Bo ( dog ) - wikipedia Bo ( dog ) Bo Official White House portrait of the First Dog ( May 2009 ) Other name ( s ) First Dog of the United States Charlie ( by previous owner ) Species Canis lupus familiaris Breed Portuguese Water Dog Sex Male Amigo 's New Hope ( 2008 - 10 - 09 ) October 9, 2008 ( age 9 ) Chicago, Illinois, United States Nation from United States Known for Pet of the Obama family Training Dawn Sylvia ( Hume, Virginia ) Can sit, present paw / shake, lie down, roll over, get off, wait Predecessor Barney Owner Obama family Parent ( s ) Dam : Penny ( Amigo 's Phor What Its Worth ) ( Boyd, Texas ) Sire : Watson ( Valkyrie 's Dr. Watson Is Here ) ( Ambridge, Pennsylvania ) Breeder : Julie Parker Appearance tuxedo / black and white Named after Obama girls ' cousins ' pet cat and also Bo Diddley Bo ( born October 9, 2008 ) is a pet dog of the Obama family, the former First Family of the United States. Bo is a male Portuguese Water Dog. President Barack Obama and his family were given the dog as a gift after months of speculation about the breed and identity of their future pet. The final choice was made in part because Malia Obama 's allergies dictated a need for a hypoallergenic breed. Bo has occasionally been called `` First Dog ''. In August 2013, Bo was joined by Sunny, a female dog of the same breed. Contents 1 Breed background 2 Breeding and original owners 3 Selection of the dog 4 Biographical details 5 Disputed rescue heritage 6 Reactions by and in the media 7 See also 8 References 9 External links Breed background Main article : Portuguese Water Dog The Portuguese Water Dog is originally from the Algarve region of Portugal. Only 48 Portuguese Water Dogs were entered for Britain 's Crufts competition in the year 2009 and the author of The New Complete Portuguese Water Dog, Kitty Braund, believes there are about 50,000 in North America. Due to its fleecy coat of minimally shedding hair, the Portuguese Water Dog is considered a hypoallergenic dog breed. Breeding and original owners The Obamas with Bo Bred by Martha and Art Stern of Amigo Portuguese Water Dogs in Boyd, Texas, Bo is a son of `` Watson '' -- of the Rader family in Pittsburgh 's Ambridge suburb -- and `` Penny '', belonging to Art and Martha Stern. One of Bo 's nine litter mates was Senator Ted Kennedy 's dog named `` Cappy '' ( Amigo 's Captain Courageous ) ; the litter was named `` Hope and Change '', in honor of Obama 's victory. Bo 's original buyer is unknown, but eventually they returned him to the Stern family ; purchasing Bo required signing a contract to return him to his breeder if things did not work out. Bo enrolled with Kennedy 's obedience trainer Dawn Sylvia - Stasiewicz, in Hume, Virginia on January 5, 2009. Bo 's brother, Rico, is owned by a couple in Houston, Texas. Selection of the dog At his first press conference as President - elect, Obama was questioned by reporters as to which breed the family was looking to acquire ; he replied, `` We have two criteria that have to be reconciled. One is that Malia is allergic, so it has to be hypoallergenic. There are a number of breeds that are hypoallergenic. On the other hand, our preference would be to get a shelter dog, but, obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me. So -- so whether we 're going to be able to balance those two things, I think, is a pressing issue on the Obama household. '' George Stephanopoulos asked Obama on television in early January what kind of dog they would get, and when, saying that he was passing on a question from Obama 's daughters who were sitting in the control room. Obama said, `` They seem to have narrowed it down to a labradoodle or a Portuguese water hound... medium - sized dog, and so, we 're now going to start looking at shelters to see when one of those dogs might come up. '' Much was made by the public and press about the family 's search for a dog. On April 12, 2009, it was announced that the Obamas would soon accept a six - month - old Portuguese Water Dog puppy as a gift from Senator Kennedy. The dog was reported to have visited the family some weeks earlier in a secret meeting to gauge compatibility and purportedly referred to by staffers as `` The Meeting ''. However, the gift was not accepted until the dog officially