Obamas offered hairless dog from Peru

[Brattina88]

Presidential Pooch Watch
by Claudine Zap
November 11, 2008 12:16:21 PM

1,896 Votes Ever since president-elect Obama mentioned that his kids are getting a puppy, dog lovers around the world have been panting with anticipation to learn what kind of dog will become first pup.

Obama, who described the decision as a "major issue," is on the hunt for an allergy-free dog, since daughter Malia is allergic. Seeing that Obama is the first "global president," it's not surprising that the Fido frenzy has gone international.

Peru has suggested its native Peruvian hairless dog, a bald, toothless breed, which actually looks cuter than it sounds. (You can get better acquainted with the breed here.) The country even has a specific dog in mind. Nicknamed "Ears," the four-month-old has been offered formally to the future first family in a letter sent to the U.S. Embassy. If the Obama girls reject the Peruvian pup, we hope it won't create an international incident.

But if the Obamas want to go American, there are plenty of allergy-free dogs to choose from. In fact, Yahoo! searches on "list of hypoallergenic dogs" surged over 3,000% as the curious researched on their own. Lookups on "goldendoodle," another low-allergy breed, increased 200%, as well as searches on "obama goldendoodle" and "goldendoodle rescue." As Obama mentioned himself, the family's preference is to adopt a dog from a shelter. A shelter dog would likely be, as he joked, "a mutt, like me."

It may be the first difficult choice of his presidency. But at least this decision will come with unconditional love.

I thought this would've been very funny...

 

[puppydog]

Ah! I see the 100% allergy free goldendoole is being plugged again! Sigh

 

[Giny]

Presidential Pooch Watch
by Claudine Zap
November 11, 2008 12:16:21 PM

1,896 Votes Ever since president-elect Obama mentioned that his kids are getting a puppy, dog lovers around the world have been panting with anticipation to learn what kind of dog will become first pup.

Obama, who described the decision as a "major issue," is on the hunt for an allergy-free dog, since daughter Malia is allergic. Seeing that Obama is the first "global president," it's not surprising that the Fido frenzy has gone international.

Peru has suggested its native Peruvian hairless dog, a bald, toothless breed, which actually looks cuter than it sounds. (You can get better acquainted with the breed here.) The country even has a specific dog in mind. Nicknamed "Ears," the four-month-old has been offered formally to the future first family in a letter sent to the U.S. Embassy. If the Obama girls reject the Peruvian pup, we hope it won't create an international incident.

But if the Obamas want to go American, there are plenty of allergy-free dogs to choose from. In fact, Yahoo! searches on "list of hypoallergenic dogs" surged over 3,000% as the curious researched on their own. Lookups on "goldendoodle," another low-allergy breed, increased 200%, as well as searches on "obama goldendoodle" and "goldendoodle rescue." As Obama mentioned himself, the family's preference is to adopt a dog from a shelter. A shelter dog would likely be, as he joked, "a mutt, like me."

It may be the first difficult choice of his presidency. But at least this decision will come with unconditional love.

:yikes: Wow, am I reading this correctly? Why on earth would they keep breeding a breed that genetically can't produce teeth? How sad.

 

[puppydog]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peruvian_Hairless_Dog

It doesn't say they don't have teeth here.

 

[Giny]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peruvian_Hairless_Dog

It doesn't say they don't have teeth here.

I read it, it doesn't say the breed doesn't have teeth but it does say

The genes that cause hairlessness also result in the breed often having fewer teeth than other breeds, mostly lacking molars and premolars.

So I guess my original question of Why? still stands.

 

[puppydog]

Oh of course! I was curious if no teeth were in their breed standard. It is pretty sad to me that they continue to breed none the less.

 

[Pam111]

Even Chinese Crested often have teeth issues and lose teeth early. It's something to do with the hairless gene

 

[Boemy]

There's an article on CNN right now where different people (not experts, just regular people) say what kind of dog they think the Obamas should get. It's funny . . . Everyone says "I have a [kind of breed] and it's great so they should get that breed!" Right, because we all know every family has the same needs.

The worst one is a lady who said they should get a pomeranian because "it would be like a stuffed toy come to life!" WTF.

 

[xpaeanx]

I'm just happy he wants to get a dog from a shelter... YAY!

 

[bubbatd]

I'm sure anxious to know the decision ! I wish I knew more about what size the girls want !

 

[mwood322]

I feel like I'm the only person who thinks they should get whatever kind of dog they want from whatever source they want. It's their dog, and they're going to have to live with it.

