Is The Next First Dog A Male Portie From Senator Kennedy?

CHICAGO (WBBM) - All indications are that a new dog will enter the lives of the Obama family this week.
Nothing has been confirmed. But what has been mere speculation about the promised Obama family dog now rises to a level just above rumor:
A source familiar with high-ranking Washington pet owners tells Newsradio 780 that the Obamas are getting a Portuguese Water Dog, and that the dog is expected this week.
The source says it is a male puppy.
The source is unnamed (not certain about the dog), and the unnamed source says the Obamas have already met the dog when it visited the White House a couple of Sundays ago.
It is believed the Portuguese Water Dog may be a gift, perhaps from Senator Ted Kennedy and his family - but the source would not talk about that.
We contacted a spokesman for Senator Kennedy about the dog being a gift from the Kennedys and he said, "This would be news to us."

Arbo UNLEASHED In The Baltimore Sun

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/mutts/blog/2009/02/obama_dog_portuguese_water_dog.html

By Mary Corey

One thing I learned yesterday during the It-is/It-isn't-a-Portuguese-Water-Dog drama was this: There are some very funny, clever and informative Web sites and blogs out there devoted solely to the soon-to-be First Dog.
I was tipped off by Greg Nelson, who yesterday was cheering when he learned that his beloved Labradoodles may still be in the running. He even has a new site devoted to his cause. He calls himself the founder and his 18-month-old miniature Labradoodle Arbo (above) the president. To show your Labradoodle love, you can even buy yard signs, buttons and dog T-shirts. All proceeds of sales go to animal rescue organizations and shelters.
If you're way into First Dog news (and who isn't?), here are some other not-to-be-missed sites and blogs on the topic.
American Kennel Club provides useful info on the search, materials on hypoallergenic breeds and facts on past presidential pets. Don't miss: The video of too-cute Portuguese Water Dogs
Dogtime.com has an amusing Obama dog blog. Don't miss: The poll with questions including: What name should the Obamas choose? (Chief and Veto are options as answers.) What should the First Dog's first toy be? (Osama bin Laden plush toy or Barack Obama's basketball shoes?)
The Portuguese Water Dog Club of America has a comprehensive site on the subject with everything from grooming tips to handling behavioral issues. Don't miss: The Test your PWD Knowledge quiz

Home Stretch For The Next FIRST DOG

President Obama gave a few tidbits of information about the future First Dog during his March 19 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
After tackling serious issues such as the country's economic crisis, the AIG flap and Obama's NCAA tournament picks (OK, so maybe it wasn't all serious), Leno asked the President the real question on everyone's mind (or at least those of us who look forward to seeing a pup playing on the White House lawn): "When is the dog coming?"
Obama quipped, "This is Washington. That was a campaign promise," before adding over the laughter of the audience, "I'm teasing."
He went on to semi-cryptically suggest that the family has already chosen a family dog, saying, "The dog will be there shortly. We have actually sort of been laying the groundwork here. We've got a trip... I've got to go to the NATO Summit. When we get back, the dog will be in place."
The NATO Summit is April 3-4, so depending on how one interprets Obama's statement, this means the presidential pup may be in his or her new home in just a few weeks.
Leno did not press further as to whether the dog is from a shelter or a breeder, if it is male or female, or the dog's age. Instead, he asked about the dog's breed and if it was true they would be getting a "Portuguese Water Head" - meaning, of course, a Portuguese Water Dog, which, in an interview with PEOPLE Magazine, Michelle Obama had indicated was the family's breed of choice.
Obama neither confirmed nor denied the breed speculation, simply stating, "We're going to get a dog that I think the girls will have a great time... uh, I think I'm going to have a lot of fun with it."
He then added, "They say if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog, so..."
And with that, the interview concluded, leaving those of us anticipating the First Dog's arrival wanting more. It seems we'll just have to wait a few weeks for that.

White House to Receive Eco-Friendly Doghouse

http://sustainablepet.com/obamadog.html

Sustainable Pet Design has created an eco-friendly, non-toxic doghouse, "Summa Canum," for the First Dog. Green companies across the country have donated materials and services, including rock legend Neil Young, who is driving it to the White House this month. The dog home is intended to be used as a vehicle to introduce the American public to sustainable materials and practices.Summa Canum features a greenroof, reclaimed wood and zero-VOC paint. Vegetation will be sent to the White House after the dog home is received so that the Obamas may plant it themselves if desired. The home is built with cedar reclaimed from Andrew Jackson’s estate after a tornado felled trees on the property in 1998. Many of these trees were planted by Jackson himself. A certificate of authenticity for the wood is included with the dog home.Neil Young will be driving to the White House in March 2009 in his super-efficient hybrid 1959 Lincoln Continental to promote environmentally responsible vehicles; Summa Canum will be riding along in the convoy and delivered to the White House. The dog home generated enough enthusiasm among members of the green community that almost all of the materials were donated.Summa Canum is more than a doghouse—it is an effort to promote and introduce sustainable materials to the American public through an accessible object. Sustainable Pet Design and the sponsors of Summa Canum hope to create excitement through the idea that green is cool and patriotic. The interest it generates will provide an opportunity to present greenroofs and eco-friendly materials as concrete ways to decrease climate change and waste, lower health concerns and provide green jobs.

