf, not 8/10 french. (Seriously, 26% of the voters think that walking around with a poodle is what the Obama image needs?) - Guku Got neither pony, husky or lion cubs growing up. Despite prominent feature on every year’s list to Santa Claus. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716/50 "2008-07-10T12:33:51Z")
Shelter mutt, the most American of dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716/51 "2008-07-10T12:35:37Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] Shelter mutt, the most American of dogs. [/QUOTE] I think the most American of dogs comes out of the “box o puppies” in front of the grocery store. But you don’t see those anymore. Nor, from when we got our dog last spring, do you see a lot of shelter mutts around here. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716/52 "2008-07-10T13:22:05Z")
I couldn’t possibly suggest a dog for the Obamas without convening focus groups, having a search team conduct interviews and consulting with Clinton’s campaign staff. The end result would probably have to be genetically engineered. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716/53 "2008-07-10T15:18:45Z")
[QUOTE=Jackmannii] …The end result would probably have to be genetically engineered. [/QUOTE] What do you think pure-bred dogs are? ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716/54 "2008-07-10T15:52:09Z")
**Gukumatz** , there are people with dog allergies involved here. Otherwise, I’d be voting for a lab or a golden. Perhaps even a Clumber Spaniel; they’re pretty rare, but are awesome. None of which are good dogs for somebody with allergies, waaaaay too much hair and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716/55 "2008-07-10T15:58:59Z")
I voted Bichon. I love my little Ernie. You don’t _have_ to groom them like a puffball! He barks some, but he doesn’t shed. He’s a big dog in his heart, too. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716/56 "2008-07-10T16:15:13Z")
Well, no, you don’t have to groom a Bichon into a fluffball. But if I had one I think I would, at least once in a while. It’s too cute. And a lot of dogs can do with the occasional trim around the edges. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716/57 "2008-07-10T16:23:09Z")
Bill Clinton got a dog (Buddy) soley because he thought it would be good for his ratings. poor Buddy would up neglected and died after being hit by a car. A political whore like Clinton didn’t care about the dog at all. i’d rather see Obama NOT get a dog, that have some poor animal suffer Buddy’s fate! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716/58 "2008-07-10T16:29:22Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] Bill Clinton got a dog (Buddy) soley because he thought it would be good for his ratings. poor Buddy would up neglected and died after being hit by a car. A political whore like Clinton didn’t care about the dog at all. i’d rather see Obama NOT get a dog, that have some poor animal suffer Buddy’s fate! ☹ [/QUOTE] OK, I know this is IMHO and all, but do you have a cite for any of this? How did Clinton neglect Buddy? A dog can be well-cared-for and still slip away and get hit by a car (which is how Buddy died). ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716/59 "2008-07-10T18:00:02Z")
I’m all about the shelter dog, too. The AKC frankly doesn’t have its priorities in the right place, and they also don’t know crap about politics. Adopting a purebred, especially a little one with a French name, would feed right into the image of Obama as an elitist. Adopting a big slobbery thing from a shelter feeds into his image as a saint. That’s where he wants to go. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716/60 "2008-07-10T19:10:40Z")
I think he should find a rottweiler/great dane mix. 😛 But don’t forget the request is for a hyperallergenic dog. I suspect it’d be tough to find one of those in a shelter. I say go rescue a standard poodle. Poodles really are great dogs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-obamas-pick-a-dog/455716.md?page=4)