arrived and moved in at the White House on Tuesday, April 14, 2009. Immediately after he arrived, the family staged a photo op with Bo on the property 's South Lawn. At the conference, Obama was asked if he would allow Bo inside the Oval Office, to which he responded : `` of course. '' He also gave a nod to President Harry Truman 's quote, `` If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog. '' The White House website was later updated to include official pictures and biographical details of Bo. Biographical details Bo wearing a lei upon his White House arrival Listed by the name `` Amigo 's New Hope '' with American Kennel Club 's breed registry and given the name `` Charlie '' by his original owners, the puppy received his current name from President Obama 's two daughters, Malia and Sasha, in part after their cousins ' cat and Michelle Obama 's father 's nickname Diddley ; the dog is a namesake of singer Bo Diddley. In June 2009, the White House released a baseball card for Bo with his new official portrait on one side and tongue - in - cheek statistics on the other ; information included the facts that Bo 's favorite food is tomatoes and that he does not yet know how to swim. The card is available by sending a self - addressed, stamped envelope to the White House. According to financial disclosure forms released by President Obama in 2010, Bo was purchased for $1,600. As of August 2012, Bo was on a diet, though no other details were released ( it was announced by the President during the Kids ' State Dinner, where children from the states and territories who had won a contest to design healthy, appealing meals had lunch at the White House ). Disputed rescue heritage The Obamas walking with Bo The Obamas originally voiced a strong desire to adopt a shelter dog, but made no firm commitments. In the summer of 2008, Best Friends Animal Society, an animal welfare organization, gathered 50,000 signatures on a petition asking the family to adopt a shelter animal. As Bo is a gift through a breeder, he is not a shelter dog. Dog expert Cesar Milan stated Bo could be considered part of a larger group known as `` rescue dogs ''. He was unsuccessful in his first home when plans for him to provide companionship to an older female dog went awry ; apparently his attempts to suckle irritated her. The Obamas pledged a donation to the DC Humane Society in a show of support for shelter dogs. Some animal welfare supporters criticized The White House for not adopting a shelter dog. The Humane Society of the United States released a statement thanking the Obamas `` for taking in a second - chance dog, '' but also discouraged going through breeders. Reactions by and in the media Bo and Obama running through the east wing of the White House The Washington Post 's Manuel Roig - Franzia, granted exclusive initial access to Bo for the print media, described the puppy : `` Bo 's a handsome little guy. Well suited for formal occasions at the White House, he 's got tuxedo - black fur, with a white chest, white paws and a rakish white goatee. '' People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ( PETA ) described the family 's choice to accept the gift of a puppy from a family friend as `` disquieting '' and publicly urged Obama to have Bo neutered, though the dog had been neutered before the Obamas received him. Bo in March 2010 In anticipation of increased interest in the breed, the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America issued a statement requesting that members of the public considering obtaining the dogs `` ensure that this breed fits their lifestyle '', advising that the dogs ' needs preclude their being left alone for long periods or boarded in kennels. Immediately upon Bo joining the First Family, four children 's books and a plush toy depicting him were slated for publication or manufacture. On July 17, 2009, the author Ben Greenman, writing in The New York Times as Bo, reflected on his first hundred days in office. In the final episode of the History Channel 's Life After People, aired March 16, 2010, the producers imagined what life would be like for Bo after the disappearance of humanity. This speculated that he would leave the White House, and live off seafood from the Chesapeake Bay. Bo was also