Just like I don't want people making my dog decisions for me I don't see why the public should have any say in what kind of dog our new president gets.

If they get a labradoodle so be it. It's their dog...and it's their choice.

--Mia

 

[RottyLover]

It must feel funny petting a hairless dog. I think I would pat its head.

 

[Lilavati]

It must feel funny petting a hairless dog. I think I would pat its head.

Oh, they feel like warm suede. I don't like the way they look, but they actually FEEL nice.

 

[Pam111]

I haven't felt a hairless dog either, but I have hairless rats and they feel soft and warm.

 

[Squishy22]

Goldendoodle goldendoodle goldendoodle . What the hell is wrong with a pure bred poodle now days?? People ALWAYS mention a DOODLE when it comes to allergies. Its like the poodle does not even exist anymore. Its doesnt make sense, because not all doodles are low shedding like a poodle is.

As far as hairless breeds go and missing teeth. Well, I dont agree with breeding dogs who dont even have teeth to eat normal dog things. I dont think its fair on them.

 

[Hayley]

The worst one is a lady who said they should get a pomeranian because "it would be like a stuffed toy come to life!" WTF.

Ahh my pet hate people treating small dogs like toys..

 

[Hayley]

Labradoodle, ie a cross breed, ie a back yard breeders dream, bloody hope they do not get one because it will just incourage more cross breeding

 

[TheGoldenRetriever]

I feel like I'm the only person who thinks they should get whatever kind of dog they want from whatever source they want. It's their dog, and they're going to have to live with it.

Just like I don't want people making my dog decisions for me I don't see why the public should have any say in what kind of dog our new president gets.

If they get a labradoodle so be it. It's their dog...and it's their choice.

Don't worry, you're not the only one.

I feel exactly the same. He and his family should choose their own dog and choose it themselves, based on what's right for their own family. Yes, including the source from which they choose their dog. It would be wonderful if they adopted, but I don't believe this should be a requirement imposed upon them by pressure from the public or any organization.

Because of their position, he and his family may well have responsibility to set an example or "send a message" in many instances. But I don't think it's fair to expect public figures and their family members to lose every ounce of privacy, including private decisions regarding what's right for their own family. IMO, choice of a dog is one of those instances. Any pet is a living being and must be one its family can live with long-term, with mutual enjoyment for the pet and its human family. No dog should be all about "sending messages", it's not fair to the dog or the family.

Choosing a dog for that reason is little better than receiving a dog as a gift, especially a breed the receiver would not have chosen. Look what happened with Barney, Bush's Scottish Terrier, a dog given as a gift with the breed chosen because the gift-giver is a Scottie fancier. In pictures and films of that dog with Bush, Barney doesn't even look at him. It appears to be behavior of a dog that doesn't get enough attention from the person who is supposed to be its "owner". Later they received another Scottie as a gift. But reportedly his family always favored Springer Spaniels, not Scottish Terriers. The only dog they chose themselves was a Springer.

Now someone from Peru is trying to get the Obamas to accept a "gift dog"? That's not fair either, refusing a gift is often taken as an insult so people tend to accept it anyway. Shouldn't it at least be approaching common knowledge by now that pets should never be offered as gifts?!?

 

[mwood322]

Labradoodle, ie a cross breed, ie a back yard breeders dream, bloody hope they do not get one because it will just incourage more cross breeding

Above picked as example, not picking on any specific poster.

I am well aware a labradoodle is a crossbreed. I didn't say I recommended one, just that they should be able to pick a dog they want, whatever it is. If they get tricked by the doodle hype so be it.

However, if they do even rudimentary research they shouldn't get pulled in by it anyway.

My point is it is THEIR decision not any one else's and I find the amount of news time devoted to its coverage sickening with the more important things that could be reported on.

--Mia

 

[Dakotah]

Goldendoodle goldendoodle goldendoodle . What the hell is wrong with a pure bred poodle now days?? People ALWAYS mention a DOODLE when it comes to allergies. Its like the poodle does not even exist anymore. Its doesnt make sense, because not all doodles are low shedding like a poodle is.

As far as hairless breeds go and missing teeth. Well, I dont agree with breeding dogs who dont even have teeth to eat normal dog things. I dont think its fair on them.

I totally agree about the Poodles. The more I see DOODLES the more it makes me want a standard sized POODLE, no doodle to it.

I also think that Obama family should get whatever dog they want b/c they will be taking care of it and it will be in their life. Shelter dog or breeder dog, its their dog.