I don't think Sasha is feeling Bo . . .

[EffieBlack]

She seems a little afraid of him or at least wary. Maybe he's bigger than she expected? Maybe she was hoping for a poodle?

I'm sure it will only be a matter of time before she's all over him. But I couldn't help but notice that, unlike the rest of the family (especially her Dad who seems to have lost his mind over the new addition), she just didn't seem to be that into him.

[tridim]

1. Give her one night and I bet they become best friends.

[hlthe2b]

2. She was probably hoping for one small enough to hold like a

baby doll... Wait until he gets up in bed with her. She'll learn. Nothing better than a big doggie to cuddle up with. They give the best hugs and don't mind if your head is momentarily a little heavy on their chest. :loveya:

[FrenchieCat]

3. Maybe she wanted a yappy teacup baby puppy.

Seven year olds can be like that.

[EffieBlack]

7. Yes - dreams of pushing a puppy around the White House in baby carriage all shot to hell . . .

I'm sure she'll warm up to him in about 15 minutes. Children and dogs have a way of bonding pretty quickly.

[Mz Pip]

10. So can 30 year olds

My son's sig other has 2 of those little things. He calls them 'ornaments' to which she is not amused.

[question everything]

36. Or maybe she is overwhelmed with the circus atmosphere

with an international press shoving cameras and microphones in front of the pooch.

[Olney Blue]

4. If she has never had a dog before, it will take a little time.

[elleng]

5. You're probably right.

I thought they might feel he might bowl them over.

Think of all the changes this family is going thru. And the 'baby' is displaced, at the moment. Grandma will address this, I'm sure, but there's a lot to adjust to.

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. She's wishing she could have a cat.

[Jackeens]

8. I'm guessing she's terrified!

It happened with my sister's youngest kid when they first got their dog, and he was the one who had campaigned the hardest for its arrival - but when the dog came in that door my nephew was freaked, the dog was so manic/crazy/nuts! He (the nephew) was just overwhelmed, I think he'd envisaged the arrival of an inanimate cuddly toy. Now? They're inseparable. It just takes time.

[Empowerer]

11. Reminds me of my 4-year-old niece and Mickey Mouse

Before our trip to Disney World, my niece talked nonstop - and I mean NONSTOP - about meeting Mickey Mouse - how she couldn't wait to see him, what she was going to say to him, etc.

But when we got there and a 7-foot Mickey Mouse clomped up to her waving his humongous hands at her, she screamed and ran away, absolutely terrified.

[Jackeens]

14. I know I shouldn't, but....

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Funniest ever, Empowerer!

[Enthusiast]

48. This is a common reaction

to the Disney World characters. My niece's little girl did the same.

[Muttocracy]

17. yeah, if you're picturing a live version of a stuffed toy and then you get a rambunctious being

who has wants and needs and drives of his own, and who steals the show, it's rather different!

[Pirate Smile]

9. I don't think it has anything to do with the dog. She wasn't real smiley at the Easter Egg roll

either. She may be irritated with the cameras. I don't know but I noticed it on Monday.

[goclark]

20. From other photos I think that is her personality.

If you have noticed, when her dad is paying attention to her big sister, she looks uncomfortable.

However, when he is giving her all the attention, she loves it.

The are both adorable and they are showing us how nice it is to watch/enjoy a family with young children growing up in the WH.

I've watch Chelsea, Amy and the Kennedy's. All were delightful.

[Pirate Smile]

35. I've noticed that too. Normal kid stuff. You wouldn't want her to feel like she has to "perform".

[Mass]

51. I noticed too. All this media attention may be a little bit overwhelming for a young kid.

[bdamomma]

12. she will be the one who will probably teach Bo how to swim

I thought all dogs knew how to swim??

[napi21]

15. No all dogs don't instinctively know how to swim, BUT for sure

a water dog does! Just like labs, retrievers, etc. It's part of their nature. Bo will do fine.

[Muttocracy]

18. my dog taught my friend's puppy how to swim in one quick lesson

mostly by example and their pup feeling brave enough to follow the big dog into deeper water where he had to paddle. Now the pup is a swimming maniac :)

[undeterred]

32. My 11 month old dog figured it out on Friday

As soon as the lake thawed he started walking into it to wade. On Friday someone was tossing a ball out for their golden retriever to get, and he had to swim to it. Ollie really wanted to compete for the ball but he wouldn't go further than he could walk. But I could tell he was trying to figure it out.

All of a sudden he just started following the golden and I realized he was in deeper water and not wading any more! It was like a light bulb came on. Now he keeps trying it out. This morning he swam out toward a couple of ducks. He kind of snuck up on them quietly, but when he got within six feet they flew away. Now he's got to figure out that he'll never catch them!

He's an Australian shepherd, a herding dog that I wouldn't necessarily expect to love the water.

[Muttocracy]

41. I've heard of a lot of Aussies and Border Collies and mixes loving the water

In the story above, my dog is a BC/Shep? mix and the puppy is a BC/Aussie/Something mix :)

[napi21]

13. Having hundreds of reporters & cameras upsetting the new puppy

didn't help! I realize how wvwryone was all excited about the First Dog, but all those people had the poor little dog really excited too! I think he was a bit more wild than Sasha expected, but all will be just fine in an hour or two.

[Muttocracy]

16. check out the loud noise in the uncut video - would bother me, much less a puppy or kid:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8343147#8343646

[Raine]

19. She sure had a great big smile earlier

but I think all the press upset Bo and that upset Sasha. :yoiks:

[jillan]

21. Did you hear her today tell the press that the dog doesn't know how to swim.

She is so precious.

