Michelle Obama: Bo Is A "Crazy" Dog

WASHINGTON — First dog Bo is a "kind of crazy" puppy who likes to chew on people's feet, Michelle Obama told children visiting the White House on Thursday.

The first lady is spending a lot of time walking and training the 6-month-old Portuguese water dog who became a member of the president's family last week.

An energetic breed, Bo plays well into the night, as he did on Wednesday.

"It was like 10 o'clock. Everybody was asleep and we hear all this barking and jumping around," Mrs. Obama said. "The president and I came out and we thought somebody was out there. And it was just Bo. He was playing with his ball. And it was like there was another person in the house.

"He's kind of crazy, but he's still a puppy. So he likes to play a lot," she said.

The dog, unveiled last week after months of speculation, was a gift to Obama daughters Malia and Sasha.

"He loves to chew on people's feet," Mrs. Obama divulged to more than 100 children invited to a program marking the annual Take Your Child to Work Day.

Dozens of executive branch employees brought their children and grandchildren to the White House on to see where their parents work and what they do there. Vice President Joe Biden's granddaughter, Maisy, 8, was among them.

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In a question-and-answer session with the first lady, several students wanted to know about Bo.

Asked what she does with her free time, Mrs. Obama said she doesn't get much of it.

"Well, right now I'm taking care of this puppy. So I'm doing a lot of dog walking and dog training," she said.

Another youngster asked what would she do if Bo ran away.

"I would be very sad, first of all but ... he has (dog) tags, and hopefully someone would find him and bring him back," Mrs. Obama said.

She said it would be hard for Bo to get off the South Lawn, one of the places he is taken for walks and to play, because it is gated. But if he were to get out, she said, lots of people would try to track him down.

"I think everyone at the White House would probably help go out and find him," she said. "That's why we're working on training him, so that he doesn't run away and he listens when we call him. And so far he's doing OK, so we hope we don't have that problem."

Comments

[123dee]

This is Bo's 3rd or 4th home, the dog I have now had 3 homes before mine. I took me 3 months
until she realized I was alpha dog. I can understand Michelle using the phrase crazy, my dog
was so much into her own world with curiosity and energy. But sure made me laugh.

[trudem2]

Curiosity and energy is one thing....

Crazy is quite another.

[katekid]

Yup.

[luvangelHussein330]

For Goodness sakes!!! People are sooo serious about dogs...wow!! First off it was a cute light hearted comment that Bo is crazy that some folks are taking way out of context especialy since a video of what she said to get the tone wasn't given...but even still one should be smart enough to know that. All the pictures so far were from Bo's very first day within minutes of arriving at his new home. And like any puppy he is curious and excited hence the reason he might have been all over the place. He will prbably be like that for the next couple weeks until he settles down a bit and becomes familuar. And the last point I want to make did no one read the article. First Lady Michelle did say that she walks him regularly and works with him on what he ws trained on before coming home and when she doesn't the White house has a grounds keeper who walks and trains all white house pets...so relax already...I swear some people do know when to let up

[C65]

Everyone in my house loves our dog,and when she does something funny,
we laugh and say;"lady is crazy". lighten up people Machell Obama is a young
black woman,IT'S AN ENDEARING PHRASE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN BLACK
CULTURE, whether speaking of a dog or family member.CHILL OUT.

[ImagesAndAdjectives]

Time to call the dog whisperer!

[123dee]

ditto

[Zen0469]

Ol' Bo is more than a handful of puppy! I wish her much success in training this bundle of energy.

[elvin1]

How politically incorrect! Are we allowed to say that a living thing is crazy?

[mimspoot]

Oh come on! Not a big deal. My flippin cats are CRAZY!

[me4you]

I myself have been known to go crazy after reading comments from too many crazy posters!

[LarryinMiami]

Hello, this is the Glue Factory. Michelle, any contributions for us today?

[123dee]

I thought horse hooves were used to make glue,

[stepper]

Yes, as the old saying goes, and they use dogs to make horse food. Well, except this guy:

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/weird/Deputies-Decapitated-Horse-Fed-to-Dogs.html?corder=&pg=1

[aFlyoverPerson]

That is just cold.

[trudem2]

"Crazy" is a harsh way to describe a puppy....who is almost like a toddler. They're all over the place, full of energy all times of the day and night, will make a ruckus and wake up the house.....that's part of the deal.

I hope Bo is in thoughtful hands. Puppy ways can be aggravating for the first year.

[luvangelHussein330]

it was a light hearted comment calm down...I'm sure they are fully aware

[DaBluAce]

good grief charley brown it is a freakin dog! I call my dog crazy all the time! cause he does crazy things that I just don't understand! get a life! stop trying to make a story out of a non story!

[trudem2]

Crazy is a harsh way to describe a puppy.

