Bo (dog)

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Bo
Official White House portrait of the First Dog
Birth name Amigo's New Hope[1]
Other appellation(s) First Dog[2][3][4]
Charlie (by previous owner)
Species Canis familiaris
subsp. aquaticus
Breed Portuguese Water Dog
Sex Male
Born October 9, 2008 (2008-10-09) (age 1)
Nation from United States
Occupation First Dog of the United States of America
Known for Pet of the First Family of the United States
Training Dawn Sylvia (Hume, Virginia)
Can sit, present paw/shake, lie down, roll over, get off, wait[5]
Predecessor Barney Bush
Owner Obama family
Parents Dam: Penny
(Amigo's Phor What Its Worth)
(Boyd, Texas)
Sire: Watson
(Valkyrie's Dr. Watson Is Here)
(Ambridge, Pennsylvania)[6]
Breeders: Art and Martha Stern
Appearance tuxedo/black and white
Named after Obama girls' cousins' pet cat
and also Bo Diddley

Bo, also known as Bo Obama,[7] (born October 9, 2008) is the pet dog of the Obama family, the First Family of the United States.[3] Bo is a neutered[8] male Portuguese Water Dog, or Portie.[3] President Barack Obama and his family were given the dog as a gift after months of speculation about the breed and identity of their future pet.[9] The final choice was made in part because Malia Obama's allergies dictated a need for a hypoallergenic breed. The White House has referred to him as the "First Dog", a US cultural term used during several previous administrations.[2][3][4]

Contents

[edit] Breed background

Main article: Portuguese Water Dog

The Portuguese Water Dog is a fairly rare breed; only 48 Portuguese Water Dogs were entered for Britain's Crufts competition in 2009[10] and the author of The New Complete Portuguese Water Dog, Kitty Braund, believes there are about 50,000 in North America.[11] Although some breeders claim they are a hypoallergenic dog breed, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim.[12]

[edit] Breeding and original owners

The Obamas with Bo

Bred by Art and Martha Stern of Boyd, Texas, one of Bo's nine litter mates is the late Senator Ted Kennedy's Portie named Cappy (Amigo's Captain Courageous); the litter was named "Hope and Change" in honor of Obama's victory. Bo was purchased by a person unknown to the public, but eventually the new owner returned him to the Stern family; when buying the dog, the original purchaser had signed a contract requiring him to return the dog to the breeder if things did not work out. Bo was enrolled on January 5, 2009 with Kennedy's obedience trainer Dawn Sylvia, in Hume, Virginia.

Bo has a brother named Rico, that is owned by a couple in Houston, Texas.[13]

[edit] Media attention as Obamas select the First Dog

At his first press conference as President-elect, Obama was questioned by reporters as to which breed the family was looking to acquire; he replied, "our preference would be to get a shelter dog, but, obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me."[14] He also noted "Malia is allergic, so it has to be hypoallergenic. There are a number of breeds that are hypoallergenic."[14]

In response to a question his daughters pressed George Stephanopolous in early January to ask of their father on air, Obama said "They seem to have narrowed it down to a labradoodle or a Portuguese water hound ... medium-sized dog, and so, we're now going to start looking at shelters to see when one of those dogs might come up."[15] Much was made by the public and press about the family's search for a dog. On April 12, 2009, it was announced that the Obamas would soon accept a six-month-old Portuguese Water Dog puppy as a gift from Senator Kennedy. The dog was reported to have visited the family some weeks earlier[16] in a secret meeting to gauge compatibility and purportedly referred to by staffers as "The Meeting". However, the gift was not accepted until the dog officially arrived and moved in at the White House on Tuesday, April 14. 2009;[17] Immediately after he arrived, the family staged a photo op with Bo on the property's South Lawn.[18] At the conference, Obama was asked if he would allow Bo inside the Oval Office, to which he responded: "of course."[18] He also gave a nod to President Harry Truman's quote, "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog."[18] The White House website was later updated to include official pictures and biographical details of Bo.[3]

[edit] Biographical details

"A black dog with curly hair and white feet wears a multi-colored lei around his neck"
Bo wearing a lei upon his White House arrival

