# The Obamas get a new dog. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 20, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obamas-get-a-new-dog/666683 "2013-08-20T01:45:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obamas-get-a-new-dog/666683/1 "2013-08-20T01:45:10Z")
So now Bo has a friend. The new dog is the same hypoallergenic type, but this time it’s a girl… Sunny! [http://usnews.nbcnews.com/\_news/2013/08/19/20095470-bo-gets-a-buddy-at-the-white-house](http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/08/19/20095470-bo-gets-a-buddy-at-the-white-house)? Apparently they thought Bo was lonely, and the rumor is that they’d asked the local Humane Society to let them know if a Portuguese Water Dog became available. ---
**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obamas-get-a-new-dog/666683/2 "2013-08-20T17:28:29Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > Apparently they thought Bo was lonely, and the rumor is that they’d asked the local Humane Society to let them know if a Portuguese Water Dog became available. Can you imagine taking that phone call? I’m guessing they miraculously found a dog pretty quickly. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obamas-get-a-new-dog/666683/3 "2013-08-20T19:21:40Z")
All the stories I’ve read say they “adopted” this dog “and made a donation to the Humane Society” “in her honor.” Anyone know if this dog was actually adopted-from-a-shelter-or-rescue adopted, as distinct form purchased? ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obamas-get-a-new-dog/666683/4 "2013-08-20T19:43:44Z")
Anecdote: when I adopted my dog from the Humane Society they called her adoption fee a donation in her name. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obamas-get-a-new-dog/666683/5 "2013-08-20T21:14:52Z")
I’ve read she’s from Michigan - but I don’t know if anyone’s seen her birth certificate 😉 > **[New little girl arrives at White House. Meet Sunny Obama.](https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/Decoder/2013/0820/New-little-girl-arrives-at-White-House.-Meet-Sunny-Obama?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews)** > > Sunny, a one-year-old Portuguese Water Dog, has joined the Obama family. She's originally from Michigan, and she no doubt will help first dog Bo run off some of his energy. I don’t know if she came from a shelter. PWDs are very nice dogs but they aren’t that common. I seem to recall that Bo was a puppy from one of Ted Kennedy’s dogs but I might be mistaken. Getting a friend for Bo is probably a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obamas-get-a-new-dog/666683/6 "2013-08-20T21:28:55Z")
I wonder if they’ve been neutered or if there will be some presidential puppies. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obamas-get-a-new-dog/666683/7 "2013-08-20T22:25:59Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > So now Bo has a friend. The new dog is the same hypoallergenic type… Is a “hypoallergenic type” dog a myth or a real thing? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obamas-get-a-new-dog/666683/8 "2013-08-20T23:08:29Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Is a “hypoallergenic type” dog a myth or a real thing? It’s more myth than reality. There is no scientific evidence that some breeds produce less allergens than other breeds. Allergens are mostly produced by a dog’s dander and saliva. Bathing the dog frequently and cleaning and vacuuming the house are more effective in reducing allergens. > **[Hypoallergenic dog breed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoallergenic_dog_breed)** > > A hypoallergenic dog breed is a dog breed (or crossbreed) that is purportedly more compatible with allergic people than are other breeds. However, prominent allergen researchers have determined that there is no basis to the claims that certain breeds are hypoallergenic and, while allergen levels vary among individual dogs, the breed is not a significant factor. > Though some studies suggest the possible existence of hypoallergenic dog breeds, there is too much variability to conclude that such a b... ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obamas-get-a-new-dog/666683/9 "2013-08-21T01:10:41Z")
The only thing I miss about Bush the First are his English Springer Spaniels. I saw one in the park the other day and it was delightful – friendly and gorgeous. My girls loved petting her and she patiently let them. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obamas-get-a-new-dog/666683/10 "2013-08-21T02:33:22Z")
That’s awesome! I think dogs do better when they can romp with other dogs. That said, my dog hates other dogs unless they are introduced “just right.”