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

[lpeggy]

My dog was just like Bo, when she was a puppy. Full of energy and spirit (just think of Marley & Me). She is 8 years old now, and has been the best dog in the world. But to this day, she still pulls on a leash. No big deal, because what she brought to our family far outweighs any leash pulling.

[Marie62866]

Bo is gonna be just fine! He needs to right leash and needs to be taken outside multi times a day and play some frisbee! Bo is just 6 months old, he's just a baby!

[Genep34]

She is a class act - in the most humble way.

[JeffmChicago]

Michelle Obama can't even have lighthearted banter with school children by saying to them Bo is a crazy dog without people criticizing her.

Huffpost how about an article written on the entire discussion MO had in the WH for take your daughter day? You may include this drivel and what she wore but at least deliver something with substance letting us know what happen that day with the interaction of FLOTUS and the kids. Geezus!

[Furby]

This is a job for Cesar Millan.

[svejkist]

Milan is a scam artist. He has no credentials and there is no scientific basis to his system. I have trained all sorts of dogs, including dangerously aggressive ones. If I followed his advice I would probably have been hospitalized. Why can't people just read up on behavioral science and canine ethology instead of just accepting con artist's patter as authoritative? For FSM's sake, the NG channel actually runs a disclaimer telling viewers NOT to try his methods when they run his show! Maybe that is a hint?

This is what an actual Canine Ethology expert says about "dominance" training.

http://www.workingdogweb.com/Coppinger.htm

[Furby]

Sorry Ray, didn't mean to offend you, but Cesar is cute, he gives good TV and people just plain like him. I'd pick him just for those reasons, dog be damned. But I do love dogs and mine are very well behaved.

[aFlyoverPerson]

Cesar's methods have been very effective with my pack - however we have not had any serious aggression cases. They are all individuals.

[RedDonnaAnn]

No, Bo is not a crazy dog, they are crappy dog owners who need to come up to speed asap. Good lord, who's in charge, Bo or the Obamas? Most Embarrassing Moments alert...

[bnhood81]

it's not even that serious. folks find any and every reason they can think of to criticize the obamas.

[seychelles82]

You conservatives really need to crank the the Outrage-O-Meter down from the 11 you guys currently have it at. Pace yourselves, or you're not going to last the 8 years the president will be in office.

[hazel09]

Apparently you have never had a puppy. Whats happening is normal. I love the Obama family..Th­ey are honest and so much fun to hear about. The only negative thing hereis that the GOP groppies have wondered over. Go back to Fox where someone may care about your Obama bashing!

[Shashi0224]

You really don't have to criticize EVERYTHING­....it kind of takes away from real issues.

Didn't bush's dog bite a reporter a few months ago..???? Just saying....­..........­..........­.....

[Niasia]

I knowwww that little black dog did snip a finger once...and he was well up in age!

[roshni]

Yea, this is terribly significant in the overall scheme of things....­.........

[RACVC]

I read that Bo was trained before arriving at the WH. As a dog owner I hope the First Family knows that the training specifics must be followed consistently - always. I'm sure Bo was taught to walk without pulling. The photos showing him dragging around the First Lady tell me that he's not following the rules taught him. In fact he's learning that it's great fun to pull and not obey. Not a good lesson. They must go back to basics and not allow any antics from Bo when it comes to the training. He must always follow the basics (walk, sit, come, stay, down) then be allowed to have tons of time for free play. In fact forcing the basics one minute then allowing him to not be required to follow the basics the next minute is confusing for the animal.
Please get an ongoing trainer to help you (the First Family) become trained. He may be a puppy but this is exactly why he needs to learn the fundamentals now. Best wishes.

[cocolola]

I'm a huge fan of Bo's, but it appears that the Obamas need help with training the little guy. Like someone mentioned, he's walking them.

[dems08]

I'm sure they'll have all the help they'll need.

I still think they should have gotten a pound puppy - a mix with some terrier in him/her.

They don't seem like a pedigree-type of family.

[timafi]

best thing to do Mrs O is to call Cesar Millian.I'­m sure he'd be more than happy to give some tips

[mjc]

Made the comment before Bo came to the WH but he is from a working class breed that likes to DO and BE not just in puppyhood but all the way through their lives. From the photos I have seen with Michelle "walking" the dog, I'd have to say that Bo is walking her; that is not training. Any good trainer, even the Dog Whisperer, could train Michelle and the girls to walk the dog and obey simple commands like "down", "sit", and "stay"; might even save the dog's life should Bo get away. Portugese Water Dogs like to work!

[RandyMan7027]

Most people benefit from having a dog but the last thing this country needs now is a President, First Lady and staffers distracted by a behaviorally challenged mutt. Think of the drama if Bo ran off.. or the cost if he wrecks a priceless, historical antique! Call Caesar "The Dog Whisperer.­" This is an easy fix.

[Niasia]

This is too cute.

[FabulousAt52]

Please call Cesar Millan -- and be good Pack Leaders, Obama family!
Puppies are great fun, but they do need training and leadership early.

[jazabelz]

Why don't all you know it alls give this a rest. It's obvious the Obamas can and will get all the help they need and Bo is still a puppy for pete sakes! Do you 2 and 3 year olds act perfectly all the time when thrown into new situations? this is no different. I wouldn't blame them if they never shared Bo with the public again if everyone is going to sit back and dissect every single movement.

[rduckham]

Having gone through "puppy hell" twice I remmeber this:

Puppies will be puppies, as long as they are puppies.