Could This Be the Next First Puppy?

I have worked in an animal shelter for the past 8 years and I would be disappointed in the Obamas supported the breeding of "designer dogs." Just like all other mutts, regardless of the price tag you don't know what you are getting. there is a good, no make that great, possibility that one or both of these dogs have aquired more golden retriever than poodle thus making them shed! These designer breeds are not, I repeat NOT, true breeds of dogs and the Obamas would be endorsing the reckless breeding of dogs for profit by selecting one, even as a rescue! If you want a mutt go to any shelter and you can find a ton! I encourage the Obamas to look on petfinder to find a porti rescue group, if that it what they truly want. Like others said before...inexperienced dog owners should NEVER adopt 2 dogs, and if they came to me for an adoption consultation I would recommend an young adult dog.

They should get both of them so each can counterbalance the other! I myself prefer the mini-goldendoodles, but hey the White House is huge so they will be fine with these dogs. My girlfriend has a Chihuahua, the cutest thing ever! But these dogs are great also for allergies.

As a pet sitter I have cared for all varieties of animals including a labradoodle. I say go for it they are awesome dogs and Amos is the best!

hey hey

Mr President & First Lady, I'm a big supporter of Best Friends Society and if I could have more than the 2 cats I have today I would adopt many more but my household can't support more so I donate whatever I can to help these animals have a good life. Please consider taken both of the labradoodles because after all we should never break apart families ;)

They will not take two dogs I'm sure. It is just that NMDR has 2 Labradoodles that are in the running. Having adopted from NMDR I would be thrilled to see the Obama's take one of these dogs. Not only great for the girls to have a dog from here, but also great for NMDR to get the publicity needed to get more of their dogs adopted to great homes!
Dan

Remember these are first time dog owners. Thinking it is smart to put two puppies within a home with inexperienced dog owners is setting both the family and the dogs up for failure.

In addition, a person will allergies may do just fine with one dog, but when you start adding more dogs the risks go up greatly.

I work in rescue and there is no way that we would advise any inexperienced owner to have two at the same time. They need individual attention and training.

My rule is: It is far better to have one dog and wish you had two than to have two and wish you had only one.

This is perfect. But why is always "a" dog. There are two girls and two dogs, so adopting just one is not an option. Besides, look at the two sisters together, how can they be seperated?? I don't know, but I think the Obamas could afford two.

this hypoallergenic dog myth has been totally debunked by science. the only people who perpetuate it are people who don't understand the issue.

excerpts from a report on NPR:

Finding the perfect pup could be tricky, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology contends, because there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic breed.

Shaggy dogs often get a bum rap, but allergens are actually in skin, not hair, the academy explains. The amount of allergen dander varies drastically from dog to dog -- even within each breed.

"Please don't believe the Internet that there is a breed or some variety of breeds that are going to be safe for you," says Dr. Robert Wood, director of pediatric allergy and immunology at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, "because that clearly is not the case."

Several studies have shown a tremendous variability of allergen levels, even within breeds, Woods says. One study published in the journal Allergy in 2005 found that poodles had a huge range in the amount of allergen dander found in individual dogs. One poodle was a very low allergen producer, while another produced 60 times more allergens -- almost the highest of all the breeds tested.

One solution is to find a flexible breeder or shelter and take a dog home on trial. Wood says an allergy sufferer should be able to tell within two weeks whether the dog will trigger a reaction.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97071783

I am a 5th grade teacher at Falcon Elementary School in CO and a volunteer the the Mill Dog Rescue Network. My 28 kids wrote letters to Obama in November pleading with him to come to CO and adopt from MDRN. Today, we read the article about Obama's possible visit to MDRN to adopt and the kids think Obama read their letters and are answering their request. The kids think they have made a difference and are looking for more causes to support. How exciting it was for them to think/learn that they can make a difference! Powerful stuff... :)

Jaime Rahn Sutherland

I am so happy about the Obama's decision to adopt. I have two adopted dogs now - 1 very large Pit (100 lb) male and 1 Rhodesian Ridgeback female and I believe adopted dogs know they have been rescued and are ever grateful for it. I am like the gentleman who would love to one day see a Pit Bull in the White House to dispel the reputation of the breed - best dog I've ever owned! Smart, Gentle, Loyal and Loving. And protective when I need him to be. They will know the right dog for them when they meet it and be a great example once again. Thanks Obamas.

