Americans Elect Poodle As Obama's Top Dog

Now that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has chosen his running mate, it's time for him to concentrate on another important selection: family dog. The American Kennel Club® (AKC) announced today that the public has elected a Poodle as their breed of choice for the Obama family.

The AKC launched its poll to find a breed for Obama (www.presidentialpup.com) after reports that - win or lose - the Obamas promised their two daughters a dog after the presidential election. More than 42,000 people cast their vote over the seven-week campaign. The Poodle clinched the nomination after the breed battled it out with the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier in a race almost as tight as Clinton and Obama's run for the Democratic nomination for president. The Poodle won by a (dog) hair, with just a few hundred votes separating the top two contenders.

The Miniature Schnauzer, Bichon Frise, and Chinese Crested were also nominated, due to the distinct characteristics that make them uniquely suited for the Obama family. Every family is unique, but for the Obamas who have a daughter with allergies, a hypoallergenic breed with a very consistent and predictable coat is crucial.

"Most of our Presidents kept purebreds in the White House," said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "When times get tough - during a bad economy or when presidential pressures are at their peak - these dogs serve as devoted and non-judgmental companions that bring joy and relaxation to our first families."

If the Obamas follow America's advice and choose a Poodle, the AKC will assist them in responsibly acquiring a puppy or adult rescue dog. The AKC's puppy-buyer resource page at www.puppybuyerinfo.com offers links to responsible breeders who are members of AKC clubs as well as to affiliated breed rescue-groups that have dogs for adoption. For instance, the Poodle National Breed Club web site can be located at http://www.poodleclubofamerica.org/usamap.htm.

The Obama family may be adding a dog to their household for the first time, but Republican nominee John McCain is ahead of the pack with 24 pets, including four dogs. Therefore, animal lovers may be ready to help him "fetch" the election. According to a recent Associated Press survey, "Pet owners favor McCain over Obama 42 percent to 37 percent, with dog owners particularly in McCain's corner."

"It's no surprise the American public chose a Poodle for Obama," said Peterson. "Poodles are currently the eighth most popular breed in the U.S., according to 2007 AKC registrations statistics, and it spent more than two decades in the top spot - a true testament to its suitability as a family pet. And while Poodles require frequent grooming, their consistent and predictable coat is crucial for their daughter and all who suffer from allergies."

Poodles, often considered high-maintenance show dogs, can also be kept in a simple one-length clip. They are exceptionally smart and athletic, excel in obedience training and are great hunting companions. They are the only breed that comes in three sizes, any of which can easily adapt to life in the urban environment of the White House or the rural setting at Camp David. The Standard variety is the largest size, measuring over 15 inches at the shoulder. It is the oldest of the three varieties and developed for water retrieving. The Miniature measures over 10 inches but less than 15 inches and it is speculated that it was used for truffle hunting. The Toy Poodle measures 10 inches and under and was often used in performances and traveling entertainment groups. Learn more about the Poodle and its suitability for your family at http://www.akc.org/breeds/poodle/.

Comments

[chinationreport]

The Real Profile of Mark Ndesandjo http://www.chinationreport.com/ObamaBrotherInChina.html
- Senator Obama's Other Brother Who Lives in China, a true story which differs from the previous Timesonline reporting about his brother helping Chinese companies steal American jobs.

[studhamster]

If he needs a dog, I suggest he appoint David Duchvney

[jpcline004]

I don't see any situation where the Obama family would NOT get a rescue dog from a shelter.

[chf2go]

Don't you think the reason that John McCain has so many animals is that he needs to have a couple at each of his dozen homes?

[Jetling]

A guy who can't remember how many homes he has might also forget to:

- feed a dog
- let the dog outside for nature calls
- check the water dish
- check the couch to see if the dog's keeping the seat warm
- let the dog back in after the nature call
- groom the dog
- let people know he has a dog
- train the dog

Have I forgotten anything?

[FeelinGroovy]

His "people" take care of all that.

[walley2]

walk the dog, pick up the poo

[mhutch47]

No, the reason McCain has so many pets is he likes how they taste. That's right, John McCain eats dogs and cats (though in his defense, he was born before either animal had been domesticated.) He also likes to keep several Parrots around, though these are typically reserved for entertaining guests. He does this wonderfully clever thing where he trains the bird to recite exactly how it's going to be prepared. The irony of the whole spectacle is literally delicious.

[exxman]

I believe it was President Harry S. Truman who said, "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog." Good advice. Poodles are very bright. I think it's a great choice, especially a Standard Poodle with a single length clip.

[TakLoufer]

A poodle?? For a man who already gets enough flak from the Right for not being tough enough? I vote doberman. They're lean, mean fighting machines, not neurotic little sissy dogs.

[isis]

Real men can wear pink and have a poodle.

[blykken]

The Obama family should set an example and adompt a needy pet from the pound that would otherwise be put asleep.

[rosal]

McConfused has 24 pets, one in each house

[Tulka2]

This is the work of a mischievious monkey mind. This is just an excuse to photo-shop a picture of Obama holding a "French Poodle". It is an attempt to make him look like an elietist. This is an attempt to photo-shop him holding a dog that a certain kind of American man has a real predudice against. This is a clever attempt to inoculate white, rural males from identifying with Obama. The story is all true, but a picture is worth a 1,000 words.

