# Obama's Other Appointment **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 5, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-other-appointment/471288 "2008-11-05T16:36:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-other-appointment/471288/41 "2008-11-08T04:45:25Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Man, can you imagine being his daughter and trying to get a raise in allowance out of that guy? You better be prepared with five pages of legal briefs and a strong argument! Someone here had a quote from (I assume) Malia about how when he gets angry with her he talks and talks and talks. She sounded like that was not a whole heap of fun. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-other-appointment/471288/42 "2008-11-08T16:17:13Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > [hijack]How has the WH staff handled chores for kids in previous administrations? I think having your kids do chores is important to instill a number of values, but don’t they have people to take care of the menial tasks that are usually assigned to children in other households?[/hijack] [Let’s see if anyone knows!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10421615#post10421615) ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-other-appointment/471288/43 "2008-11-08T20:25:58Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Man, can you imagine being his daughter and trying to get a raise in allowance out of that guy? You better be prepared with five pages of legal briefs and a strong argument! > > “Well, with respect to your request, this is a major issue. We have two criteria that have to be reconciled – you want more money and I have dishes that need washing.” Nah. His daughters will just use the time-honored awesomeness-of-little-girls trick. Moms don’t necessarily fall for it, but it turns dads to butter (and occasionally felons when teenage boys harm the daughters). ---
**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:** [November 9, 2008, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-other-appointment/471288/44 "2008-11-09T23:29:25Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Someone here had a quote from (I assume) Malia about how when he gets angry with her he talks and talks and talks. She sounded like that was not a whole heap of fun. 😃 Yeah, that was one of my favorite things to come out of that informal interview. Much as I loves me some Barack, the thought of him “discussing” my behavior at length in that very measured and reasonable tone makes me want to run for the hills. 😛 That goldendoodle is ridiculously cute. As for the shelter vs. breeder issue–I’m very very pro-shelter. Shelters and rescue organizations should be the default option for people to get their family pets. That said, I feel that if someone has some particular reason _not_ to go through a shelter, then that is fine, too. If the Obamas got a shelter dog, that would be great. But if that’s not feasible for them, they should get a dog from a reputable breeder and have a clear conscience about it. _Especially_ if they take the opportunity to promote shelters in general, which it looks like they’re doing. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-other-appointment/471288/45 "2008-11-10T02:35:40Z")
I was wondering–would regular bathing and brushing of the dog’s coat reduce the dander to an acceptable level for Malia, regardless of the breed of dog? Would weekly bathing and daily brushing render almost any sort of dog that her allergies could tolerate? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-other-appointment/471288/46 "2008-11-10T03:14:00Z")
> [@medstar](#): > > I was wondering–would regular bathing and brushing of the dog’s coat reduce the dander to an acceptable level for Malia, regardless of the breed of dog? Would weekly bathing and daily brushing render almost any sort of dog that her allergies could tolerate? Maybe, maybe not. Depends on how sensitive she is. Sometimes post-bath is the worst time, because all that dander’s been loosened and becomes airborne. My mom really cannot live in the same house as a guinea pig, even if the pigger is kept on a different floor and bathed weekly. We really, really tried, but I had to find him a new home. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-other-appointment/471288/47 "2008-11-10T12:57:36Z")
Given the allergies that one of his daughters has, I think he should just give them a stuffed puppy from the local toy store; one each of course. Not really. I think he has said he intended to give them a rescue dog; “A mutt like me,” if I remember. I not sure if he can find a rescue dog that won’t irritate the allergy problem; in fact, will any dog at all not be an issue? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-other-appointment/471288/48 "2008-11-10T14:10:15Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > Given the allergies that one of his daughters has, I think he should just give them a stuffed puppy from the local toy store; one each of course. Not really. I think he has said he intended to give them a rescue dog; “A mutt like me,” if I remember. I not sure if he can find a rescue dog that won’t irritate the allergy problem; in fact, will any dog at all not be an issue? See Post #35. There are a number of dogs which are hypoallergenic, meaning less likely than other breeds to trigger common allergies. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-other-appointment/471288/49 "2008-11-10T15:30:11Z")
