Photos of Obama's Dog Bo

Picture It: It's a Dog's Life

April 13, 2009

The Obama family's new dog Bo, a six-month old Portuguese Water Dog sits in the White House. Bo is a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy and and his wife.

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37 Comments

em1282 4 years 6 weeks

One of my friends has a Portuguese water dog, and she is adorable (and a really reliable alarm clock). They're great dogs.

Kelliegrl 4 years 6 weeks

Cute dog

Kelliegrl 4 years 6 weeks

Cute dog

ang1885 4 years 6 weeks

I just want to touch his fur! He's so cute!

genesisrocks 4 years 6 weeks

Cute!

genesisrocks 4 years 6 weeks

Cute!

telewyo 4 years 6 weeks

He's so cute! I just hope they don't have him groomed "properly" when he gets bigger. They are "supposed" to have a shaved rear end, fluffy everywhere else, and a poof on the tail tip...it just looks dumb and pretentious. Other than that, who cares where he came from as long as it wasn't a puppy farm...

Angelica 4 years 6 weeks

What a cutie! My friend has one of these adorable dogs and he's sooo cute!

dm8bri 4 years 6 weeks

This puppy was originally with another family and it didn't "work out" - that's as much of a rescue as can normally be done with young purebreeds, or expensive hybrids. An allergy sufferer myself, I understand wanting (actually, needing) a dog like this - when I am able to adopt a dog I will get an older rescue - usually they're adult dogs with behavior issues or couldn't deal with an addition to their original family, such as a baby or another dog.And, Bo was a gift from the Kennedy's because they are long-time Portie owners.

dm8bri 4 years 6 weeks

This puppy was originally with another family and it didn't "work out" - that's as much of a rescue as can normally be done with young purebreeds, or expensive hybrids. An allergy sufferer myself, I understand wanting (actually, needing) a dog like this - when I am able to adopt a dog I will get an older rescue - usually they're adult dogs with behavior issues or couldn't deal with an addition to their original family, such as a baby or another dog. And, Bo was a gift from the Kennedy's because they are long-time Portie owners.

StolzeMama 4 years 6 weeks

Cute pup...weird that it was a gift from the kennedy' s though, no?

Smacks83 4 years 6 weeks

Hater I have the same fear about breed popularity explosion (everytime a dog movie comes out, people go crazy! Seriously, I just don't get it sometimes.)Oh and sorry but all the "doodle" doggies make me giggle, purely for the names (thankfully those doggies don't know what their name is). I know they are poodle mixes (hence the name) but since it really comes down to it being a mutt (which I personally love mutts, my last doggie was a rescue muttly) I guess people think that they may not get the same almost-non-shedding level as a purebred? Only speculating. I'm all for mutts, all the way though!

Smacks83 4 years 6 weeks

Hater I have the same fear about breed popularity explosion (everytime a dog movie comes out, people go crazy! Seriously, I just don't get it sometimes.) Oh and sorry but all the "doodle" doggies make me giggle, purely for the names (thankfully those doggies don't know what their name is). I know they are poodle mixes (hence the name) but since it really comes down to it being a mutt (which I personally love mutts, my last doggie was a rescue muttly) I guess people think that they may not get the same almost-non-shedding level as a purebred? Only speculating. I'm all for mutts, all the way though!

HaterTot 4 years 6 weeks

CatGirl, that is true, which is the saving grace of this story. More news outlets should be reporting that angle instead of the "gift from the Kennedys" angle to encourage more people to rescue. Sorry, I know it's "just a dog" (which is why I'll again say this belongs on PetSugar) but I see so many abandoned pups through my volunteering that I want them all to have great homes and people to love. I also hope that by next year, there aren't hundreds of Porties in shelters because it got trendy and then the owners realized they were actually work, and gave them up, like what happened with Dalmatians after the movies. Thankfully, Porties are generally easier to train than Dalmatians, but I still won't surprised if my next year, there will be plenty around to adopt.

HaterTot 4 years 6 weeks

CaterpillarGirl 4 years 6 weeks

From what I heard this is a "second chance" dog, previously adopted but they didnt want him for some reason.

HaterTot 4 years 6 weeks

@Smacks83 http://www.pwdca.org/breed/rescue/ (I'm on the board of my dog park and one of my colleagues rescued her Porties) In addition, they had considered labradoodles, and they could have considered schnoodles ( schnauzer/poodle mix, which is what my pooch is). I had to get a pup that didn't shed and was hypoallergenic, and even though it took a while, I found one to rescue. It can be done. I'm not saying I wouldn't take this little guy home with me (and ditch that silly lei), it's just that as someone who had the same needs as the Obama girls who also was able to find a great dog to rescue, it's disappointing that they didn't do the same.

HaterTot 4 years 6 weeks

Smacks83 4 years 6 weeks

Hater, the reason they did not adopt (which they really wanted to do) was because they needed to find a dog that practically didn't shed because of the daughters allergies. The two breeds they choose for that purpose aren't really found in shelters (waterdogs aren't really well know in this country so its not like you can find a rescue group). Apparently they had a lot of research done to pick out those two breeds as being the top candidates for people with allergies. (The worse thing they could do is pick out a pup from a pound that they think will be good for their daughter only to realize its not and have to give it up, breaking th hearts of two little girls who bond with it). I like that fact he donated money and still advocates the adoption option.Oh, and that would be awesome if your pup got to play with the "first puppy"!

Smacks83 4 years 6 weeks

Hater, the reason they did not adopt (which they really wanted to do) was because they needed to find a dog that practically didn't shed because of the daughters allergies. The two breeds they choose for that purpose aren't really found in shelters (waterdogs aren't really well know in this country so its not like you can find a rescue group). Apparently they had a lot of research done to pick out those two breeds as being the top candidates for people with allergies. (The worse thing they could do is pick out a pup from a pound that they think will be good for their daughter only to realize its not and have to give it up, breaking th hearts of two little girls who bond with it). I like that fact he donated money and still advocates the adoption option. Oh, and that would be awesome if your pup got to play with the "first puppy"!

HaterTot 4 years 6 weeks

That's all well and good pinkprincess, and it's important, but it's not the same. Rescuing sets a good example, and finds one more dog a home. Don't get me wrong - donating to shelters and rescues is really important, and not everyone can adopt. But there are so many pups out there waiting to love someone, that it makes me sad when people don't adopt. (Can you tell I'm the proud mom of a rescue pup (a Schauzer/Poodle mix) - who also doesn't shed and is good for people with allergies?)But, Bo is a cutie. The WH is just down the street from my house, wonder if I can get the Obamas to bring him to our dog park?

HaterTot 4 years 6 weeks

That's all well and good pinkprincess, and it's important, but it's not the same. Rescuing sets a good example, and finds one more dog a home. Don't get me wrong - donating to shelters and rescues is really important, and not everyone can adopt. But there are so many pups out there waiting to love someone, that it makes me sad when people don't adopt. (Can you tell I'm the proud mom of a rescue pup (a Schauzer/Poodle mix) - who also doesn't shed and is good for people with allergies?) But, Bo is a cutie. The WH is just down the street from my house, wonder if I can get the Obamas to bring him to our dog park?