Posted on 07/05/2008 12:57:30 PM PDT by TornadoAlley3
AKC Selects Short List of "Canine Candidates" and Enlists America's Help to Choose the Right Dog Breed for the Obama Family @ www.presidentialpup.com
New York, NY – Vice President isn't the only high-level position that Barack Obama is currently trying to fill. It's been widely reported that – win or lose – the Obamas have promised their two daughters a dog after the presidential election. With 158 breeds registered by the American Kennel Club® (AKC®) – each with its own unique temperament, coat type, size, energy level and appearance – the search for a canine cabinet member is on.
"Deciding what breed to get is as important as deciding whether to get a dog in the first place," says AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "The first step in being a responsible pet owner is to do some serious and careful research to determine which breed of dog is right for you and your family."
The Obama family will be adding a dog to their household for the first time, but according to an Associated Press survey Republican Presidential nominee John McCain and his wife already have 24 pets, including four dogs. The "McCain canines" are an English Springer Spaniel named Sam, two Yorkshire Terriers named Lucy and Desi, and a mixed-breed named Coco. Making up the rest of McCain's menagerie are a cat, two turtles, a ferret, three parakeets and 13 saltwater fish.
As for a breed for the Obamas, the AKC has scoured all of the "canine candidates" to assess each breed's credentials as potential "first pet." Choices were narrowed significantly due to their daughters' allergies. Therefore, AKC experts made the selection from their list of hypoallergenic breeds.
In the true spirit of doggy democracy, the AKC is asking Americans to vote on the breed they think the Obama family should select. The short list of "canine candidates" chosen by the AKC are:
The Bichon Frise (pronounced BEE-shon Free-ZAY) – A small yet sturdy dog with a white, loosely curled double coat, Bichons are naturally sociable. They have a self-assured temperament and are likely to get along with just about everyone (including members of Congress, regardless of party affiliation). Their active, alert and curious personalities make them easy to train, and the breed's history of being a companion to noblemen in the courts of 16th-century France have primed it for a high-profile life in the White House. Learn more at http://www.akc.org/breeds/bichon_frise/.
The Chinese Crested – Their Chinese and African heritage makes for an exotic pedigree, and with its unique appearance it's certain to turn heads. Coming in two varieties, hairless and the powderpuff, Cresteds are lively, playful and alert dogs with plenty of energy. While they are exceptionally loving and affectionate with children, they are only appropriate for mature children who can be taught to handle this diminutive breed gently and responsibly. Learn more at http://www.akc.org/breeds/chinese_crested/.
The Poodle - Although often considered high-maintenance show dogs, Poodles are exceptionally smart and athletic. They excel in obedience training and even as hunting companions. The breed comes in three sizes. While their coat does require frequent grooming, their intelligence and versatility more than make up for the extra care. The Poodle is currently the eighth most popular breed in the U.S., according to AKC registrations statistics (AKC® registration statistics), but it spent more than two decades in the top spot -- a testament to its suitability as a family pet. Learn more at http://www.akc.org/breeds/poodle/.
The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier - The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier's coat grows longer on his chin and over his eyes, giving him a scrappy appearance, but this intelligent, affectionate and loving breed makes a dignified companion. The breed's playfulness and courageous spirit would likely make him an ambassador of goodwill in the White House. Despite their affable and gentle nature, they are true terriers and thus must be handled firmly, fairly and with consistency. Learn more at http://www.akc.org/breeds/ soft_coated_wheaten_terrier/.
The Miniature Schnauzer - Schnauzers also come in three sizes (although unlike the Poodle, each size is considered a separate breed). The Miniature Schnauzer is the most popular of the three breeds and is an active, alert dog who loves to be the center of the household. This versatile breed makes a sturdy playmate for kids, is highly intelligent and an excellent watchdog (qualifying him for Secret Service duties perhaps?). Learn more at http://www.akc.org/breeds/miniature_schnauzer/. Cast your vote wisely, making sure to consider the distinct characteristics of each breed and whether it's uniquely suited for the Obama family. In addition to having a hypoallergenic coat, other required qualifications to fill the vacant "presidential pet" post include: child-friendly (Obama has two daughters aged 6 and 9 years); a good travel companion (aboard Air Force One); moderate energy level (appropriate for a child to walk), and of course a stable and social temperament – able to adapt to varied visitors – from heads of state to members of the press corps.
"The breeds we've chosen for the Obama family represent a variety of sizes, energy levels and temperaments, yet all are well-established in their coat type, to ensure that they are a good match for any allergy sufferer," adds Peterson. "Dogs that are AKC registered have pedigrees reaching back often hundreds of years, and so the characteristics that make them better companions for allergy suffers are fixed through decades of breeding for consistent breed type and predictability."
Place your ballot online at www.presidentialpup.com before August 19, 2008. Check the site for the announcement of the winning breed.
Additional information on choosing a hypoallergenic breed can be found online at http://www.akc.org/about/faq_allergies.cfm. To learn more about all 158 AKC registered breeds and responsible dog ownership, visit www.akc.org.
What in the world do you mean they are not qualified to adopt a dog? How do you know that?
Bingo. Rescue animals are the best (say my two fat cats).
Anything that's small, noisy, cranky and mean-spirited ... like Meeshell.
My two, too. My sweet little angels.
I feel sorry for any canine owned by that phoney, narcissistic Obama. Any dog of his will most certainly end feet up in Fort Barky Park.
