Obama: "Girly Dog" Not For Our Family

In his interview with ABC's Barbara Walters, Barack Obama talked to her about her dog and his own puppy preferences. Politico reports that the host actually sent the Obama's a photo of her pet, but it doesn't seem to be the President-elect's type.

Obama: "Cha Cha?"

Barbara: "It's short for Cha Cha Cha."

O: "What is a Havanese?"

B: "It's like a little terrier and they're non-allergenic and they're the sweetest dogs.."

O: [Face suddenly changes.] "It's like a little yappy dog?"

Michelle: "Don't criticize."

O: "It, like, sits in your lap and things?"

M: "It's a cute dog."

O: "It sounds kinda like a girly dog."

M: "We're girls. We have a houseful of girls."

O [with hand gestures]: "We're going to have a big rambunctious dog, of some sort."

Read more excerpts and clips from the Barbara Walters interview.

Comments

[ReesieKitty]

Lol, I just liked it that Obama sounds like such a regular guy! I mean, this sounds like a discussion that any family in america could have about getting a pet. We have rescue dogs ( Basset Hounds are awesome, but they shed, so no bassets for the Obama girls) and it would be great if they go with a rescue dog. But whatever dog they get, I am sure that it will be well trained and get plenty of love and attention and that's what matters.

[Lionsden]

OH REALLY??????

I thought this puppy was to be a reward for the girls having been good during this most difficult and LONG election campaign?

Outside of the legitimate need to have a non-allergenic pup, why is Obama putting any other demands on the beast? If the puppy is for the girls, why aren't THEY deciding what kind they want instead of Obama demanding it be big and rambunctious?

It seems a bit selfish on the part of Obama. It really annoys me when people promise me something then AFTER they agree to the promise, they take it away bit by bit until it seems they got more than I did because they didn't really want to honor the promise.

Why doesn't he let the girls get THEIR puppy and HE get a big rambunctious dog?

The Mrs seems to be a cat person. Does anyone know if Michelle likes kitties?

[lunarmagpie]

i thought he was being facetious as can be with those comments about the "girly dog" -- probably in no small part due to Barbara feeling the need to push her own preference as far as a dog on the family, as everybody and their brother seems to be doing. and i thought it was very funny the way he handled it. i don't think for a moment that Obama is someone who is going to deny his girls the dog they want, assuming it fits in with the allergy concerns -- and those are some big concerns.

the choice of a family dog is like the choice of a home or a car; it's a personal decision that those who will be the ones to live with the dog will have to make on their own after careful consideration and investigation into the overall situation. so many people have felt the need to throw their two cents in, as Barbara Walters did, the Obamas have got to be feeling like no matter what choice they make, they're going to be criticized.

[Lionsden]

Fair enough And if the get to girls make the choice (with a tiny bit of guidance) then I think Americans will find the whole matter as charming as it should be.

[Lionsden]

oops "And if the girls get to make the decision..." etc.etc.

[SurrealPumpkin]

It sounded like family teasing to me. I'm hoping for a mutt. Besides, most young dogs are rambunctious it's just that the larger ones knock over bigger things :)

[quijotesca]

So get two dogs--short hair and easy to bathe. And do go to a shelter for them. Get a Hurricane Ike refugee. The Galveston Co. animal control has been sending them out for adoption. I myself have a Katrina dog, as well as a stray and several Chihuahuas. Dogs like the company of other dogs better than that of as elevated a human as the president. Look at poor Barney who was so bored with his presidential photo ops--Bush patting his head followed by his little hand flutter over and over--that he bit a newsman in protest. this was one of the greatest moments of this miserable administration. Come on, O, stay out of this one. Dogs and cats are VERY serious matters in this country. Let the girls do the hunting under their mother's guidance.

[MossyOak]

Too bad we can't vote on the First Dog... but if we could I'd vote for a goldendoodle, a hybrid poodle (super smart, no allergies) and a golden retriever (great family dog, sound, even temperament) plus they come in either blond or black and their size generally depends on what size poodle you breed with the golden.
When you mix these two breeds you get a disease-free, loving dog that's great with kids: a symbolic, pragmatic choice.

[eggman]

If we did get to vote for First Dog, we'd be limited to two breeds that were virtually identical, and the media would do its best to make them both seem like the worst possible dogs in the world.