shown on Dogs 101, as part of segment about the breed. Bo has appeared in the comic book Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers and on the television shows Late Night with Seth Meyers and Ellen. On Meyers ' show, He was the subject of a `` Barney Cam '' parody in which Bo is supposedly shown to be shamelessly manipulating White House staffers and guests ( such as by finding and planting classified information in the bag of speechwriter who refused to give him treats ). See also Sunny United States presidential pets References ^ Jump up to : Dave, By ( April 20, 2009 ). `` Vigilant press spots Bo, the first dog, out for a walk csmonitor.com ''. The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved April 26, 2009. ^ Jump up to : `` The White House -- Blog Post -- Meet Bo, the First Dog ''. White House. Retrieved August 10, 2009. ^ Jump up to : Cooper, Helen ( April 12, 2009 ). `` One Obama Search Ends With a Puppy Named Bo ''. The New York Times. Retrieved April 18, 2009. Other Web sites, which have been tracking the saga of the selection of the first dog, were in a frenzy over the weekend. Jump up ^ Silva, Mark ( April 12, 2009 ). `` Obamas ' dog Bo : ' Amigo 's New Hope ' ''. Swamppolitics.com. Retrieved October 19, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Obama Dog Trainer : Bo Already `` Sits, Shakes, Rolls Over '' ``. Us Weekly. April 15, 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2014. Jump up ^ `` The Obama Dog Blog : Cappy 's Breeder Rejects Obama Dog Connection ''. Dreamdogsart.typepad.com. April 15, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2009. ^ Jump up to : Sostek, Anya ( April 14, 2009 ). `` First dog 's father from Ambridge ''. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved June 11, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Bo Obama gets a playmate ! Obamas adopt another dog ''. Jump up ^ `` World Obama family ' picks first puppy ' ''. BBC News. April 12, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2009. Jump up ^ Feldmann, Lindie. `` New little girl arrives at White House. Meet Sunny Obama. ( + video ) ''. The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved August 20, 2013. Jump up ^ `` PORTUGUESE WATER DOG ''. Crufts. 2009. Retrieved April 17, 2009. Jump up ^ Ryan, Denise ( April 15, 2009 ). `` U.S. first family puts Portuguese water dog on the map ''... canada.com. Retrieved April 26, 2009. Jump up ^ Scott, Danny ; Miller, William ; Griffin, Craig ( 2001 ). Small Animal Dermatology. WB Saunders. p. 4. ISBN 0 - 7216 - 7618 - 9. Jump up ^ Berkowitz, Lana ( April 13, 2009 ). `` Houston pooch has friend in high place ''. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 13, 2009. Jump up ^ Neuman, Johanna ( February 25, 2009 ). `` New first dog : The Obamas choose a Portuguese water dog ''. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 20, 2015. Jump up ^ Weiner, Rachel ( January 13, 2009 ). `` Obama : Finding Puppy `` Tougher Than Finding A Commerce Secretary '' ( VIDEO ) ``. HuffPost. Retrieved April 26, 2009. Jump up ^ Roig - Franzia, Manuel ( April 12, 2009 ). `` The First Puppy Makes a Big Splash ''. The Washington Post. Retrieved April 26, 2009. ^ Jump up to : Theimer, Sharon. `` PROMISES, PROMISES : Is Obama dog a rescue or not ? ''. Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 16, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2009. ^ Jump up to : Theimer, Sharon. `` First dog Bo makes himself at home ''. The Washington Times. Retrieved April 26, 2009. Jump up ^ Saul, Michael ( April 12, 2009 ). `` First photos of First Dog : Obamas meet Bo, their new Portuguese Water Dog ''. Daily News. New York. Retrieved April 13, 2009. Jump up ^ St. Clair, Stacy ( April 13, 2009 ). `` Obamas ' dog : Meet Bo, the Portuguese water dog ''. