First lady Michelle Obama tells People magazine that the target date for the arrival of the family pet is after her daughters’ spring break trip in April, though 7-year-old Sasha is convinced the dog is coming April 1.

“So Sasha says ‘April 1st.’ I said, ‘April.’ She says, ‘April 1st.’ It’s like, April!” said Mrs. Obama.

The Obama girls — Sasha and 10-year-old Malia — attend the private Sidwell Friends school, which has spring break March 20-29 and a day off for students on April 13.

The family wants a rescue Portuguese Water Dog who is the appropriate age and match.

“Temperamentally they’re supposed to be pretty good,” Mrs. Obama said. “From the size perspective, they’re sort of middle of the road — it’s not small, but it’s not a huge dog. And the folks that we know who own them have raved about them. So that’s where we’re leaning.”

The first couple and their daughters have been going back and forth on possible names. Among the two Mrs. Obama mentioned — and nixed — were Frank and Moose.

“”Oh, the names are really bad. I don’t even want to mention it, because there are names floating around and they’re bad,” she said. “You listen and you go — like, I think, Frank was one of them. Frank! Moose was another one of them. Moose. I said, well, what if the dog isn’t a moose? Moose. I’m like, no, come on, let’s work with the names a little bit.”

To read more of this article click on associated press story

Portuguese Water Dog
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Portuguese Water Dogs (PWD) are a breed of water dog similar to poodles. Portuguese Water Dogs once existed all along Portugal’s coast, where they were taught to herd fish into fishermen’s nets, to retrieve lost tackle or broken nets, and to act as couriers from ship to ship, or ship to shore. Portuguese Water Dogs rode in bobbing fishing trawlers as they worked their way from the warm Atlantic waters of Portugal to the frigid fishing waters off the coast of Iceland where the fleets caught codfish to bring home.

In Portugal, the breed is called Cão d’Água (pronounced “Kown-d’Ahgwa”; literally “water dog”). In its native land, the dog is also known as the Portuguese Fishing Dog (Cão Pescador Português). Cão de Água de Pêlo Ondulado is the name given the wavy-haired variety, and Cão de Água de Pêlo Encaracolado is the name for the curly-coated variety.

The Portuguese Water Dog is a fairly rare breed; only 15 entrants for Portuguese Water Dogs were made to England’s Crufts competition in 2002, although their personality and non-shedding qualities have made them more popular in recent years.”

]]> http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/2009/02/25/portuguese-water-dog-nominated-for-first-dog/feed/ 0 http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/2008/12/15/monks-of-new-skete-dog-trainer-offers-advice-to-obamas/ http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/2008/12/15/monks-of-new-skete-dog-trainer-offers-advice-to-obamas/#comments Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:24:27 +0000 jeanie http://www.fourpawsacupuncture.com/blog/2008/12/15/monks-of-new-skete-dog-trainer-offers-advice-to-obamas/ Obama dog will face tough job requirements

By SHARON THEIMER – 3 days ago

WASHINGTON (AP)

It’s not always a dog’s life being a White House pet.

Sure, you get to cruise around in the presidential limo, but seldom can you stick your nose out to sniff the breeze. One chewing spree in the wrong room and you’re in the doghouse for wrecking a national treasure.

The way everyone wants your attention, you’d think they elected you, too. You’re supposed to act with decorum, no matter how pushy people are or what kind of mood you’re in. Go a little loopy and you might get exiled to the ranch, like one of Ronald and Nancy Reagan’s dogs. Get a little nippy like President George W. Bush’s Barney and the meltdown footage is sure to hit the Internet.

Still, experts say President-elect Barack Obama and his family can find a pooch well-suited to the White House. The important thing is to realize there’s no perfect dog — only the perfect dog for them. That means casting aside worry about offending anyone and searching for a dog that fits the job requirements.

“It’s not the breed, and it’s not even so much where it’s from,” said Patricia McConnell, an animal behaviorist and host of Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Calling All Pets.” What’s important, she said, is that the Obamas set a good example by “picking a dog based on its behavioral as well as its physical health, from a credible, responsible place.”

The search can take weeks or even months. McConnell and other experts advise a deliberate approach, avoiding impulsive decisions. A cuddly puppy with a red bow around its neck makes a cute Christmas gift, but soon the baby fat disappears and the new owners realize a dog is a lot of work, especially one ill-suited to their lifestyle.

Debate about the ideal Obama dog has become a hot topic for canine enthusiasts.

The search is complicated by daughter Malia’s allergies. Depending on their severity, the family may need to consider only dogs with little or no shedding — or give up the idea of a dog altogether.

If the Obamas are determined to adopt from a shelter or rescue group, they should have a professional help them choose, said Brother Christopher Savage, head trainer in the Monks of New Skete’s dog board-and-train program in Cambridge, N.Y. “You can get a wonderful dog from a shelter, and it’s a wonderful thing, but you have to really be going in with your eyes open,” Savage said.

White House life can be demanding for a dog. People are always coming and going, many eager to schmooze. One of Bush’s two Scottish terriers, Barney, is famous with children nationwide for his “Barneycam” holiday Web videos, but more recently he popped up in a clip on YouTube nipping a reporter who persisted in trying to get his attention. The Reagans’ Bouvier des Flandres, a large, energetic dog named Lucky, was moved to their California ranch after becoming too rambunctious.

Whatever choice the Obamas make, it could set off a national scramble for such dogs, like the frenzy for Dalmatians after the release of the Disney movie “101 Dalmatians.”

Trendiness usually isn’t good for dogs. It can lead to ill-bred, poorly treated dogs as entrepreneurs scramble to churn puppies out before public interest fades. Shelters are full of young dogs discarded after the novelty wore off.

“Pick the right dog for you,” Millan said. “Make a decision, a psychological decision, and then fall in love.”

click here to read the entire article.