It's not going to be Obama's dog, it's going to belong to his oldest girl who really wants a dog. That's what the story says. A poodle is perfect for her, but that is not at all the point of the photo-shopped picture of Obama holding a poodle. The medium is the massage. And how can Obama complain without alienating the genuine poodle fancier? LOL Obama won't put a helmet on and ride a tank, but they can photo-shop a moment like this which is just about the equivilent. O Brave new world.

[sparkandy]

Some of the most 'manly' men I know have little foo foo dogs like poodles and yorkies. My brother used to be a truck driver. He had a yorkie that went coast to coast with him. I work for a vet and see all kinds of rural white males with chihuahuas, poodles, papillions, maltese, yorkies and pomeranians among others.. Obama's choice of dog won't hurt his image any. And it's message, not massage, unless Obama intends to give his new dog massages, which would make dog lovers like him a lot.

[Tulka2]

"The medium is the massage" is an old and inside pun from the cult of McLuhan.

[Bil Browning - Huffpost Blogger]

That was the first thing I thought too, Tulka. "Oh look, another way for someone to Photoshop a picture of Obama holding the 'girlie' dog." It's not that I have anything against poodles - I grew up with one. (Is that kind of like "Some of my best friends are..."?) But a poodle is not known for it's masculinity and aggressiveness that Americans tend to want in leadership.

I seriously thought this was a joke post so someone could use that pic until about halfway through the article when I realized the article was real.

[Lupin77]

Good idea - the poodle. He would make a nice addition to their family and I recall he and Michelle said in a past interview that their daughters wanted a puppy. Hope they get one when they are in the White House.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

The Best Friends Animal Shelter closed its petition for the Obamas to adopt a family dog from a shelter at 50,000 signatures--8,000 more than the total garnered by the AKC. Check out the site at:

http://obamafamilydog.com/

I have full confidence that the Obamas will make an excellent choice for a family pet--or rather, that the perfect family pet will choose them--and that it *won't* be an AKC poodle or any other dog from a breeder.

[isis]

I have a shelter dogs and love her a lot. In fact everyone in my family has at least one shelter dog. But they are not for everybody and can come with a few issues. Mine turned out to be part hound and I had to learn a lot about hounds before understanding her. Let the Obama's make their own choice.

[TommyMcCarthy]

If I'm David Axelrod I'm not letting Obama be photographed within a MILE of a poodle till after the election..­..........­..No windsurfin­g.........­....no tank rides.....­..........­no tribal garb............no berets........no speedo bathing suits.......no arguella either.

And if I'm Obama.....I'm waaaay too busy to get a dog until after inauguration day.

A poodle ! Sheesh
tm

[mhutch47]

No speedo bathing suits? Are you forgetting the sexually frustrated housewife demographic?

[TommyMcCarthy]

OK
Seventies-style basketball shorts (the man's GOT game after all)
But that's IT! Hah!
Regards
tm

[mhutch47]

Agreed TM. Now if we can only get a picture of McCain in a speedo, though I bet he's more of a "trunks" kinda guy given the unflattering combination of speedos and Depends.

[ebanks84]

hehehehe:)

[Tulka2]

Hey Tommy McCarthy, a poodle is a great dog that really suits two little girls who live in the White House. It's not a dog for Obama. It's a dog for his daughters.

[TommyMcCarthy]

My point exactly...­..........­Let's get 'em IN the white house
Not a thing wrong with poodles
or anything else on the list
(I've never had Arguella)
Why give the ya-hoo's a stick to hit him with?
tm

[mhutch47]

Interesting that more time and thought has been put into vetting a dog for the Obamas than McCain spent vetting his VP. In McCain's defense though, the Obama dog will likely have more political say than Palin would in a McCain presidency.

[VegetableMan]

the dog is a poodle.

from simon and shuster's website:

www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?tab=1&pid=617993&er=9781416564034

Her first step was to adopt a rescued adult dog instead of buying a puppy from a commercial breeder. And that's how she found Baby, a roughly nine-year-old poodle who had been locked in a cage. But Jana's mission didn't stop there. Soon, Jana and Baby (whose sweet face and three-legged hobble attract attention wherever she goes) found themselves speaking to groups about the terrible conditions at many breeders' farms and urging politicians to change the lax laws that regulate this industry. Today, Baby is the unofficial spokesdog for the Humane Society of the United States on the topic of puppy mills, and she and Jana travel around the country lobbying for reform on this important issue.

[FeelinGroovy]

There is a great deal of difference between a reputable dog breeder and a puppy mill.

[avuncular]

I think a mutt would be a great choice. They can be some of the smartest dogs without all of the associated simgle breed problems.

[QueenCeleste]

He should definitely adopt a dog (a mutt or otherwise) from a pound or humane society. As most of us know there are thousands and thousands of dogs and cats awaiting adoption. With these numbers it is unimaginable that Obama--or anyone--would buy a dog.

[VegetableMan]

definitely! i also agree with the poodle choice too. sharp as a tack, don't shed, and cute as hell.

[Star2000dancer]

Cute dog, but he should've gone with an adopted mixed breed from the SPCA. More fodder for the Republicans & their elitist garble.