I’m allergic to dander, and we have a cat. If I just wash my hands after I’ve petted or scratched him, and if I use carpet tape on my lap to pick up any fur left behind after he’s sat on me (a strange ritual, yes, but it works!), I’m fine. Hopefully Malia will be too, with simple precautions like that. Sorry, but IMHO a poodle of any kind isn’t cool enough for a president like Obama. I’d go with an animal-shelter mutt, hopefully with some beagle or terrier in the mix. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-other-appointment/471288/50 "2008-11-10T15:42:16Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > Given the allergies that one of his daughters has, I think he should just give them a stuffed puppy from the local toy store; one each of course. Not really.\*\* I think he has said he intended to give them a rescue dog; “A mutt like me,”\*\* if I remember. I not sure if he can find a rescue dog that won’t irritate the allergy problem; in fact, will any dog at all not be an issue? Not quite. He said he’d like to get a shelter dog, but lots of shelter dogs are mutts. They should stay away from the doodle mixes, because some of those are good for people with allergies, and some aren’t. Most puppies are good for lots of allergy sufferers because they aren’t shedding a lot of dead skin. Several golden/labradoodles have had to find new homes once they get older though, because it turned out that they weren’t allergy friendly afterall. I think they should get a Portuguese water dog or a wheaten terrier -[world’s cutest puppy.](http://www.buysellcommunity.com/uploads/042106/ww1/yoxqjxvmbqkj.jpg) They sell dander wipes that make dogs more allergy friendly, but with a kid, it’s probably best to stick to one of the recommended breeds. I’m allergic to dogs, except my own, because my body eventually stopped reacting to them. It starts up a bit in the spring though. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-other-appointment/471288/51 "2008-11-10T15:48:08Z")
Do those sticky lint-brush things not get the job done, **Elendil’s Heir**? Portuguese Water Dogs are hypoallergenic, but I’ve known a few, and while they’re friendly, they’re just nuts. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-other-appointment/471288/52 "2008-11-10T15:51:37Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Sorry, but IMHO a poodle of any kind isn’t cool enough for a president like Obama. I’d go with an animal-shelter mutt, hopefully with some beagle or terrier in the mix. Dude, poodles are [totally cool](http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=69717&in_page_id=34)! Okay, wait, let me try that again: poodles are [awesome](http://www.myspaceantics.com/image-rainbow-poodle.jpg.html)! D’oh! Poodles [rock](http://themarketingcaddy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/poodle.jpg)! Darn it! Okay, seriously, [poodles](http://www.mypets.net.au/flex/poodles/212/1)can be [very cool dogs](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Standard_Poodle_black_male_sitting.jpg). It’s just most of their owners who should be shot. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-other-appointment/471288/53 "2008-11-10T16:10:13Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > [1.] Do those sticky lint-brush things not get the job done, **Elendil’s Heir**? > > [2.] Portuguese Water Dogs are hypoallergenic, but I’ve known a few, and while they’re friendly, they’re just nuts. 1. No, not for me. And we always have carpet tape around, anyway. 2. **elmwood** has or had a PWD. I’d agree on both counts. 😉 ---
**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:** [November 10, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-other-appointment/471288/54 "2008-11-10T17:41:54Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I’m allergic to dander, and we have a cat. If I just wash my hands after I’ve petted or scratched him, and if I use carpet tape on my lap to pick up any fur left behind after he’s sat on me (a strange ritual, yes, but it works!), I’m fine. Hopefully Malia will be too, with simple precautions like that. I don’t think it’s reasonable to get a dog that would require the 10-year-old to perform strange rituals. Also, allergies can worsen with exposure. As an adult, you can choose to take that risk. Malia is just a kid. The three main “hypoallergenic” breeds that I’ve seen recommended are: –Poodles –Bichon Frises –Portuguese Water Dogs [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-other-appointment/471288.md?page=2)