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 13, 2009. Jump up ^ `` The First Puppy Makes a Big Splash ''. PopWatch Blog. April 12, 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2009. Jump up ^ Sobieraj - Westfall, Sandra ( April 12, 2009 ). `` The Obamas ' Dog Has Arrived -- at Last ! ''. People. Retrieved October 2, 2010. Jump up ^ Iovino, Jim. `` First Dog Bo 's Portrait Out as Baseball Card ''. NBC Washington. Retrieved August 10, 2009. Jump up ^ Lee, Jess. `` The White House -- Blog Post -- Bo : The Portrait, the Baseball Card ''. White House. Retrieved August 10, 2009. Jump up ^ Conolly, Katie. `` The Gaggle : Official Portrait of First Dog Bo Released ''. Newsweek. Archived from the original on August 25, 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2009. Jump up ^ Marr, Kendra ( May 17, 2010 ). `` Hot dog : $1,600 Bo listed on disclosure forms ''. The Politico. Retrieved May 18, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Latest News, Videos & Guest Interviews from the Today Show on NBC ''. TODAY.com. Jump up ^ Greene, Nick ( April 15, 2009 ). `` Obama 's criticized for breaking promise of adopting dog from shelter ''. The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved April 26, 2009. ^ Jump up to : `` Obama 's will adopt, rather than buy, a dog ''. San Jose Mercury News. May 11, 2008. Retrieved February 24, 2015. Jump up ^ Visitant, Carol ( April 16, 2009 ). `` 5 Things You Do n't Know About First Dog Bo -- Barack Obama ''. People. Retrieved April 26, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Obama puppy : Portuguese water dog Bo is Obama puppy ''. The Baltimore Sun. April 13, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2009. Jump up ^ `` The HSUS Congratulates First Family on New White House Dog ''. Humane Society of the United States. April 12, 2009. Retrieved November 5, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Obama Dog Bo Diddley Obama Puppy First Dog Photos Video at The Insider ''. Theinsider.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2009. Jump up ^ Hess, Amanda ( April 13, 2009 ). `` PETA Encourages Obamas to Neuter Neutered Dog ''. nbcwashington.com. Retrieved April 15, 2009. Jump up ^ Bedard, Paul ( April 13, 2009 ). `` PETA urges Obama to snip Bo the first dog ''. USNews.com. Archived from the original on April 16, 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Obama Family 's Choice for `` First Dog '' Prompts PWDCA to Remind Public About Responsible Breeding and Dog Ownership '' ( PDF ). The Portuguese Water Dog Club of America, Inc. April 13, 2009. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on April 23, 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2009. Jump up ^ Irvine, Chris ( April 16, 2009 ). `` Bo Obama to star in children 's book ''. The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved April 26, 2009. Jump up ^ Kondo, Koji ( April 2009 ). Bo Obama : First Dog of the United States of America. CreateSpace. ISBN 1 - 4421 - 5644 - 9. Jump up ^ Lewis, J. Patrick ; Beth Zappitello ; Tim Bowers ( April 2009 ). First Dog. Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN 1 - 58536 - 467 - 3. Jump up ^ Greenman, Ben ( July 16, 2009 ). `` The First Hundred ( Dog ) Days ''. The New York Times. Retrieved October 19, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Take Me To Your Leader ''. History. Retrieved March 25, 2010. The President 's dog must learn the ways of the wild. Jump up ^ Bo Obama 's anniversary : First year as First Dog, The Washington Post, April 15, 2010 Jump up ^ Dogs 101 Ep. 10, All the presidents ' Pets, Jump up ^ Dogs 101 ep. 14, Bernese Mountain Dog, Afghan, Portuguese Water Dog, Cairn Terrier, Alaskan Malamute External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bo ( dog ). American Kennel Club Congratulates Obamas Bo 's First Day Bo The First Dog Website ( Fan Club ) Honorary titles Preceded by Barney and Miss Beazley George W. Bush 's Scottish Terriers White House pet dog April 14, 2009 -- January 20, 2017 Served alongside : Sunny Succeeded by Vacant Barack Obama 44th President of the United States ( 2009 -- 2017 ) U.S. Senator from Illinois ( 2005 -- 2008 ) Illinois Senator from the 13th district ( 1997 -- 2004 ) Life and politics Early life and career Illinois Senate career 2004 Democratic National Convention U.S. Senate career Political positions Administration foreign policy Economic Energy Mass surveillance Social Space Nobel Peace Prize West Wing Week Presidency Transition 2009 inauguration 2013 inauguration First 100 days Timeline 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 January 2017 Foreign policy War in Afghanistan Iraq withdrawal Death of Osama bin Laden Iran deal Cuban thaw Obama Doctrine