Leni
Will it be allowed in the family mosque?
Yes, I think that’s what they should do. Rescue animals. They are sweet and so happy to be treated well and loved.
We'll see if he really gets a dog for his kids. Muslims today are allowed only guard or working dogs. That might be his out.
Leni
Since having a dog would be offensive to Muslims and PETA types, Obama will pander and not have any pets.
Assuming always that you go to a reputable breeder and select carefully, purebreds are more predictable in terms of what you're going to get.
We had two small children, so we went the predictable route with a Lab from a good show breeder. She is now almost 8 and a particularly Good Dog. We were so pleased with her, we got a second Lab, who is also a Good Dog but in rather a different way (she is a hot-rod field retriever, she's a very nice dog but quite a handful.)
I'm completely smitten with the working retrievers and wouldn't get a toy dog like the Griffon. If we did something other than a Lab (and I really see no good reason to switch) we'd get a Chessie. Great working dogs!
1. It's just a publicity stunt. Worst reason in the world to get a dog. See Clinton, Buddy.
2. Obama's not on board, it's Michelle's idea. Both parents not on board, bad idea to get a dog "for the kids".
3. They don't have time for a dog.
4. The kids are allergic. The issue is not so much whether a particular dog is hypo-allergenic (and much of that is just hype, as with the so-called "cockerpoos") as whether the parents are willing to do the heavy cleaning necessary to make it work. See No. 3.
5. They apparently have never had a dog before and haven't really given it any thought. See No. 3.
Conclusion: wouldn't make good dog owners, at least not right now. With some actual commitment and research, they could, but don't see any indication of that.
Yes, with normal kids, but with children who have grown up hearing the racist rantings of "Rev." Wright, and his "Sunday school", I think they need a dog that reflects more on the personality of the parents.
He was a good dog.
We have a Lab mix (looks like a Lab, but too tall and weighs 100 lbs); an Irish Terrier/ yellow Lab mix (hysterical when he stalks squirrels - he is BLONDE and the squirrels see him from when he walks out the back door) and a Cairn terrier/Yorkie mix (She terrifies the chipmunks). They have worked out their pecking order and generally tolerate each other,
There was a lady on the tube some years ago. I think her name was Barbara Woodhouse. Her mantra was ‘no bad dogs’.
She was right. Dogs become what we train them to be.
I am sometimes uncomfortable with folks who disparage American Staffordshire Terriers (I think that's the official name for pit bulls.) I've met some who are real mushes, and others that are nasty. But we could say the same about Yorkies or Poodles.
I guess it is just how we teach them to behave.
Because of selective breeding, a dog of a particular breed will start with a set of instincts and abilities that are hard wired into him.
My older Lab never saw a duck until she was over 3 years old. Before that she was an obedience and agility dog. The very first time she saw a duck fall out of the sky, she knew what to do. It was in her breeding (thank goodness -- her daddy was a show dog, an affable sort but wouldn't know what to do with a bird if you handed it to him. But her mama was a daughter of the only Chocolate Lab ever to win the National Field Trial title.) It was like magic -- all we did was refine her natural instincts. Even though she started very late for a retriever, she's a very good one. She'd be better if I were a better trainer!
On the other hand, there are some folks with Standard Poodles who belong to our retrieving club. Poodles were in fact hunting dogs once upon a time, but it was hundreds of generations back and most of the desire to hunt has been bred out of them. Their owners are trying really, really, really hard -- but it's like trying to push a rope uphill. The dogs are intelligent and obedient, but you can see when they go to the line that they are fetching the bird or bumper because they were commanded to do so -- contrast that to a Lab that you have to train to WAIT until you give the word to leave the line, that will go through flooded timber and waterweeds and heavy cover because every cell in their body is focussed on retrieving that duck!
It's not true of every dog -- there are well bred Labs who just don't have the hunting instincts -- but by and large Labs will hunt, Terriers will dig and chase vermin (and bark), and Border Collies will herd anything that moves. And yes, they are VERY smart -- all those generations of handling sheep in close cooperation with their masters. BCs pretty much rule Agility, and my little Lab is a dark punctuation mark in a sea of black-and-white BCs in the Masters class.
AmStaffs are a touchy subject -- I believe once again that it's part training, but the dogs were originally bred for fighting. They aren't generally people-aggressive because their handlers were down in the pit with them, but they are hard wired for dog-aggression. Obviously not every AmStaff is dog-aggressive, but it's something that you have to be ready for and watch for, and train the dog to absolute obedience. Not a dog for casual ownership -- Labs and Goldens are better for that. Most of them are naturally mellow and they've had dog-aggressiveness bred out of them because of hunting and handling in close proximity to other dogs.
I could not imagine my life without a dog. Currently we have 4, plus 6 out of 10 puppies. The rest of the pups will be gone by the end of the week, all went to great families:)
I still cringe when I think about the Clinton’s and Buddy.
Especially since I HAVE a Chocolate Lab and she would have been SO sad without humans to devote herself to. She's a little bit loopy, like all Chocs, but she adores people and is happiest when she is with her special human.
Poor Buddy! All that love and nobody to give it to.
I've been owned by Chessies for over 20 years and they are wonderful dogs but definitely NOT for everyone. They're much different than labs - much more hard-headed...LOL - but I wouldn't own any other breed.
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