First dog.. CNN rpts Obama's may be leaning towards a "Westie"

[snowbear]

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If I were them, I'd get two.. .. One for each of the girls!



They definitely pass the cute factor! ~~



~~ http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/12/26/ldt.schiavone.white.house.dog.cnn

~ ~ ~

[firedupdem]

1. They are cute! Gotta get two! n/t

[NYC_SKP]

2. Ginny would hang with 'em, no problem.

.
.<------------Ginny!

Woof!

[snowbear]

14. AwWWwwwWWw.. Ginny is adorable!

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She sure looks "cuddable" ..

[dkf]

3. Did he lose the "girly dog" thing?

hahaha. Go Sasha & Malia!

[elleng]

9. Nothing 'girlie' about Terrors!

(Terriers)

[elleng]

4. Cute OK,

but rather unrestrained!mebbe

[Jane Austin]

5. Cute, but not

cuddley.

[elleng]

7. Mebbe only cuddly

when they're sleeping!

[TomInTib]

6. I have a friend who has one named Sampson.

My friend is a biker, a rough character who live in Cut'n'Shoot, Texas (no kidding). His Harley has this cool box on the tank, and that little dog goes everywhere with DK. You should see them, longhaired, tattooed DK and that damned little dog that is wearing those Doggle things.

[firedupdem]

11. Ha! My husband complained like hell about what kind of dog we

were going to get...but guess who walks my 12 pound shih tzu and hangs out with him? My six foot six husband. I did name the dog rocco to appeal to the men in my house but still....he was not going to touch the dog and now they are buds!

[TomInTib]

13. I love it. If a person cannot be won over by a good dog, then that person...

is not someone I care to be around.

[Shiver]

35. What if that person

happens to be an honest-to-Eris cynophobic, and finds himself terror-stricken within ten feet of any dog, no matter how small and cute and no matter how much he realizes that his fear is completely irrational? :hide:

[Joe the Liberal]

8. What?.........

I thought he wanted a "big rambunctious dog". :shrug:

[elleng]

10. They ARE rambunctious;

NOT 'big,' tho.

[snowbear]

