The Easter Puppy brought a gift for Sasha and Malia Obama this weekend: their eagerly anticipated dog. Who says the administration doesn’t follow through on campaign promises?
There has been media confusion due to nomenclature mix-ups and the quaint custom of ”news embargoes” among dead-tree reporters (the dog’s debut is slated for Tuesday). Worse, all adult news editors are on vacation this week, and the smarter interns (who now research and write all U.S. news) are on Spring Break.
The facts so far:
Name: Bo, supplied by the Obama girls. The 6-month-old male pooch was formerly called “Charlie,” and his AKC registered name is Amigo’s New Hope, but the dog won’t be confused. At this point the pup probably just answers to the electric can opener and the rattling of the doorknob and food bowl, anyway.
Title: Consensus has settled on “First Dog,” but we like “First Pooch” and the term coined by Kriston Capps of DCist, “First Hypoallergenic Friend.”
Breed: Portuguese Water Dog is the official AKC term. This type of dog is also called Cão de Água Português (in Portuguese, natch), Portuguese Fishing Dog, Portuguese Water Spaniel, and “Portie.”
Color: Black with a white ruff, perfect for DC’s many formal occasions (white dinner jackets are now optional in summer).
Coiffure: Retriever Clip. The other option, the Lion Clip, is too silly for words (look at this). Curly coat; not wavy, Jheri-curled, processed, or relaxed.
Scoop: Not the pooper-scoop, but the first to get the story — weblog FirstDogCharlie.com (though the Washington Post claimed otherwise). Associated Press knew about Bo earlier but respected their source’s wishes and embargoed the story.
Affiliation: Democrat; a gift to Sasha and Malia from Portie-owning Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D) of Massachusetts, a state with a large Luso-American (Portuguese-American) population, notably along the South Coast (New Bedford, Fall River).
We are seeking venture capitalists to underwrite our new line of “Bo Bones,” linguiça-flavored dog treats. Maybe the Prez would want to invest, since linguiça is so popular in his home state of Hawaii that McDonald’s features this Portuguese-style sausage for breakfast.
“Linguiça” is too long for a dog name, and “Sausage” is only for dachsunds, but if the Pup-Formerly-Known-As-Charlie doesn’t like “Bo,” how about “Link?” The girls would still have to keep him out of the Lincoln Bedroom, though.
Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com
Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.
April 12, 2009 at 6:31 pm
it’s great isn’t it…makes one smile…knowing that those girls waited for 2 years…and they are getting their “pooch”…puppy…and yes, that a promise was kept…
April 12, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Update: White House photos.
Bo’s Birth Family.
NEW! Bo’s White House debut (video: CNN via YouTube)
But WAIT! There’s MORE! Bo on Twitter.
Hey kids! Read Bo’s picture book.More here.
5 Things you Didn’t Know About Bo.
April 13, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Advice to the new puppy owners: “What all Good Dogs Should Know, The Sensible Way to Train”. We used this book as a “textbook” in our obedience classes along with the experienced trainers. The sooner the family learns common training principles, all together, the better. And the cute illustrations are easy for the kids to understand. Good luck and have fun with your new pup.
April 13, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Best looking thing in the White House to date….Give them HELL Bo!
April 13, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Go Bo! It’s great to have a top dog in the White House.
April 14, 2009 at 4:16 am
Linguiça sounds like a good name for a registered name with the call name being Ling. My full name is Fado’s Rio Chorizo with Chorizo or Choriz being me call name. Rio was my kennel name at my 2llgd Grandmother’s house.
Most of Fado’s Kennels dogs have Portuguese names.
April 14, 2009 at 4:30 am
I’m really excited for the girls and am glad the Obamas were able to get a dog that was compatible with Malia’s allergies. I’m sure Bo will be well taken care of and loved. Congratulations Sasha and Malia!
April 14, 2009 at 6:14 am
Portuguese WaterDog under Scrutiny…
See:
reciprocal = Do Portuguese Water Dogs eat linguiça?
April 14, 2009 at 11:00 am
Chorizo Says: My full name is Fado’s Rio Chorizo with Chorizo or Choriz being me call name
Bom garoto (Good boy)! But most Luzo-Americans (like the Furtados) spell that other type of sausage “chourico.”
April 14, 2009 at 1:09 pm
The first dog is great! Cute dog. Every house (even the White House) needs a dog!
April 14, 2009 at 8:07 pm
[...] Bo Obama, First Dog The Easter Puppy brought a gift for Sasha and Malia Obama this weekend: their eagerly anticipated dog. Who says the [...] [...]
April 15, 2009 at 7:40 am
I don’t know, but why are u asking me that? lol
April 15, 2009 at 9:03 am
Well,as a portuguese citizen, I think Bo will eat linguiça if you give it to him. I even think he can eat sardines or codfish. But what if, as American born, he is used to eating hamburguer? Good luck to Bo and bring him to Portugal one day, to visit his ancestors.
April 15, 2009 at 9:17 am
Andrea writes: I don’t know, but why are u asking me that? lol
Your blog is international and concerns matters of taste.
April 15, 2009 at 2:17 pm
So glad the Obamas got their long awaited dog.
April 16, 2009 at 7:18 pm
I am 1 year older than Sasha and I think this is a great gift for the the children and the whole family. They will Love Bo. 4 weeks ago I got a portugese waterdog named America and i love the breed
April 18, 2009 at 2:30 am
That breed was the first I thought of for them. Unfortunately it will probably be cared for by trainers and just stop by Marine One for a photo op. Not a good job for a water dog, but as to hypo-allergenic dogs it’s right up there. Let it sniff the maids and waiters and butlers and it’ll be OK.
April 19, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Loved seeing Obama and the girls run with Bo / Charlie. Dogs are great ways to have fun getting exercise – see http://tinyurl.com/Bo-Buddi
April 24, 2009 at 1:12 pm
[...] The beaver kits in the Washington area should be big enough to leave the lodge in a month or so. Please help protect them from an insane new invasive species, the Portuguese Water Dog. [...]
April 29, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Bo Obama is the MAC Daddy of Dogs in Washington D.C.
November 18, 2011 at 2:34 am
Helene Heisey…
[...]Bo Obama, First Dog « NotionsCapital[...]…
April 20, 2012 at 12:27 am
“Great Danish, Beagle with lox and cream cheese, collie-flower and German Shepperd pie.”
Gleeful Romney supporters fired off jokes:
“What does Obama call a dog riding on the roof of a car? Fast food.”
“What does Barack Obama call a dog show? An international buffet.”