“Sasha and Malia, I love you both more than you can imagine,” Barack Obama said in his Election Night address. “You have earned the puppy that is coming with us to the White House.” Obama promised his two daughters a dog for all the time he spent away on the road during his presidential campaign. This week marks one year since the Obamas’ pooch, Bo, became First Dog. Welcomed into the White House on April 12, 2009, Bo is one year and six months old (that’s around eight years old in dog years) and still as cute as ever…
Loveable Bo is a Portuguese water dog born in October of 2008. Explaining the significance of the breed’s name: “Apparently they have to be taught how to swim,” the president said. “They have webbed feet, and they herd fish for the fishermen in Portugal.”
“He’s a star,” President Obama has said about the latest addition to his family. “He’s got star quality.”
The President takes a moment away from the worries of the world to bond with his two lovely daughters walking Bo on the most exclusive stretch of green grass in the country.
Portugese water dogs are an active breed who need to run often and constantly want to be taken on long walks.
What a lucky dog. He has free range of the White House and, yes, Bo is even allowed into the Oval Office. Unless he has an accident on the rug.
New to all the media attention, Bo sniffs out a TV microphone. The curly black dog has a white underside and paws. Because he is a pure breed, it makes life easier for Malia, who has allergies and would probably be bothered by a mutt.
Bo knows who’s the real boss in the family.
The Obamas received Bo from the late Senator Kennedy’s breeder (he also had a Portugese water dog). The poor pup had another home and family but was returned to the breeder, which was when the pooch was offered to the new First Family. What a great turn of events for Bo!
