Firsts for the President's First Dog

Well it looks like the Obama family is in for a big surprise with the new member of their family. They have narrowed down their selection of breeds to two contenders: The Portuguese Waterdog and the Labradoodle. 

I've seen both dogs in shows before and in person at various events but I wonder what they were thinking in terms of a first dog. These are unusual choices for a firsttime dog owner. The hypoallergenic part is clear but the activity level of both dogs is pretty darned high and so if you have a dog that is going to be that energetic, you better be ready to have a whole team of dogsitters while you are off performing your presidential duties. Plus, having Sasha and Malia already getting accustomed to a new environment, new school, new friends, that's a lot of stimulus for kids. Well, good luck with that. 

I tend to agree and support shelter adoptions. One can get a dog at a shelter and the best sources to look at are local animal shelters and town or county shelters. Here's a few for Long Island, NY that you can check out:

http://longisland.about.com/cs/pets/a/pet_adoption.htm

I found this article to be very helpful. Our donations have gone to a few of these shelters including Little Shelter and NSALA. The staff are friendly and helpful in making your decisions and caring for your dog or cat. If you ever have any questions, many are long time pet owners who can advise on activities for your dog in the area and places to find toys, food or events.