Joe & Jill Biden adopt a German Shepard Puppy

[LynneSin]

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20081212/NEWS/812120346
SNOWDENVILLE, Pa. -- The Obama girls are still waiting for dad to make good on his Election Night promise to adopt a new first dog. Vice President-elect Joe Biden, however, recently took wife Jill up on her pledge to add a four-legged member to their family.

Last week, Biden appeared at the home of Chester County, Pa., breeder Linda Brown and picked out a male German shepherd puppy. Now that word has leaked out about his new family, the future second dog spent Thursday getting a taste of life in the spotlight.

News outlets inundated the Brown family with requests to pay a visit to the 6-week-old pup. By late Thursday afternoon, the dog was slumbering with his siblings as Brown gave interviews. Also on hand were the pup's father, Rex, and great-grandfather, Hans.

"They're tired," Brown said of the puppies. "They've been doing this all day."

The Bidens ended up at Brown's at the culmination of a weeklong search for an even-tempered puppy by New Castle County Police K-9 coordinator Cpl. Mark Tobin. Tobin also owns and operates K9 Camp Dog Obedience School and was hired by Biden, at the vice president-elect's personal expense, to help pick out and train the new family pet.

Tobin traveled from Baltimore to the Philadelphia suburbs looking for the right pup. After he met Brown and saw the litter of brown and tan dogs, the two of them set aside three as possible new additions to the Biden clan.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

BTW, this is something like the 3 or 4th German Shepard the Biden's have owned

[polichick]

1. So cute! What's with Chester County, PA - that's where I got my Sheltie.

[Sheltiemama]

61. Did someone say Sheltie?

What color? My current one is sable. I've also had two mahogany sables and one tricolor.

[Critters2]

2. Didn't adopt. Bought. There's a difference.

And I'm disappointed they chose to buy.

[LynneSin]

3. Well first he's never made that promise

and second, he's owned German Shepards in the past. I know, he could have rescued one but it is what it is.

[Critters2]

4. Indeed. And what is is disappointing. nt

[DemBones DemBones]

45. I've been looking at rescue animals online and an awful lot of the

"Labradors" and other big dogs look like they're part pit bull. I just don't want a dog that's part pit bull. I know some people love pit bulls but I just don't want one and last time I checked we were still free to choose the kind of dog we want, the one we think will be right for us.

[Skwmom]

51. Then you shouldn't use the word "adopt." n/t

[LynneSin]

59. Well then neither should the millions of families that pay money to bring a child into their home

Unless they were willing to bring in a child that was living in some social services type program then we should change the verbage and say that all other babies out there were bought. Because in this day and age if you want to 'adopt' an infant you will be paying money to do so.

So I wonder how many DUers here were bought as children or who have children they bought? I should call up my brother and asked how the children he bought are doing. I could introduce my niece and nephew to others as the kids my brother bought. Sounds really nice doesn't it.

[Skwmom]

60. Oh please. That is a ridiculous argument. The use of the word "adopt"

when you are talking about pets means one thing and to use it to apply to the purchase of a pet is intentionally misleading. And to bring adopted children into the argument is something that should never be done. Some things should be off limit.

[polichick]

7. I've adopted several dogs - and also bought one.

[Hieronymus]

26. Oh my, you must be so disappointed in yourself to have bought a dog.

[polichick]

34. Oh yes, terribly. :)

[Lorien]

12. Yep. There are loads of purebred German Shepards in shelters

along with most popular breeds. Not hard to find at all.

[LynneSin]

15. I know and I feel your pain too

But it's their dog and I'm sure whomever they used was a reputible breeder.

