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.
It will make Putin happy!
This.
Preach it!
Dude. You’re Canadian.
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.
Minnesotans drive as badly as Mexicans so “Baja Canada” is quite apt.
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.
An Andean Double-Nosed Tiger Hound. No, I’m not making it up. Seriously. That would be amazing.
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?)
Shelter mutt, the most American of dogs.
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.
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.
What do you think pure-bred dogs are?
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.
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.
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.
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! 
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).
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
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.