Listed by the name Amigo's New Hope with American Kennel Club's breed registry[19] and given the name Charlie by his original owners,[20] the puppy received his current name from President Obama's two daughters, Malia and Sasha, in part after their cousins' cat and Michelle Obama's father's nickname Diddley; the dog is a namesake of deceased singer Bo Diddley.[21]

In June 2009, the White House released a baseball card for Bo with his new official portrait on one side and tongue-in-cheek statistics on the other; information included the facts that Bo's favorite food is tomatoes and that he does not yet know how to swim. The card is available by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the White House.[22][23][7]

According to financial disclosure forms released by President Obama in 2010, Bo has a value of 1,600 dollars.[24]

[edit] Disputed rescue heritage

"Michelle Obama and her oldest daughter walk a small black dog whilst Barrack Obama and their youngest daughter walk a short distance behind them"
The Obamas walking with Bo

The Obama family originally seemed to emphasize their desire for an adopted shelter dog, but made no firm commitments.[25] In the summer of 2008, Best Friends Animal Society, an animal welfare organization, gathered 50,000 signatures on a petition asking the family to adopt a shelter animal.[26]

As Bo is a gift from the Kennedy family, he is not a shelter dog. Some dog experts such as Cesar Millan state that Bo could be considered part of a larger group known as rescue dogs, as he was unsuccessful in his first home, when plans for him to provide companionship to an older female dog went awry because he irritated the dog through attempts to suckle.[17][27] The Obamas have pledged to donate to the District of Columbia Humane Society to show their support for shelter dogs.[28]

Some criticism has arisen from animal welfare supporters because Bo was not adopted from a shelter.[26] The Humane Society of the United States released a statement on their website thanking the Obamas "for taking in a second-chance dog," but also encouraged the public to avoid going through breeders.[29]

[edit] Reactions by and in the media

"Barack Obama running through the halls of the white house with a small black dog who looks up at him whilst running alongside"
Bo and the President running through the halls

The Washington Post's Manuel Roig-Franzia, granted exclusive initial access to Bo for the print media, described the puppy: "Bo's a handsome little guy. Well suited for formal occasions at the White House, he's got tuxedo-black fur, with a white chest, white paws and a rakish white goatee."[30]

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) described the family's choice to accept the gift of a puppy from a family friend as "disquieting" and publicly urged the President to have Bo neutered, though the dog had been neutered before the Obamas received him.[8][31]

In anticipation of increased interest in the breed, the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America issued a statement requesting that members of the public considering obtaining the dogs "ensure that this breed fits their lifestyle," advising that Porties' needs preclude their being left alone for long periods or boarded in kennels.[32]

Immediately upon Bo joining the First Family, four children's books and a plush toy depicting him were slated for publication or manufacture.[33][34][35]

On July 17, 2009, the author Ben Greenman, writing in The New York Times as Bo, reflected on his first hundred days in office.[36]

In the final episode of the History Channel's Life After People, aired March 16, 2010, the producers imagined what life would be like for Bo after the disappearance of people.[37] This showed that he would leave the White House, and live off of the fish population of Chesapeake Bay.[citation needed]

