HotmailIt's not always a dog's life at the White House
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One way the Obamas could stack the deck in their favor would be by selecting a breed generally known to have traits they want, then working with a reputable breeder.
Temperament trumps cuteness when picking a puppy, says Jack Volhard of Culpepper, Va., a professional dog trainer and co-author of "Dog Training for Dummies." He advises spending time with a litter when it's seven to eight weeks old. "Which puppies come to the children, are they relatively calm, are they not too excited about the process?"
The Obamas also should work with a breeder who will take the dog back if it doesn't work out, Volhard said.
The couple has said they'd like to get a dog from a pound or a breed rescue organization. That can be risky. Such dogs tend to have unknown histories and issues ranging from a lack of housebreaking to shyness or aggression.
And it can take days, weeks or even months for problem behavior to emerge. It may require careful management and long-term rehabilitation. Not every dog is cut out for the Oval Office.
If the Obamas are determined to adopt from a shelter or rescue group, they should have a professional help them choose, said Brother Christopher Savage, head trainer in the Monks of New Skete's dog board-and-train program in Cambridge, N.Y. "You can get a wonderful dog from a shelter, and it's a wonderful thing, but you have to really be going in with your eyes open," Savage said.
Demanding life for a dog
White House life can be demanding for a dog. People are always coming and going, many eager to schmooze. One of Bush's two Scottish terriers, Barney, is famous with children nationwide for his "Barneycam" holiday Web videos, but more recently he popped up in a clip on YouTube nipping a reporter who persisted in trying to get his attention. The Reagans' Bouvier des Flandres, a large, energetic dog named Lucky, was moved to their California ranch after becoming too rambunctious.
Whatever choice the Obamas make, it could set off a national scramble for such dogs, like the frenzy for Dalmatians after the release of the Disney movie "101 Dalmatians."
Trendiness usually isn't good for dogs. It can lead to ill-bred, poorly treated dogs as entrepreneurs scramble to churn puppies out before public interest fades. Shelters are full of young dogs discarded after the novelty wore off.
"Pick the right dog for you," Millan said. "Make a decision, a psychological decision, and then fall in love."
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