Million Doodle March

On March 29,individuals from across North America are lobbying for a cause they truly believe in. An issue yet to be answered.. but often in heated debate. A decision that President Obama will be responding to in the coming weeks, which will be highly anticipated. This will not address the economy, the war, or global warming... but for many people takes on its own personal significance. What type of dog will be the First Dog of his administration?.
On March 29, Doodle owners (and their dogs and friends) from across North America have joined forces for the first ever MILLION DOODLE MARCH. This passionate event will make it clear, that Doodle owners want their voices heard.
Join friends of Bocker the Labradoodle, Matilda First Dog, and Arbo for the Million Doodle March….a dog-a-thon walk throughout the United States and Canada. You don’t have to be a doodle to walk and you don’t have to leave your home town in order to participate in this international event…butwalk your dog for your favorite charity, get sponsors, or just walk yourself for a cause.
This Million Doodle March will also act as an International FUNdraiser…a “dog a thon”..a walk for a cause to benefit The Autism Connection and National Service Dogs (Canada) and the Humane Society. Fundraising pledged to walkers will benefit their own chosen local charities. It is our own Cyber-Walk.. a special day to set aside to do something good for those in need no matter where we all live.Visit our Facebook Page for the Million Doodle Walk Cause Visit our Facebook Page for the Million Doodle Walk EVENT and info where to send your donations. Thanks!
Please visit Bocker’s Store for Buttons and T-shirts to Support his cause (Buttons and T-shirts designed by our good friends at toonEcards.com !)Click this link for Pledge Sheet for those sponsoring a walk in their home townClick here to download our Flyer (both in pdf format)

More HOPE!

White House tosses water on dog tale

by Rebecca Cole
Labradoodle lovers, take heart.
After months of speculation, it appeared that the selection of a first dog was at hand. People magazine, with a fetching report on its Website today, revealed that First Lady Michelle Obama has narrowed the family's choice to a rescued Portuguese water dog. All that stands in the way now is Spring break - then comes a dog in April.

"You're getting some scoops here,'' the first lady told the magazine, People reported, and "the only thing still up in the air is the name."
But is the magazine barking up the wrong tree?
The first lady's press secretary, Katie Lelyveld, threw cold water on the report today, suggesting that a decision actually has not been made.
"They have not selected a breed," Lelyveld said. "Mrs. Obama likes the Portuguese water dog, but she is only one of four votes.''
The Obamas have not narrowed the search down to a particular breed, the spokeswoman said, but "their primary focus now is that they get a dog that works with their lifestyle." President Barack Obama had allowed in an earlier interview that the family had narrowed its search to the water dog or a Labradoodle, not a breed really, but a cross between a Labrador retriever and the Standard poodle.
(First Lady Michelle Obama may grace the cover of People magazine, with the story of the dog hunt, but President Barack Obama is featured on the cover of LA Tails, a complimentary magazine for pet lovers which dedicated a recent edition to rescue puppies.)
If the Obamas do decide on a Portuguese water dog, that might be difficult, says Mary Harkins, coordinator of rescue and relocation for the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America. A very active breed, some Portuguese water dogs "are without an off-switch - they just go all day," Harkins explains. "It might be a little bit too much for a family who has never owned a dog before, especially this family."
The No. 1 reason that Portuguese water dogs are rescued, Harkins says, is because owners who bought them as puppies didn't realize their prodigious activity levels.
Intelligent and a strong swimmer, historically used as a net-tending working dog by Portuguese fishermen, the PWD was taught to dive underwater and herd fish into nets. The relatively obscure breed is described by the American Kennel Club as providing an "indelible impression of strength, spirit, and soundness."
Finding a rescue PWD may be tough: Last year, only five PWDs were rescued , she says, and she already has a long waiting list.
"It's pretty difficult," Harkin says. "We're not that big of a breed that we would see a lot of dogs."

