Obama promised his children a puppy-

[TheGoldenRetriever]

Hmmmm, has their EVER been a first dog that was NOT a pedigree?

Ummm ... yes, quite a few actually:

Jimmy Carter - Grits, mutt .. said to have looked BC mixed with something unknown.
Richard Nixon - Several pedigrees but also Pasha, a terrier mix.
Lyndon B. Johnson - Yuki, mutt ... said to have looked like a mix of several Northern breeds.
Calvin Coolidge - Many pets including pedigree dogs, but also Peter Pan, a terrier mix.
Theodore Roosevelt - Some pedigrees, but also Jack (terrier mix), Gem and Susan (mutts), & Skip (Rat Terrier, which is not an AKC recognized breed)
James Garfield - Veto, described as a "mongel dog" .. i.e., mutt.
Rutherford B. Hayes - Jet and Duke, Spaniel mixes.
Ulysses S. Grant - Rosie, mutt.
Abraham Lincoln - Fido and Jip, mutts.
George Washington - Hunting dogs that included some hound mixes.

What I believe Erica was referring to is the crappy, stereotypical image that people with purebreds have.. that they are somehow 'snobs' or that 'all purebreds come from puppymills.' SO not true, but I have heard both of those myths time and time again.

I've heard both those myths several times as well. Another one is that only wealthy people own purebreds.

ultimately, whether it's purebred, shelter, mixed breed, etc...the message that should be given is that each family should find the right dog for their home.

Exactly!

Lots of opinions all over about what they "should" get. But what they shouldn't get is any dog designed solely to "send a message" to the general public.
The best "message" they can send is to get a breed that's right for their own family ... if more people did just that then less dogs would end their lives in shelters.

 

[Groch]

Well Golden, I stand corrected.

I thought Nixon's Pasha was a Yorkie, but did not know about the other dogs.

Lyndon was known for his beagles, but in looking into Yuki's background, he was a found dog...nice to know they can make it to the white house too.

Here is a photo I just found of Lyndon with the mutt Yuki....singing a duet I understand. It looks like they really appreciated each other for stress relief.

 

[Boemy]

Well Golden, I stand corrected.

I thought Nixon's Pasha was a Yorkie, but did not know about the other dogs.

Lyndon was known for his beagles, but in looking into Yuki's background, he was a found dog...nice to know they can make it to the white house too.

Here is a photo I just found of Lyndon with the mutt Yuki....singing a duet I understand. It looks like they really appreciated each other for stress relief.

That picture is ADORABLE. And what a cute dog!

 

[bubbatd]

I remember when Johnson was bashed for picking up one of his Beagles by the ears ...can't remember if it was Him or Her ,

 

[Brattina88]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081107/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_puppy

CHICAGO – President-elect Obama promised his daughters a puppy after the election, but finding one is proving to be a bit of a challenge.

"This is a major issue," Obama told reporters at his news conference Friday. It's generated more interest on his Web site than any other topic. But 10-year-old daughter Malia has allergies, so the family is looking for a low-allergy dog.

"We have two criteria that need to be reconciled," said Obama. "One is that Malia is allergic, so it has to be hypoallergenic."

Unfortunately, there is really no such thing as an allergy-free furry animal. They all shed some skin cells. And proteins found in their saliva or urine can also trigger allergic reactions in people.

Still, there is a good selection of low-allergy dogs. Some are short-hair breeds, but not all. And not all are little dogs.

It's the family's second criteria that may be the more difficult one to fulfill. Obama said the family would prefer to adopt a puppy from an animal rescue shelter.

"But obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me," said Obama in a self-deprecating reference to his father from Kenya and mother from Kansas. "So whether we're going to be able to balance those two thing, I think, is a pressing issue on the Obama household."

 

[sillysally]

Hmmmm, has their EVER been a first dog that was NOT a pedigree?

I think you are a little early in claiming reverse discrimination. What ever they decide will send a message, and the most important message we can send is for families looking for a companion dog to start first at the local shelter.

IMO, the most important message that can be sent is that a family do their homework and pick the proper dog for their situation, be it puppy or adult, a rescue or from a responsible breeder.........

 

[bubbatd]

This seems to be generating more interest that his Presidency !! Can you imagine the mail !!!! He'll be damned if he does , and damned if he doesn't !