Health Care reform Healthy, Hunger - Free Kids Act New START Pardons Presidential trips international 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Judicial appointments Supreme Court controversies Cabinet Presidential Library and Center Books Dreams from My Father ( 1995 ) The Audacity of Hope ( 2006 ) Of Thee I Sing ( 2010 ) Speeches `` The Audacity of Hope '' ( 2004 ) `` Yes We Can '' ( 2008 ) `` A More Perfect Union '' ( 2008 ) `` Change Has Come to America '' ( 2008 ) `` A New Birth of Freedom '' ( 2009 ) Joint session of Congress ( 2009 ) `` A New Beginning '' ( 2009 ) Joint session of Congress ( health care reform ) ( 2009 ) State of the Union address 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Tucson memorial speech ( 2011 ) Joint session of Congress ( jobs ) ( 2011 ) `` You did n't build that '' ( 2012 ) Selma 50th anniversary ( 2015 ) Farewell address ( 2017 ) Elections Illinois State Senate election, 1996, 1998, 2002 Illinois 's 1st congressional district election, 2000 United States Senate election, 2004 Democratic presidential primaries, 2008 2012 Obama primary campaign, 2008 Democratic National Convention, 2008 2012 Presidential campaign, 2008 endorsements GOP / conservative support Presidential election, 2008 Presidential campaign, 2012 endorsements Presidential election, 2012 international reactions Family Michelle Obama ( wife ) Ann Dunham ( mother ) Barack Obama Sr. ( father ) Lolo Soetoro ( step - father ) Maya Soetoro - Ng ( maternal half - sister ) Stanley Armour Dunham ( maternal grandfather ) Madelyn Dunham ( maternal grandmother ) Marian Shields Robinson ( mother - in - law ) Craig Robinson ( brother - in - law ) Bo ( family dog ) Sunny ( family dog ) Public image News and political events Oprah Winfrey 's endorsement Citizenship conspiracy theories litigation legislation Religion conspiracy theories Bill Ayers controversy Jeremiah Wright controversy Republican and conservative support ( 2008 ) Assassination threats 2008 Denver 2008 Tennessee First inauguration invitations Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial Citizen 's Briefing Book Tea Party protests New Energy for America Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Gates - Crowley Rose Garden meeting Firing of Shirley Sherrod Impeachment efforts Books about Bibliography Obama : From Promise to Power Barack Obama : Der schwarze Kennedy Redemption Song The Case Against Barack Obama The Obama Nation Culture of Corruption Catastrophe Barack and Michelle The Speech The Obama Story Game Change Game Change 2012 Rising Star Music Obama Girl `` I Got a Crush... on Obama '' `` Barack the Magic Negro '' will.i.am `` Yes We Can '' `` We Are the Ones '' `` There 's No One as Irish as Barack O'Bama '' `` Sí Se Puede Cambiar '' `` My President '' `` Deadheads for Obama '' `` Air and Simple Gifts '' Change Is Now Hope ! -- Das Obama Musical `` Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney '' Barack 's Dubs `` Signed, Sealed, Delivered I 'm Yours '' Film By the People : The Election of Barack Obama ( 2009 ) 2016 : Obama 's America ( 2012 ) The Road We 've Traveled ( 2012 ) Southside with You ( 2016 ) Barry ( 2016 ) Other media On social media Artists for Obama `` Hope '' poster `` Joker '' poster Situation Room Obama logo In comics Miscellaneous Barack Obama Day ( Illinois ) Obama Day ( Kenya ) Awards and honors Namesakes ← George W. Bush Donald Trump → Book Portal LCCN : n2013045259 VIAF : 305021039 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bo_(dog)&oldid=844384045 '' Categories : 2008 animal births Individual dogs in politics Obama family United States presidential pets Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from October 2010 Use mdy dates from October 2017 Articles with ' species ' microformats Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Čeština Dansk Deutsch فارسی Français Հայերեն עברית 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Simple English Slovenčina Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska 粵語 中文 10 more Edit links This page was last edited on 4 June 2018, at 15 : 34 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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Question: what type of dogs do the obamas have
Answer: Portuguese Water Dog