First Dogs: Raising the Woof in the White House

By Bridget Gutierrez, Newseum exhibits writer

If you want a friend in Washington, the old saying goes, get a dog. Since the days of George Washington, most U.S. presidents have.
Hundreds of pets have lived at the White House, including parrots, goats, raccoons and cats. But dogs top the list as the favorite presidential pet.
A new exhibit, "First Dogs: American Presidents and Their Pets," at the Newseum, showcasing some of the top dogs who have resided at the nation’s most prestigious address.
On display are images of dogs belonging to 22 presidents. Journalists helped turn many of the pets into national celebrities, including Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Scottish terrier, Fala, who had his own press secretary, and Warren G. Harding’s Airedale, Laddie Boy, who had his own chair at Cabinet meetings. A book "written" by George H.W. Bush’s English springer spaniel, Millie, sold more copies than Bush’s own book.
President-elect Barack Obama said he intended to fulfill a very important campaign pledge to his daughters Malia and Sasha — that they would get a dog after the election. Newseum visitors can vote for their choice for the next presidential pooch while viewing the exhibit.
Some highlights of other presidents and their pets include:
• Abraham Lincoln’s dog Fido was the first presidential pet to be photographed, but it wasn’t a happy occasion. Lincoln was leaving Fido, a mongrel, in Illinois and wanted a memento for his sons before setting out for his 1861 inauguration in Washington.
• Calvin and Grace Coolidge maintained a menagerie during his 1920s presidency, including 12 dogs and a pair of raccoons. On display is a photograph of their white collie Prudence Prim showing off her Easter bonnet for Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon.
• Herbert Hoover won fans, and possibly his 1928 election, by posing with his police dog, King Tut, for campaign photos. He and his wife, Lou, kept nine dogs at the White House, including their Norwegian elkhound, Weegie.
• John F. Kennedy was allergic to dogs. Even so, the Kennedys had nine, including Clipper, Charlie, Wolf, Shannon and the mixed breed Pushinka, a gift from Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev.
• In April 1964, dog lovers protested after seeing front-page photos of Lyndon B. Johnson lifting his beagles, Him and Her, by the ears. Insisting to reporters that the dogs didn’t mind, Johnson demonstrated the move again days later.
• Forced to account for $18,000 in questionable gifts during the 1952 election, Republican vice presidential nominee Richard M. Nixon insisted to a television audience that the only gift he received was for his children — a cocker spaniel named Checkers. He won voters’ sympathies when he explained, "The kids love the dog … and we’re going to keep it."
• Gerald R. Ford’s photographer, David Hume Kennerly, was looking for a golden retriever for his boss in 1974 but didn’t want to reveal who the owner would be. "Do they own or rent?" the breeder asked. "I guess you could say they live in public housing," Kennerly deadpanned. Ford named the dog Liberty.
• George W. Bush joked that his Scottish terrier, Barney, was the son he never had. Bush’s "Barney Cam" videos, showing life at the White House from the dog’s view, were an Internet sensation. Barney made news again in November 2008 when he bit a reporter who tried to pet him.

Show Your Love For A Homeless Animal This V-Day!

http://www.warl.org/events/Valentine.php

Celebrate Valentine's Day with Washington Animal Rescue League. Give an original gift that shows just how much you care -- sponsor a homeless animal in honor of your special valentine! A homeless dog or cat will get a special treat, your valentine will get a thank-you email from the animal, and a valentine card with your loved one's name on it will go up on the animal's den.

dogtime.com Features Arbo's Efforts

Check out http://www.obama-dog.com/. Obama’s Dog Blog: Tails from the White House is brought to you by DogTime.com and DogTime Media

http://www.obama-dog.com/blog/2009/02/labradoodles-lobby-the-president.html

What would Washington be without lobbyists?

In the nation’s capital, there’s a fellow – actually, he’s a marketing executive and entrepreneur – who wants the First Family to adopt the same breed of dog he has: a Labradoodle. But Greg Nelson is doing more than just writing emails to President Obama – he recently launched a full lobbying effort, including a Web site, a store and a publicity campaign to make sure the Obamas knows that Labradoodles are “super fun,” “super cute” and “super smart.” (Of course, Portuguese Water Dogs are all those things, too, but we get the point.)
Nelson’s site, LabradoodlesforObama.com, includes a blog, photos and a shop where visitors can buy buttons, T-shirts, yard signs, coffee cups – heck, you name it and they sell it. Nelson’s home is actually the closest single-family home to the White House, so we guess he just wants to add another Labradoodle to the neighborhood.
The campaign, Nelson said, is really intended to promote responsible pet ownership, foster a sense of community among dog owners and raise awareness for the need for more dog-friendly green spaces in Washington D.C.
Hey, we support that.

Labradoodles For Obama Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Greg Nelson
Labradoodles for Obama
http://www.labradoodlesforobama.com/
(202) 669-2896
gregnelson22@gmail.com

LABRADOODLES LAUNCH LOBBYING EFFORT TO BECOME OBAMA FAMILY FIRST DOG

Washington, DC—Prepare to cast your ballot once more; the campaign for First Dog is heating up. The announcement by President Obama that the first family has narrowed their choice for the family dog to either the Portuguese water dog or the Labradoodle has launched a new season of campaigning.

