White House dog on the way - "Frank" or "Moose." (Don't Blame The Dog)

boston.com/news ^ | February 25, 2009 | Foon Rhee

[Retired Greyhound]

Funny. Regarding Greyhounds, you are right. They are quite boring for kids. They will play, but they don’t have much stamina. They prefer to just lay around (that’s retirement).

Energetic kids can’t do better than a lab or retriever. They are big, sturdy, playful dogs. We had both growing up.

My father in law had Shih Tzus. They are wonderful, too.

[JoeProBono]

"So, how many Portuguese water dogs do you suppose end up in shelters?"

TWO?

[ladyjane]

What color are PWDs? Black? White?

[21twelve]

“Hey! Half black, half white with a red commie flag. Just like me! I’ll buy it!”

[Global2010]

Here are my guesses on the new First Dogs name if it needs a name.

If it is an older rescue dog it may already have a name.

OK if Barry has his way and does not let the girls have the honor...

Lincoln
King/Martin/Luther or some combo of
A Hawaiian name of some sort
Linden
Truman
A Kenyan Name of some sort.

Chi-Town

Audacity

Hope

[21twelve]

“Hey!! Half black, half white, and with a red commie flag - just like me! I’ll buy it!!”

[Tallguy]

The only ‘negative’ about greyhounds is strong prey-drive. You gotta watch them around small dogs & cats. It’s what sight-hounds are bred to do.

[Global2010]

LOL OMG that Dog looks Like Michelle.

[JoeProBono]

[JoeProBono]

[Global2010]

LOL All these pics you are posting look like The Obamas.

Not the most attractive breed but just my personal opine.

[Retired Greyhound]

Yup. They have to be tested at the rescues.

Mine are fine. We also have three cats. But I have seen some Greys that do chase small things.

[JoeProBono]

[JoeProBono]

[Global2010]

Thanks for the clarity.

We have bred and owned a Crew at a time over the last 25yrs of Labradors.

We have 3 Labs now wonderful boys.

I thought the Labor-doodle was a great choice for the girls and a puppy with a trainer to teach the girls how about obedience and care for their pet.

[stylecouncilor]

Poor dog.

[philled]

Good luck finding a PWD at a shelter. They still aren’t that common. Not many breeders around. As recently as the early ‘70’s there were only about a dozen PWD’s registered in the US. They are on the comeback but they are still pretty rare as AKC breeds go.

You confirmed my suspicions... I don't think they want a dog and were setting up an unlikely scenario. I think if their first choice would have been an unclaimed Tibetan KyiApso (I googled "rarest of rare dog breeds") that was found tied to the Lincoln Monument on the first Tuesday after a full moon, would have probably been greeted with cynicism...

However, by specifying that it has to be a PWD from a shelter, they could likely go his entire unfortunate term in the White House without finding such a dog. Any word on what happens to "Splash" when Teddy's other shoe finally drops?

[Tallguy]

There are so few registered PWD breeders that the bloodlines are pretty tightly controlled. I know private breeders that cringe at the possibility of their breed becoming the presidential pooch because it immediately vaults that breed several notches in popularity. This is often to the detriment of careful breeding & can take decades to remedy.

I’d say that unless there are some shennanigans, the Obamas will not find a PWD at a shelter. I’d add that it’s also possible that it will be difficult to find a private PWD breeder that would sell one to the White House — though it only takes one.

[JoeProBono]

[JoeProBono]