I bet the next pics we see of her and Bo will be that they will be all over each other :)

[goclark]

39. She needs her special time to warm up to OBOma

OBOma is going to be so much fun to watch.

[zeemike]

22. The dog whisper Cesar Malian needs to visit the WH.

For real.
The dog is pulling her on the leash in the picture and that shows that she doesn't understand about training dogs.
Really that family could use some tips from him especially if they have never had a dog before.

[janx]

31. Bo hasn't been leash trained yet, that's all.

If he was adopted and then returned to his breeders, this is not unusual. He probably hasn't had much consistent training at all. He's only six months old, he's a high energy dog, and he still needs some training. It'll happen. ;-)

Apparently they're still working on "sit," and I noticed that throughout the hoopla, MALIA was the one who finally got him to do it! So sweet!

Bo and the fam will be fine.

[JimGinPA]

33. Funny - That's The First Thing I Thought When I Saw The Video Too...

We have a German Shepherd (just lost our other one a couple weeks ago) that is probably stronger than my younger boy but he has no problem controlling her. We used to watch 'The Dog Whisperer' all the time and we learned a lot from the show.

[zeemike]

47. That guy knows dogs better than anyone

I too learned so much from watching that show.
And like he says he rehabilitates dogs and trains people.

[Top Cat]

23. Sometimes children need a little time but I would guess by the weekend she will have warmed up to Bo

[Cha]

24. I noticed..and thought

Sasha was maybe having an off day.

[Touchdown]

25. It could be worse. Do you remember when Socks met Buddy?

It was World War III

[Clio the Leo]

26. What fool reporter tries to pet a cat who's tail is all bristeled like that?

That's just ASKING for a trip to the ER for stitches.

[Lars39]

38. Whose beehind is that?!

:rofl:

[csziggy]

45. I think it is Clinton's behind! This shot was probably just before that one

[Touchdown]

46. Hey! No laughing! That's Presidential ass! All 2 acres of it.

:evilgrin:

[bdamomma]

50. I liked Socks, RIP Socks.

[Clio the Leo]

27. She's doing the same thing I would do....

... dogs have always scared me just a bit. I'm fine, but I dont have this overwhelming urge to reach out and touch them when I see them in public, I kinda hang back and admire them.

This weekend I did a very brave thing and picked up my friends Toy Yorkie all on my own. :)

[Thrill]

28. watch this video. She is clearly shy of the cameras

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERljfG0U3co

[vaberella]

29. I picked up on that too. However, some have said she's camera shy

and done with it so she's not comfortable---I can buy that too.

[pnwmom]

30. Puppies that age are still pretty mouthy, which can be scary to children.

And they often jump up on you, which also can be intimidating.

Sasha might never fall in love with him as much as the others, but that's okay. Dog # 2 can be hers!

[SoCalDem]

34. Kids their age want a BABY puppy, that THEY can "mother"

they don't want a half-grown rambunctious D O G..

Love takes time to grow, and they will end up liking/loving the dog, but that dog is gonna be DADDY's dog//not theirs..

or they want some bedraggled mutt that followed them home, and THEY are the savior..

[Undercurrent]

37. Every kid is different.

I read an interview with Michelle where she said that Sasha is a bit quite and shy, especially at first, and also tends to be serious. I've noticed that serious nature in several photos I've seen of her lately.



Anyway, she does look a little uncomfy, but her expectations may have been for a sweet, little, cuddle puppy she could dress up, and carry around. At least that's what my sister was like with our dogs when we were kids. She sewed them tutus, wrapped them in blankets, and pushed them around in strollers. I was the tomboy who went hiking, and fishing with the family dogs. I expect Sasha and Bo will become great friends.

[Marrah_G]

40. Pictures can be very decieving

We can't really know. I'm sure it will all be fine.

[CreekDog]

42. But I've never seen Malia smile so big

I think she was really having fun and I'm so happy for her. :loveya:

[Muttocracy]

43. you know, maybe Sasha feels like it's more Malia's dog?

As the younger of two girls, I can relate to that.

Malia was clearly doing great with the dog. A 6 month old puppy may not listen well to a little kid like Sasha, but might see Malia as more like a grown up and listen to her (Malia was doing well with the dog).

[nemo137]

49. That's what I thought.

Malia looked thrilled to have the dog, but Sasha looked kind of skeptical. Also, was she the one allergic to dogs? That might be part of it, too.

[fadedrose]

44. I agree with most everything, but not everything in this thread...

Little Sasha seems kind of left out. They need another dog for her. Anyone can see that her sister and the dog have bonded already, and their dad completes the triangle.

How difficult it must have been for the President in this whole dog acquisition. The first thing that the President promised the girls when he won was that they would finally get a dog.

Sen. Kennedy meant well and is no doubt happier with Obamas having the dog, possibly more than the Obamas. How could the President refuse the offer from one of the most popular Senators ever who is dying of brain cancer yet? Not easy I bet. And they had planned to go to a shelter.

This had to be very awkward and the President was backed into a corner. Let's hope they all love the dog, but I hope that little Sasha gets a puppy of her own. It'll be a long time before she can handle a dog as big as Bo on a leash.

[CTyankee]

52. Bo might have growled at her. These dogs are known to do that.

A friend of the family has a Portie and he has growled at my daughter. She thought he was most unfriendly, unlike her lovable yellow lab.

I hope they can train Bo "out" of the growl tendency. Surely he is not needed for protection...

[truebrit71]

53. A) Too many cameras B) Dog is bigger and more boisterous than she had imagined...

...C) behind closed doors I'm sure things are much different...