Bo was also shown on Dogs 101.[38][39]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Silva, Mark (2009-04-12). "Obamas' dog Bo:'Amigo's New Hope'". Swamppolitics.com. http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/04/obamas_dog_bo_amigos_new_hope.html. Retrieved 2009-10-19. 
  2. ^ a b Dave, By (2009-04-20). "Vigilant press spots Bo, the first dog, out for a walk | csmonitor.com". Features.csmonitor.com. http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/04/20/vigilant-press-spots-bo-the-first-dog-out-for-a-walk/. Retrieved 2009-04-26. 
  3. ^ a b c d e "The White House - Blog Post - Meet Bo, the First Dog". Whitehouse.gov. http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/04/12/Meet-Bo-the-First-Dog/. Retrieved 2009-08-10. 
  4. ^ a b Cooper, Helen (April 12, 2009). "One Obama Search Ends With a Puppy Named Bo". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/us/politics/13obama.html. Retrieved April 18, 2009. "Other Web sites, which have been tracking the saga of the selection of the first dog, were in a frenzy over the weekend." 
  5. ^ "Obama Dog Trainer: Bo Already "Sits, Shakes, Rolls Over"". Usmagazine.com. 2009-04-15. http://www.usmagazine.com/news/obama-trainer-bo-already-sits-shakes-rolls-over-2009144. Retrieved 2009-04-26. 
  6. ^ "The Obama Dog Blog: Cappy's Breeder Rejects Obama Dog Connection". Dreamdogsart.typepad.com. 2009-04-15. http://dreamdogsart.typepad.com/the_obamas_dog/2009/04/cappys-breeder-rejects-obama-dog-connection.html. Retrieved 2009-04-26. 
  7. ^ a b Iovino, Jim. "First Dog Bo's Portrait Out as Baseball Card". NBC Washington. http://www.nbcwashington.com/around_town/the_scene/Bos-Rookie-Card-Sure-to-be-Collectors-Item.html. Retrieved 2009-08-10. 
  8. ^ a b Hess, Amanda (2009-04-13). "PETA Encourages Obamas to Neuter Neutered Dog". nbcwashington.com. http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/PETA_Encourages_Obamas_to_Neuter_Neutered_Dog.html. Retrieved 2009-04-15. 
  9. ^ "World | Americas | Obama family 'picks first puppy'". BBC News. 2009-04-12. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7995570.stm. Retrieved 2009-04-26. 
  10. ^ "PORTUGUESE WATER DOG". Crufts. 2009. http://crufts.fossedata.co.uk/Breed.asp?ShowYear=2009&GroupID=WOR&ScheduleID=160. Retrieved 2009-04-17. 
  11. ^ Ryan, Denise (2009-04-15). "U.S. first family puts Portuguese water dog on the map". .canada.com. http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=eb38a8c3-9ef9-40c2-bda1-3d87c1a6d9ad&k=17132&p=2. Retrieved 2009-04-26. 
  12. ^ "Hypoallergenic Dogs". vetinfo.com. 2009. http://www.vetinfo.com/hypoallergenic-dogs-myths-facts.html. Retrieved 2009-04-14. 
  13. ^ Berkowitz, Lana. "Houston pooch has friend in high place". chron.com. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/pets/6372225.html. Retrieved 2009-10-13. 
  14. ^ a b Rhee, Foon (2008-11-10). "Chewing over Obama's 'mutt' reference - 2008 Presidential Campaign Blog - Political Intelligence". Boston.com. http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/11/chewing_over_ob.html. Retrieved 2009-04-26. 
  15. ^ Weiner, Rachel (2009-01-13). "Obama: Finding Puppy "Tougher Than Finding A Commerce Secretary" (VIDEO)". Huffingtonpost.com. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/11/obama-finding-puppy-tough_n_156914.html. Retrieved 2009-04-26. 
  16. ^ Roig-Franzia, Manuel (2009-04-12). "The First Puppy Makes a Big Splash". washingtonpost.com. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/11/AR2009041102484_2.html?sid=ST2009041202878. Retrieved 2009-04-26. 
  17. ^ a b Theimer, Sharon. "PROMISES, PROMISES: Is Obama dog a rescue or not?". Associated Press. http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D97HQQP00&show_article=1. Retrieved 2009-04-26. 
  18. ^ a b c Theimer, Sharon. "First dog Bo makes himself at home". Washington Times. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/15/first-dog-bo-takes-obamas-for-romp-as-he-sniffs-ou/. Retrieved 2009-04-26. 
  19. ^ Saul, Michael (2009-04-12). "First photos of First Dog: Obamas meet Bo, their new Portuguese Water Dog". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/04/11/2009-04-11_its_easter_puppy_for_obamas_first_family_getting_portuguese_water_dog_puppy__rep.html. Retrieved 2009-04-13. 