Marketing executive and entrepreneur Greg Nelson is lobbying for a Labradoodle in the White House through his newly created organization Labradoodles for Obama.

Nelson initiated the effort out of pride in his own Labradoodle, Arbo, and his interest in seeing the first family adopt their own mixed Labrador-Poodle breed. However, his message behind Labradoodles for Obama goes much deeper. Nelson champions three specific issues important to many animal advocates. First, individuals and families should practice responsible dog ownership, specifically by choosing a dog and breed appropriate for their lifestyles and by proper maintenance and care throughout the animal’s life. Second, as owner of the closest single family home to the White House, Nelson believes the sense of community fostered by dog ownership is an important benefit that should not be overlooked or discounted. Finally, Nelson hopes to raise awareness for the need for more dog-friendly green spaces in Washington, D.C.

Through his organization Labradoodles for Obama, Nelson is raising awareness and resources for local animal shelters by donating proceeds of merchandise profits from the website www.labradoodlesforobama.com to the Washington Humane Society.

“At the very least, the best result for the Labradoodles for Obama campaign is the money we raise for the Washington Humane Society” said Nelson. “Beyond that, if Arbo is invited for a play-date on the South Lawn, well, that would be a great bonus.”



Labradoodles For Obama
1609 16th Street NW § Washington, DC 20009

Labradoodle First Pup Campaign Heats Up In People Pets

http://www.peoplepets.com/news/pets-in-the-news/labradoodle-first-pup-campaign-heats-up/1


The Labradoodle is ahead in the polls. If Americans got to vote on First Puppy, the Doodle would win in a landslide. But Labradoodle owner Greg Nelson is leaving nothing to chance: he has launched a campaign to bring the Labradoodle to the White House. Nelson, who lives in the closest single family home to the White House with his 18-month-old apricot miniature Labradoodle Arbo, set up Labradoodles for Obama after President-elect Obama said that two breeds were on his short list: the Labradoodle and the Portuguese Water Dog.

In an open letter to the Obamas, Arbo sells his hypoallergenic breed as “SUPER FUN, SUPER CUTE & SUPER SMART.” “I jokingly have aspirations that maybe the South Lawn could be a new dog run,” says Nelson. On its first day Labradoodles for Obama attracted over 3,000 votes (88% pro-Labradoodle) and sold $2,500 in merchandise. (Profits go to the Washington Humane Society.)

The grassroots Labradoodle campaign will have to face off against the more traditional American Kennel Club, which is backing the Water Dog: “We have concerns about the Labradoodle only because it isn’t a purebred dog and … I think it’s important for the family to know what they’re getting,” says Daisy Okas, a spokeswoman for the AKC.

Should the Obamas get a Labradoodle or Portuguese water dog? Cast your vote now!

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/01/labradoodles_for_obama_a_leg_u.html

by Mark Silva
Here's a question for the Obama White House, with all its new lobbying rules about who can come into the administration and what they can do there, based on what interests they've represented.
If an organized lobbying effort is waged on behalf of Labradoodles, can the first family accept a pet of that variety for Obama daughters Sasha and Malia?
This is only one of the questions for the newly organized Labradoodles for Obama, which announces its formation with the advisory that "the campaign for First Dog is heating up.''
Having seen no organized effort on behalf of the Portuguese water dog, which is the other breed - actually the only breed, inasmuch as the fact that the Labradoodle, half Labrador retriever and half Standard poodle, is not a recognized breed - that the president has publicly mentioned in the family's dog hunt, it would seem that the Labradoodle lobby has a, uh, leg up, on the water dogs.
Washington marketing executive Greg Nelson, voicing "pride in his own Labradoodle, Arbo,'' is behind this campaign, which is aimed not only at placing a Labradoodle at 1600 Pennsylvania, but also at raising awareness about the need to rescue puppies, and the grown variety too, from shelters.
At the very least, the best result for the Labradoodles for Obama campaign is the money we raise for the Washington Humane Society" Nelson says. "Beyond that, if Arbo is invited for a play-date on the South Lawn, well, that would be a great bonus."
And, before you go and get too wound up about another dog posting here in the Swamp, please remember, it's Saturday.
We're headed for the dog park. Woof.

Welcome to our blog!

Welcome to "Labradoodles For Obama". Arbo and I look forward to hearing from you and we promise to keep you posted all " Obama Dog" and "Labradoodles For Obama" news related stories. Tell your friends, family and fellow animal lovers about the site and remember, "VOTE LABRADOODLE!" Wags, Arbo & Greg!