[Jennicut]

29. Yes but not every shelter dog or rescue dog will fit in with your family

Some need a lot of time and patience and he is about to be the VP of the United States. I have had some problems with a purebred lab that I adopted from labs4rescue.com. Beautiful dog but many behavioral issues like growling and biting. Its tough to know if you will end up with the right one. I had to give the dog back so I might try a breeder next or simply look for someone whose dog had puppies in the neighborhood. I won't try a rescue dog until my kids are older (they are only 3 and 4) as the dog tried to bite one of my girls. I am a bit nervous about going down that route again. You don't know the dog's past history and the dog we got was definitely abused. He flinched when I got a broom out to sweep the floor in our house.

[superduperfarleft]

57. Then they shouldn't have a dog. n/t

[PresidentObama]

25. Bought, adopted. Who cares? They got a dog...happy?! n/t

[Runcible Spoon]

27. me too.

:evilfrown:

[AJH032]

37. I'm disappointed too

I don't understand the desire to buy a dog when there are so many homeless animals that need homes.

[goclark]

58. Doggies in stores need owner too

I think it should be a personal choice.

[SharonRB]

5. Awwwwww

Too bad they can't stay little like that.

[Mira]

11. Why? Look here

On the right is Midnight, our 8 year old German Shepherd, I think she is gorgeous even though big. She is 48 inches long.
The cat is a normal size cat, approx. the size of the dog's head.

[SharonRB]

13. I'm just not a fan of big dogs

I like smaller ones much better. Sheltie size would be just about right.

[Mira]

17. I've never had a small one, it's ignorance on my part

[Rockholm]

33. I prefer big dogs. I have two.

[TahitiNut]

35. A German Shepherd isn't a big dog.

It's a "regular" sized dog. The big dogs are Mastiffs, Irish Wolfhounds, Scottish Deerhounds, Newfoundlands, Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Great Pyrenees, Bernese Mountain Dogs, etc. Almost without exception these dogs are naturally cuddly and affectionate.

At the larger end of the "regular" sized dogs are the Briards and Bouvier des Flandres ... also terrific, cuddly, and affectionate.

All of these dogs would HAPPILY be a "lap dog."

:silly:

[WinkyDink]

40. If it can kill you, it's a big dog.

[WinkyDink]

39. Same here.

[Crunchy Frog]

6. .

:loveya:

[Autumn]

8. Oh how cool, The Vice Pup

and The Vice President too. Too sweet.

[hlthe2b]

9. Ahh, first the Meals on Wheels story (delivering food to pets too)

and now, this.... I'm grinning like a fool here!

Ahh, Joe, that pup's got your heart already and the two of you just stole mine! :loveya:

[Seen the light]

10. My favorite breed

I've had the most beautiful German Shepherd for a year now. Love her to death.

[Cash_thatswhatiwant]

14. cute!

[northernlights]

16. that's NOT an adoption

it's a purchase, and every purchase means another homeless dog is killed somewhere.

That said, puppy is very, very cute. But then, they all are.

[Critters2]

23. Yep. These beauties are in the same area,

and still in need of homes:

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12503138

[superduperfarleft]

56. Yep, exactly.

It says a lot about a person that they would buy a dog from some breeder scum as opposed to adopting one that really needs a home.

[ShortnFiery]

18. Awe, I love German Shepherds. If they come from "responsible breeders" vice "puppy mills" they

live up to their very laudable reputation for high intelligence and loyalty. :loveya:



http://www.worldclassgsd.com/Tips_Resources_For_German_Shepherds/Temperament_of_German_shepherds.htm

[Median Democrat]

19. Cute, But Why Not A Welsh Corgi

A welsh corgi is kind of an evil hybrid between a german shepard and basset hound.

<>

[bain_sidhe]

21. that's a pembroke corgi... I prefer cardigan welsh corgi

despite the same name, totally different bloodlines, though (Corgi just means "dwarf dog")



The lovely above is available for adoption!
http://www.cardiganrescue.org/Available.html

[Undercurrent]

20. Ahhh...

Beautiful bi coloring, and a sweet face.

Ain't puppy love grand?

[Clio the Leo]

22. His father and his grandfather? We SERIOUSLY need to stop these dynasties! :-)

I believe Barney is Mrs. Beasleys pup too (or something!)