  20. ^ St. Clair, Stacy (2009-04-13). "Obamas' dog: Meet Bo, the Portuguese water dog". Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-talk-obama-puppy-13-apr13,0,2536424.story. Retrieved 2009-04-13. 
  21. ^ "The First Puppy Makes a Big Splash". PopWatch Blog. 2009-04-12. http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/04/barack-obama-do.html. Retrieved 2009-10-19. 
  22. ^ Lee, Jess. "The White House - Blog Post - Bo: The Portrait, the Baseball Card". Whitehouse.gov. http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Bo-The-Portrait-the-Baseball-Card/. Retrieved 2009-08-10. 
  23. ^ Conolly, Katie. "The Gaggle : Official Portrait of First Dog Bo Released". Blog.newsweek.com. http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thegaggle/archive/2009/06/19/official-portrait-of-first-dog-bo-released.aspx. Retrieved 2009-08-10. 
  24. ^ Marr, Kendra (17 May 2010). "Hot dog: $1,600 Bo listed on disclosure forms". The Politico. http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0510/hot_dog_2a94d94b-62d5-46e8-84c1-da3cae477d9e.html. Retrieved 18 May 2010. 
  25. ^ Greene, Nick (2009-04-15). "Obamas criticised for breaking promise of adopting dog from shelter". London: Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/5154973/Obamas-criticised-for-breaking-promise-of-adopting-dog-from-shelter.html. Retrieved 2009-04-26. 
  26. ^ a b Goldston, Linda (2008-11-05). "Obama family will adopt, rather than buy, a dog". Current.com. http://current.com/items/89502136_obama-family-will-adopt-rather-than-buy-a-dog.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-19. 
  27. ^ Vinzant, Carol (2009-04-16). "5 Things You Don't Know About First Dog Bo - Barack Obama". People.com. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20272856,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines. Retrieved 2009-04-26. 
  28. ^ "Obama puppy: Portugese water dog Bo is Obama puppy". baltimoresun.com. 2009-04-13. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.dog13apr13,0,304629.story. Retrieved 2009-04-26. 
  29. ^ "Second-Chance Dog Heads to the White House". Humane Society of the United States. 2009-04-12. http://www.hsus.org/pets/pets_related_news_and_events/second-chance_dog_heads_to.html. Retrieved 2009-10-19. 
  30. ^ "Obama Dog Bo Diddley Obama Puppy First Dog Photos Video at The Insider". Theinsider.com. http://www.theinsider.com/news/2003457_Obama_Dog_Bo_Diddley_Obama_Puppy_First_Dog_Photos_Video. Retrieved 2009-08-10. 
  31. ^ Bedard, Paul (2009-04-13). "PETA urges Obama to snip Bo the first dog". USNews.com. http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2009/4/13/peta-urges-obama-to-snip-bo-the-first-dog.html. Retrieved 2009-10-19. 
  32. ^ "Obama Family’s Choice for “First Dog” Prompts PWDCA to Remind Public About Responsible Breeding and Dog Ownership". The Portuguese Water Dog Club of America, Inc. 2009-04-13. http://www.akc.org/poll/special/PWDCARelease.pdf. Retrieved 2009-10-19. 
  33. ^ Irvine, Chris (2009-04-16). "Bo Obama to star in children's book". London: Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/5167659/Bo-Obama-to-star-in-childrens-book.html. Retrieved 2009-04-26. 
  34. ^ Kondo, Koji (April 2009). Bo Obama: First Dog of the United States of America. CreateSpace. ISBN 1442156449. 
  35. ^ Lewis, J. Patrick; Beth Zappitello, Tim Bowers (April 2009). First Dog. Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN 1585364673. 
  36. ^ Greenman, Ben (2009-07-16). "The First Hundred (Dog) Days". NYTimes.com. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/opinion/17greenman.html. Retrieved 2009-10-19. 
  37. ^ "Take Me To Your Leader". History. http://www.history.com/shows/life-after-people/episodes/. Retrieved 2010-03-25. "The President's dog must learn the ways of the wild." 
  38. ^ Dogs 101 Ep. 10, All the Presidents' Pets,
  39. ^ Dogs 101 ep. 14, Bernese Mountain Dog, Afghan, Portuguese Water Dog, Cairn Terrier, Alaskan Malamute

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bo (dog)
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Barney
(George W. Bush's Scottish Terrier)		 White House pet dog
April 14, 2009 – present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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