Poodle top dog for Obamas
2008-08-28 21:13
New York - As the Democrats were
meeting in Denver this week to crown Barack Obama as their
presidential nominee, the American public selected the Poodle
as its choice for his family's dog.
In a national poll of 42 000 people, the Poodle narrowly
edged past the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier as the top dog for
the Obamas, the American Kennel Club (AKC) said.
"It is no surprise the American public chose a Poodle for
Obama," said spokesperson Lisa Peterson, adding the breed is the
eighth most popular nationally and the third most common type
of dog in Washington, DC.
Other breeds in the poll included the Miniature Schnauzer,
the Bichon Frise and the Chinese Crested. The five breeds in
the survey were picked for being hypoallergenic because one of
the Obama's daughters is said to suffer from allergies.
The Obamas had promised their daughters, Malia and Sasha,
the family would get a dog after the November 4 presidential
election.
10 to 15 year commitment
Peterson said there are three types of poodles - the toy,
the miniature and the classic - depending on their size.
"It is so important to pick the right breed for your
lifestyle," she said, adding that pet owners should make a 10-
to 15-year commitment when choosing a dog.
The club also noted that Republican presidential hopeful
John McCain already has four dogs, including a Yorkshire
Terrier and a Springer Spaniel.
According to the Kennel Club, McCain enjoys a 42% to
37% edge over Obama among animal lovers.
The Bush family dog, Barney, a Scottish Terrier, has become
a celebrity during his eight years in the White House, complete
with his own website.
While a pure-bred dog is the most common in the White
House, animal rights group PETA last month urged the Obamas to
also consider adopting a mixed breed dog to call attention to
the plight of the many pets awaiting homes in animal shelters.
- Reuters