Listen people! Just because a living creature has a mother and father, a grandmother and grandfather does NOT make them better than all the rest!

:P

[dixiegrrrrl]

44. Having parents and grandparents available to be seen

is considered a plus when buying from a reputable breeder
who can document health and temperment of a dog. especially if children are to be around the dog.

That is the one drawback to adopting shelter animals. No history of temperment, health problems.
and I have had both adopted and purchased animals, big and little.

the Bidens actually located a dog in a very responsible manner, hiring an expert in the breed to find a good breeder. Not all of us can afford that, granted, but it is a smart way to go.

[mrs_p]

53. if someone is going to get a purebred

from a breeder (instead of a dog from a shelter) it is better to know lineage. each breed comes with its set of genetic problems - the downside of interbreeding for desired characteristics. it would be worse to adopt a purebred dog with unknown lineage. for instance, german shepherds are prone to elbow and hip dysplasia and degenerative myelopathy and i've seen how heartbreaking (and expensive) it is to have a dog with these conditions.

[mwei924]

24. OMG, that is sooooo cute.

[Cha]

28. Good..glad everyone is

so dog gone happy. The Obama girls know they won't get their's until they move into the White House.

[LisaL]

30. What a cute little puppy.

Look at that face.

[jenmito]

31. But Obama's kids won't be able to sleep over then since it's not hypo-allergenic.

Right?

[Cattledog]

41. Ther is no such thing a a "hypo-allergenic" dog

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoallergenic_dog_breeds

[tabbycat31]

32. answer the important question

what will the dog's name be?

[Mira]

36. McPlumber von Wurzelgruber, what else?

[Mira]

38. yeah - I think now - on reflection that it's Wurzelbacher - WTF

[ShortnFiery]

42. "Captain" the Shepherd!

Military Joke: A guy called his dutiful and loyal German Shepherd dog "Captain" because of his high intelligence and devotion to his master. A friend came to visit for the weekend and said, "Why don't you give that wonderful dog "Captain" a promotion to "Major" since he is so damn stellar in every way? The owner replied, "Well, I tried that once, but as soon as I began to call him "Major" he STOPPED working and just sat on his hauches and barked orders to my other dogs. .... *If you're former military, you'll get this joke. ;)

[Unsane]

43. Get it neutered early or it will pee all over the US Naval Observatory!

[Inuca]

46. Joking, right? n/t

[Unsane]

48. nope

Male dogs have a high instinct to piss all over everything. Most vets say to neuter early in order to avoid this--preferably before the pup turns 6 mos. old.

[Inuca]

52. Not in my experience

I have two male dogs, neither is neutered, neither causes ANY problems.

[mrs_p]

54. you are lucky then

i've literally seen hundreds of intact dogs with horrendous manners. neutered is better any day in this vet student's book.

[Honeycombe8]

47. Awwwww. I'd have preferred they adopted from rescue, but that sure is a cute fella.

And the puppy's cute, too! :)

I must say, I DO like a man who gets along with dogs. Joe looks right with a German Shepherd.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

49. Hellooooo.......

Mi name is Raven (aka sAm Huston nvrmore) I am a std puddel.
I was bot for $750 USD (cince i r originally german dog, thot i shud inklud that) frum privt breedr n Panama Sity in 2001. Nice ppl who do resku wrk also.
I very happppyy wit my hoomans, now living here in TX, luv to pla in sno.

I tiiped ths myslf but mommie wud like to adddd.....



I wish our new President and our new Vice President all the best for the holidays and for their administration.
:)

[bluedawg12]

50. Cute pup! Joe looks pretty happy, too, LOL!

[superduperfarleft]

55. This is news?

Some rich guy pays a ridiculous amount of money to animal-breeder scum for a new possession (maybe the puppy matches his wife's handbag or something), ignoring the millions of animals that are dying in shelters. Color me surprised....