12. Yeah, but Azimov... don't forget...

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He's dealing with a three to one decision on what they get.. ..And girls always win!

~~~

[Joe the Liberal]

20. Yea I guess thats true.......

but I'm still hoping he picks a "big rambunctious dog".Like Obama I'm not a big fan of small little lap dogs ,no offense to anyone here who owns one of course. They are just not my thing, I prefer the bigger breeds, I'd honestly rather get a cat than get a small lap dog. Bush had that mean little Scottish terrier during his presidency, a nice change would be a big dog.

Thats just my opinion, however if he must get a small dog I suggest he get a Puli.......



I think they are hypoallergenic and are very unique looking plus nothing beats dreads on a dog, amirite? :7

[snowbear]

27. Amurite?

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Yep.. Youisrite Azimov! ...That dog with the dread locks is unique looking!!

Look at this Pugi I found competing in a dog show!! >>

No way in hell I'd attempt grooming one of those things!

[KittyWampus]

33. that dog looks like a flying pom pom.

[peaches2003]

37. Puli (not Pugi)

[rocktivity]

51. Just like my aunt's dog (which she named Midnight)

I thought she'd left a black towel on the floor and started to pick it up, but then it jumped up and barked at me. If it weren't for his tongue, you wouldn't have known which end was which!

:headbang:
rocknation

[rocktivity]

52. Barney was not the problem

he clearly did not get the attention, discipline training his owners should have given him.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Pirate Smile]

15. I think Michelle and the girls want a say too. He'll be out-numbered which I assume is normal in

his 3 females v. 1 male household.

Maybe they'll get a boy puppy to help with the gender imbalance in the house. That is who my father would commiserate (tongue-in-cheek, I think) with when complaining about his female filled house. Fritz the Dachshund was certainly more then happy to listen.

[bullimiami]

16. i thought they needed hypoallergenic?

[Lisa0825]

28. Westies are a non-shedding dog breed.

Generally non-shedding dogs are less likely to cause allergic reactions. No dog is 100% hypoallergenic.

[ShortnFiery]

54. Yes, no dog is ever 100 percent hypoallergenic but "dander" not "fur" is the main culprit.

http://www.aboutdogs.us/westiedogs.php

West Highland Terriers, which are more commonly known as Westies, are hypoallergenic dogs. This is good news for allergy suffers who love these adorable little bundles of fur.

One in ten people suffer from allergies to dogs, suffering from watering eyes and even attacks of asthma. Westies pose a considerably less serious risk than most other breeds of causing an allergic reaction to their hair and dander.

Actually, pet hair is not the cause of allergic reactions in humans. It is the dander common to the dogs and more commonly to specific breeds, which causes the sneezing and breathing problems in allergy prone humans. Dander is microscopic dead skin scales like human dandruff that pets shed as a natural action.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Hypoallergenic-Dogs---The-Perfect-Match-For-Allergy-Sufferers?&id=791486

Some of the more popular hypoallergenic dog breeds include:

-Airedale Terrier
-Basenji
-Bedlington Terrier
-Bouvier des Flandres
-Cairn Terrier
-Chihuahua
-Chinese Crested (Powder Puff and Hairless varieties)
-Cockapoo
-Coton De Tulear
-Italian Greyhound
-Labradoodle
-Maltese
-Malti-Poo
-Old English Sheepdog * my pick!
-Poodle (and most Poodle mixes such as Labradoodle, Malti-Poo etc.)
-Schnauzer (all sizes)
-Yorkshire Terrier

Yes, why not get "A BIG DOG" like an Old English Sheepdog (OES)?!?

Below is a beautiful picture of my beloved late pup, Mr. Benjamin J. Waggledorn, a.k.a. "The Beast From the East." :evilgrin:

[Steerpike_Denver]

17. One thing I wonder about...

In a post-election CBS interview, The Obamas were adamant that the girls would have the usual kid's job of picking up the dog poop. Does anyone else have a problem seeing this actually happening? I just have this image in my mind of Sasha or Malia walking around the White House grounds dragging a shovel and a bucket, with a gaggle of press photographers and tourist gawkers held back by security, and the obligatory Secret Service detail watching the crowd and muttering into their sleeves. Just seems a little surreal to me.

Also, at my house, this job falls to my youngest daughter, who does it once a week. Will the staff be ordered to leave the piles where they lie, so that the Obama daughters will have to get it?

[gblady]

19. well.....

Michelle said that she told the staff not to make the girl's beds....
that they needed to make their own...

I think the Obama's are big on teaching responsibility.

[Steerpike_Denver]

21. The girls' bedrooms are one thing...

The White House grounds are more of a public space.

[awoke_in_2003]

40. "are more of a public space"

Uh, not really. Try getting on the grounds without the permission of the resident.

[whistler162]

25. I can just see the guards on the roof reporting.....

"Tell Malia that PD 1 did #2 over by the 5th post of the west fence.".

[ellisonz]

53. ...

:rofl:

[elfin]

18. I hope it is so -- I am on my third Westie

so you know I am a geezer - the first two lived to near 14 and this one is ten and counting and thinks he is still a pup.

All but the last did not shed - this one sheds like a Persian cat, but makes up for it with hilarity and personality.

GREAT dogs - funny, smart, playful, but stubborn - until YOU make it clear who is Alpha in the pack.

Good with kids and with a sense of humor as much as a dog can have.

Mine plays hide and seek with great enjoyment and makes me laugh out loud each day with a new behavior.

[femmocrat]

24. I always wanted a Westie, but didn't want to deal with the grooming.

Do you groom your dogs yourself?

I love terriers! :hi:

[elfin]

47. Tardy reply -- but yes for my first two

not a problem at all - except I didn't want to do the nails and went to the vet every 6 weeks ($8) for that. They looked a bit irregular, but still cute beyond belief.

With this one, go every 6 - 8 weeks for the whole thing for $30 (including tip) per session as a luxury for both me and him.

[Top Cat]

26. I have a Yorkie and he does not shed.... Terrior's are a great breed

[roody]

22. I hope they do not buy from a puppy mill.

[AnnieBW]

23. Cool!

My friend Phil and his wife are active in the Westie rescue in the DC area. I've GOT to send this to him! :bounce:

[Withywindle]

29. Can't be trusted, Obama

I heard he pals around with terriers!

[Lisa0825]

39. LMAO!

:rofl:

[rainbow4321]

30. Definitely...get two

It's gotta have a playmate when the humans aren't available...plus, more importantly, you don't want two kids arguing over who gets to sleep with the dog every night..2 dogs, 2 kids, no problem :-)

[Cash_thatswhatiwant]

31. awwwwwwwwwwwwww, thats too cute!

[Phx_Dem]

32. Those dogs are adorable!! But how would CNN know what they're considering.

I think they just make shit up.

[firedupdem]

34. I agree! n/t

[No Elephants]

36. I thought it was only the dogs who have fur, rather than hair, that are easier on allergies. Don't

Westies have hair (rather than fur)?

[AtomicKitten]

38. Still pulling for the adoption of a shelter/rescue dog against all odds!

But on the cute meter of 1-10, those Westies rate a 47. :)

[Vinca]

41. Here we go. Westie Rescue pups.

http://search.petfinder.com/shelterSearch/shelterSearch.cgi?animal=&breed=&age=&size=&specialNeeds=&declawedPets=&children=&status=&id=&internal=&contact=&name=&shelterid=VA07&sort=pet.Identifier&preview=1

[AtomicKitten]

42. done and done!

:thumbsup:

[Vinca]

43. OMG - I almost wish I hadn't found that site. Look at this poor little guy.

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12542281

[AtomicKitten]

44. that is tragically heart breaking

I adopted a cat that turned out to be deaf from the SPCA years ago. I phoned to ask some questions and they told me I could bring her back and choose another one, and oh BTW they would probably euthanize her because special need animals are passed over. She was with me for 17 years.

Too often people view their pet animals as disposable. :(

[gblady]

46. wondering why....

in that shelter site....all of them said that
they were not a good match for kids?????

[Muttocracy]

49. many breed rescue groups don't want to place dogs to families with small children

...often that's due more to the way small children treat dogs than fear of what the dog will do to kids. Many breeds, due to their size, temperament, or energy level, are not good for small children. Also, people with small children often are way too busy to deal with a rescue dog, or if they have other children on the way, suddenly they're too busy or declare the dog not good with kids and it ends up back in rescue. Terriers were bred to be strong, tough dogs. Many herding breeds can be driven nuts by small children.

That particular group's policy is on their website - no kids under 6:
http://www.westierescue.com/faqs.asp#children

Of course, humans have this habit of reproducing so it kids can come along later, but they try to put the rescue dog where things will work out the first time.

[rvablue]

45. And small enough for the girls to handle them themselves....

One thing I love about the Obamas is that they seem to tote their own stuff and I like the message it sends.

With these little cuties, the girls could put them in a dog carrier-bag and handle them themselves.

I kinda hope they get two, too, but I'll be happy just to see one new rescue pup in the White House...what a boon for the Humane Society if it were in a promo ad....a huge, huge influence.

[leftofthedial]

48. Westies are WAY too right of center

:rofl:

[Colobo]

50. They're cute!