[DocThink]

Hmmmm, would the President owning a Havanese signal thawing of relations with Cuba?

[TheBrizz]

I had to laugh when I saw this part of the interview because I have an ongoing debate with a friend of mine about this... she likes the mouthy, skittish little ankle biters, and I'm always telling her she needs to get a real dog, like a German Shepherd. I will definitely be sending her this link.

[Vixter]

I'm with you, Barack - I can't stand those little yappy dogs, either. And I am an over 50 female. I know that you have already stated many times that it will be a rescue dog - which is fantastic. I live in an apartment, or I would get a lab/German Shepard mix (Shepardore??). Had one before, & they are very playful, loving, great with kids & added bonus - can be trained easily. I do understand about the allergy deal though, & I would bet that you have already tried treatments for Mallia.

By the way, I also wish that B. Walters would quit trying to shove a picture of her little yappy dog Cha-Cha at any person whom she is speaking with, much less interviewing the next President.

[SurrealPumpkin]

It was appropriate. I haven't seen enough B Walters interviews to know if "for once" is also appropriate.

[LollieDotCom]

I have two dachshunds, one is yappy, the other is quiet, centered, always the man. I've never met a man that didn't respect him after he got to know him.

[mistlesuede]

I am happy to hear this. I was afraid they were going to end up with a froo-froo girlie dog.

[mick7191]

There goes the Havanese voting block. We're doomed. I guess we could expect Romney and Palin the court them heavily.

[stayinsouth1981]

They can try out some rescue dogs and see if one fits their personalities and does not bring on allergic reactions.

I've had great success with a wipe on product for cats that alleviates the allergic reaction I have to dander. I wonder if the same product works for dogs. Otherwise, make sure the dog is washed weekly, keep it out of the bedrooms and clean the house regularly. With this folks, that can't be too hard.

[sciphy]

Seriously. A wipe-on product for cats? Is that like "shellac-a-cat" or something?

[SurrealPumpkin]

blood donation.

[Lahonda]

Good thing you didn't say that on Caturday...

[IhaveaDREAMwhitegirl]

I wish I could wash my dogs once a week! 2 shepard-huskie mixes washed at home get a bath around once every month, a back-break­ing-experi­ence! I would be in traction if I attempted weekly washes! The groomers charge more for large breeds, oh well..

[stayinsouth1981]

Hey, he will be the PREZ. Do you really think he'd be the one doing it? But seriously, wetting a washcloth and running it over the dog regularly cuts down on the crud. I have a German Shedder and a Golden Retriever. I'd like to think my house doesn't smell of dog because I wipe those puppies down.

[Promise]

I hope they get a nice mongrel from a shelter! As for little yappy dogs I hate them, too, and I am a very girly girl.

[mheister]

The most interesting part of this is the verbal exchange between Mr. and Mrs. Obama. They're funny. They're not putting up fronts. There is clearly some disagreement here about what kind of dog to get, something a lot of families can relate to. I'm betting on Michelle to win this one though. The First Dog's going to be something small and yappy.

And if it's a Havanese, it's going to need some serious training.

[Thefamilyvan]

Well, this proves Pres. elect Obama is a real normal guy! He doesn't like "yappy dogs"!

[eggman]

And his wife doesn't hesitate to tell him he's wrong.

[SecondBase]

A one-eyed Katrina mutt hound, who eats andouille sausage and beignets, barks in Cajun, and growls every time he sees a picture of George W. Bush.

[bubbuh]

Are they hypo-allergenic?

[SecondBase]

Don't know. But they tend to smell like gumbo and bourbon.

[JumpingCholla]

I'm surprised he would say that. What's wrong with a non-macho dog? He has two girls. I hope they didn't hear that.

[bubbuh]

He didn't say you couldn't have a girly dog. He said he doesn't want one. I am certain there has been much discussion in the Obama household with all parties freely expressing their preferences. I think they will survive as a family despite that.

Sheesh.

[DangitRuss]

Did you see Michelle's look after the girly dog reference? Barack lost that argument. Any married guy can tell you that. Sad thing is he might not know he lost it yet

[goodgravy]

he should call ahnold for advice on girly dogs.

[bubbuh]

Big Wendy


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