[grata2ude]

That picture was taken the day the puppy arrived. Anyone who ever adopted a puppy knows the dog will not come leash trained. It was a new environment for the animal and lots of new scents to investigate. For the love of God get off your high indignant high horses and for once in your miserable critical lives just relax and smile and enjoy a cute story.

[AbeMartin]

My friend owned a Portuguese water dog. It was very possessive of her owner and liked to demonstrate her jealousy by biting me on the butt whenever I came to visit. Didn't draw blood, mind you. But caused some bruising just to let me know she wasn't playing.

[greymom]

Then your friend needed to do further training. When dogs do this it means that they see their owner as weak and they have to take over the role of pack leader. Have your friend assert her control over her dog, walk with good posture and have the dog in a sit stay, or lying down position before you enter the house. She should feed the dog last and that will also help the dog see her as a leader.

[Miralo]

Bo is probably a little hyper due to the stress of being in a new place. It's normal, and with love and training, it'll pass. And, honestly people, they're the first family of the United States. They're smart enough to know how to train a dog and/or hire a trainer. Bo just got there. Training takes weeks or months, sometimes longer depending on the dog's history and breed. The news provides a whole lot of reasons to get all stressed and freaked out. This isn't one of them.

[Fudgefase]

Let me say, at the outset, that I think Bo is a LOVELY dog.
BUT every pic I see of him on a lead, he's way out in front of whoever is holding it, and pulling them merrily along.
Guys, you've GOT to start making him walk to heel on the leads, pull him back with a sharp jerk and a vocal command, and don't move until he falls into place BEHIND you, not way in front. You're sending his little doggy brain all the wrong messages and he'll forever be a nightmare on the lead if you don't sort him out as a youngster. It's not cruel - just be firm and organised, (yes, even the girls especially the girls!) and in a short time you'll have a brilliant, and well-trained dog who's a pleasure to be around.
He's a dog, you're his pack. He's the newest member, so the least powerful of you. Treat him that way. Now!!!!

[svejkist]

In this case I prefer negative reinforcement to the positive punishment you describe. Instead of punishing her with an unwanted stimulus when she pulls, I make the state of pulling one long unwanted stimulus which disappears when she walks the way I desire. I just stop moving when the dog pulls, then walk on when she relaxes. At the beginning I react to the slightest release on her part. Then gradually I ramp up my expectations until she slows down at the slightest pressure and takes a full step back whenever I stop. It is much easier for the dog to associate giving slack with walking (which is what she wants to do) than to associate the chain yank with pulling (in her mind there are all sorts of things going on while she pulls). I have found this effective on young and older dogs.

I'm not saying that positive punishment has no place in dog training. But I do think you really have to know when and how to use it effectively.

[impik]

Unbelievable. Some of the comments here are seriously stunning. It's a 10 seconds dog anecdote, for crying out loud! Get a life already.

[Mygirl]

We had the same problem at night with our Schnauzer that we got last fall. We began removing all toys from his reach at bedtime. We even confined him to a large Dog carrage at night. We made sure he had covering and would make sure we said Night Night and this worked fine. Now when bedtime comes he and our older Chihuahua have no problem going to bed however the Chihuahua will get in bed with someone at night when he can get a way with it. The Schnauzer is now able to sleep where he chooses as long as it not on the furniture.

[Mercandmary]

The Obamas need to call in Cesar Millan. That would be the best episode of the Dog Whisperer ever!

Cesar: Ok, Barack, you need to be calm assertive.

Barack: Really? More than I already am?

Cesar: Tsssst!! Don't sass me, Barack.

[111]

I thought the same thing - this is a case for the Dog Whisperer. Cesar will train the First Family and rehabilitate Bo who will get his own treadmill! The President and Mrs. O will learn to become pack leaders in their home in addition to leading the nation!

Seriously, I hope they do call Mr. Millan because it sounds like Bo needs help with this family.

[bluehand]

Yep.

[svejkist]

Please, we just finished eight years of pseudoscience in the White House. The last thing we need is that self aggrandizing charlatan scaring the crap out of the First Dog. How about someone with some actual Canine Ethology credentials? Maybe Ray Coppinger.

[greymom]

Do not dis Ceasar Millan. He is the best. I have read lots of books and endless videos. His common sense advice is the best I have ever seen and what credentials are necessary and who is credentialing whom?

Other trainers require endless treats, while calm assertive energy does the trick.

[blueskybigstar]

The Obamas need to be told how training and controlling two dogs is easier than one.

[movielady]

Given the lack of patience (and attention span) of the viewing audience, I'm thinking Bo has about 2 or 3 news cycles to straighten up and fly right before the cries for impeachment start up.
Good luck, little guy. You might become a "rescue dog" yet.

[Hillrick]

Impeachment proceedings are probably in the paperwork stage. Depends on your definition of the word "crazy dog"

[lissak]

Bo definitely has the look of a socialist.