Political battles have accompanied Bo’s tenure since his arrival at the White House. The president originally intended to adopt a shelter dog, hoping to encourage the practice, but Senator Ted Kennedy gifted the first family with this ideal pet who had failed to adapt to its prior owners….
Life in the White House challenges all inhabitants to give their best for the nation, whether they have a tail or not. Born on October 9, 2008, “First Dog” Bo has captivated young Americans. Historically, Bo’s breed, the Portuguese Water Dog, assisted in shallow-water fishing and carried messages to boats near land. President Obama’s delighted daughters Malia and Sasha named Bo after musician Bo Diddley. His fleecy coat is hypoallergenic, necessary to accommodate Malia’s allergies.
The Puppy
Bo peppers the South Lawn of the White House with chew toys that mark his manicured turf. Every day presents new challenges, but family duties and loyalties come first. Photographers captured the president and Bo jogging together through the halls of the West Wing. Bo has earned fame for making surprise visits to unsuspecting tourists between his scheduled press interviews, chasing birds and taking walks with the family.
The Public
Every day, Bo performs outreach activities. He has been featured in many children’s books and even posed for a lifelike stuffed toy-rendition. Bo was shown on the TV show “Dogs 101” and also appeared on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.” He featured prominently in the White House’s Christmas celebrations and has posed for many publicity photos. Bo even has a Facebook page with more than 3,000 fans who follow his exploits and news commentaries, ghost-written for him. This famous dog even enjoys occasional travel opportunities like the first family’s 2010 trip to Hawaii.
While he is widely adored, Bo learned that public life can also sting: The president once asked a group of children not to drop food on the floor because Bo was on a diet and would eat anything he could find. The fishbowl of fame honors no privacy and spares no shame.
The Politics
Political battles have accompanied Bo’s tenure since his arrival at the White House. The president originally intended to adopt a shelter dog, hoping to encourage the practice, but Senator Ted Kennedy gifted the first family with this ideal pet who had failed to adapt to its prior owners. Deemed a “rescue dog” by animal expert Cesar Millan, Bo became an acceptable compromise candidate.
Critics differed over Bo’s decision to bite a reporter’s microphone, and he once got in trouble for romping around in the background of a Univision broadcast. Unquestionably, Bo’s worst political humiliation came from the poll that ranked him as America’s second-favorite presidential pet. Bo lost that crushing vote by six points to Socks the Cat. Older voters favored the feline; younger citizens preferred Bo.
Every day brings new challenges for Bo and his famous family. Together, they lead the nation by example.
Peter Wendt is a freelance writer and avid dog enthusiast living in Austin, Texas. All of Peter’s dogs wear custom pet collars, and Peter highly recommends getting one for your puppy today.