I just had to comment on the Obama family getting a dog.I feel that they should take both of the puppies, that way they will not be seperated from each other, And Malia, and Sasha would have there own puppies to raise to adult dogs. I have a toy poodle, and he is so loving and very smart. Poodles are very good with kids and even small baby's.They love affection and love to sit on your lap. They love everyone that they come in contact with, They dont bark very much and they are easy to house break,They also love to play and they love car rides,With the age of my poodle now he sleeps alot more now than he did when he was a puppy,But he still loves to chase and play with his toys and and run around, If the Obama's decide not to get the two puppies, I would suggest them getting a toy poodle, They dont shed and they are hypoallergenic. I think its great that the Obama's want to get a puppy from a Shelter. There are just to many animals cats and dogs that have been placed in the shelters, Cats and dogs and other animals are like us humans they need a family and someone that will love and take care of them, They have feelings just like us.They hurt when we hurt, and when were happy they are happy, There are always poodles at the shelters were I live, They are so darn cute, and there small faces and little eyes will just tear at your heart strings when you look at them, as they look at you and say please take me home with you I need a family to love me, Just cant say enough about poodles, There great dogs, and a good companion, Good luck Obama's on getting your first dog.

These two pups are very cute. And, it would be great if the Obamas decided to adopt both. We adopted our dog from a local shelter, and I wish at the time I had taken two because he would now have a buddy when we are out or away to keep him company. If you have the space, money and means to have two dogs...go for it. We love our rescued dog; he has the greatest disposition and his breed is not known for being outgoing and friendly. I think he knows he's a lucky mutt, and so are we.

4Amelia
No one was talking about children. Yes, its sad how children are brought into this world to be abused....but right now lets just talk about animals!!!!

In mu opinion, the Obama's should take both dogs. Why separate them? Each girl then would have their own pet. It's a great way to teach responsibility to the girls. It would also show the country that Puppy Mill puppies are in great need of a good home....

Martha - I don't think that ANYONE is FORCING anything on the Obama family. President Obama CHOSE to make public the fact that they are going to get a dog as well as the breeds they were considering. It is only natural that rescues/shelters who happen upon these breeds would want to let them know when one becomes available and it is my understanding that the Obama's have people working on their behalf to help them find a dog and it is also my understanding that these people have REACHED OUT to shelters for guidance. As for the puppies not being regular puppies - of course, mill dogs can often be a challenge but these two are young and have been out of the cages for a period of time, appear to be well socialized and are already housebroken!
No dog is guaranteed to be 100% hypoallergenic so, Martha, are YOU telling them they should not get a dog at all?? Something tells me that due to security, the Obamas will not be driving around to all the shelters on Saturday afternoon so I think it's wonderful that the shelters are coming to them. As a puppy mill dog advocate, I can think of no better way to educate the public about the horrors of puppy mills, pet stores and buying pets online and I think either or both of these puppies would be perfect choices for the Obama's. You certainly don't sound like a puppy mill advocate to me. AND TO THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T THINK THIS IS NEWS - just because you don't care about it doesn't mean others don't. I couldn't care less about college football either but it's still considered news!

Cute puppies, but I sure hope that they are not holding dogs in hopes that it will be the "Obama dog". There are already severl shelters doing this and it is a shame. Keeping dogs on speculation is not working in the interest of the dogs. Give these puppies great homes now and let them get on with learning and becoming a member of a family (any family) now.

The Obamas just moved and have hardly had time to settle themselves int their new lives... adding a puppy right now would not do them or a puppy justice. Give them time THEN the right pup will be there for them.

Please stop forcing dogs on the Obama family. As a mill dog rescue in the heart of the puppy mills in Ohio I can tell you that there is no guarantee that these goldendoodles will be hypoallergenic. What a sad thing to get a puppy and not be able to keep it because of allergies. What joy there is when a child goes off to pick their first puppy. Why take that away from them by dictating what dog they should adopt? Another very important issue to consider is that a 4 month old puppy that has spent those 4 months in a puppy mill is not a "regular" puppy; has been without important months of socialization. Please let this family and these two young girls have the right and the unforgetable experience of choosing their very own dog. I've rescued hundred of mill dogs and am a HUGE advocate for these special souls but rescues' involvement in this very personal time for a family has no place. They've said they will adopt, why can't we leave it at that.
Let them choose!!

Please take both puppies. These dogs are exactly what the Obama's are looking for, shelter and non-shedding, hypoallergenic ( the most any dog can be). I believe that the Obama children will be better off with both puppies as it will teach responsibility and neither will have to the the favorite if there are two.

People who have to comment negatively on articles they haven't even read need to find something productive to do. It would be great if the Obamas adopted both of these dogs, and Michelle Obama has said the girls will be doing pooper-scooper duty, so no taxpayer dollars will be harmed in the acquisition of these pets. I'd love to see them adopted together, but any dog in the White House is never going to be alone!