White House Dog: Obama Narrows Choice

NOTE: Since I began this blog in May of 2008, one post has driven the highest readership by far: “An Open Letter to President-elect Obama.” Unfortunately, it was written by my dog, a precocious Goldendoodle. As a professional writer, fully licensed by New York State, you can’t imagine how this humiliates me. I am a trained writer. Daisy is barely trained to stay off the couch. Something’s amiss.

Nonetheless, in appreciation to all those visitors who have stopped by to read Daisy’s letter — and there have been nearly three thousand directed by goldendoodles.com alone — Daisy has agreed to send another missive to President-elect Obama. Goldendoodle fanatics, this one’s for you!

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Dear President-Elect Obama:

This is Daisy again. Maybe you remember me.

I’m the dog who can type. Actually, typing isn’t the hard part — it’s sitting in this crazy, spinning swivel chair. Yipes. My stomach feels funny. I’m worried I might hurl on the desk. I keep telling myself, “Good doggie, good doggie, don’t upchuck on Mr. Preller’s keyboard.

Oops. Oh well. It doesn’t smell that bad. But come to think of it, what does? To dogs like me, smells are purely quantitative. Things either smell a LOT or a LITTLE. And I say, Mr. President-elect Obama, the more something smells, the better I like it! And right now, this desk is pretty righteous.

I read with interest that your choice for First Dog has been narrowed down to two contenders: A Labradoodle and a Portuguese Water Dog. Just the other day I was barking at absolutely nothing. It’s a blast, you haven’t lived until you’ve tried it. Just go outside and barkbarkBARKbabarkybarkBARK into the velvet sky — it doesn’t have to mean anything. Insider info tells me that President Bush used to do it all the time; he growled a lot, too. Anyway, around that time, I noticed your face on television. You said:

“We’re now going to start looking at shelters to see when one of those dogs might come up. This has been tougher than finding a commerce secretary.”

Maybe there’s been some confusion. I specifically suggested that if you loved your daughters, you’d get a Goldendoodle. Not a Maltipoo . . .

not a Cockapoo . . .

and certainly not a Labradoodle . . . .

Sure, they all have Poodle in them, but, come on, just look at Goldendoodles: We’re smart and loyal and won’t bite (unlike that scary Rahm Emanuel, whom I’m pretty sure is part Pit Bull). A Goldendoodle could be First Dog . . . and Commerce Secretary!

I should add that though I personally would never bite, if I ever meet that Blagojevich guy, I might have to pee on his leg. Not for any political reasons. But his hair frightens me.

Who grooms that guy? He should try my lady, Irma, at Pearl’s Groomin’ Room. She’s expensive, but worth it. I don’t know why more people don’t wear a shag like me.

As for this business with the Portuguese Water Dog . . . are you pulling my tail? Sure, sweet looking dog. Smells great . . .

. . . but just two words of advice: Buy American.

Don’t blow the first important decision of your presidency. Throw us a bone. Rescue a Goldendoodle today!

Yes! We! Can!

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to step outside. Don’t you just love going in . . . and out . . . and in . . . and out . . . and in . . . ? I could do it all day long!

Loyally yours,

Daisy

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BLOGGER’S POSTSCRIPT: Young dog lovers might enjoy a book from my Jigsaw Jones mystery series, The Case of the Runaway Dog, for readers ages 5-9. It’s a light-hearted mystery, but it does deal with some of the issues in the search for a missing dog. And haven’t we all been there?

15 comments

  1. Doret says:

    LMAO @ Buy American. Daisy should be a regular, she’s great.

  2. Jimmy says:

    If Daisy had her way, she’d be doing monthly political commentary on the Huffington Post. The ego is already getting out of hand, or paw, or whatever. Thanks for reading, Doret!

  3. Liz says:

    I want them all. Except the two dudes.

  4. Tori says:

    Daisy has got it going on! The commentary “she” write sounds just like a dog. If I were President-Elect Obama, I would listen!!!!!

  5. ANNA says:

    HI I HAVE A GOLDEN DOODLE NAMED BAXTER AND HE IS THE BEST DOG YOU CAN GET YOU SHOULD REALLY GET ONE

  6. Pete Smith says:

    Great letter…we invite all to see our Vallentine portrait on the “cover” at: http://www.southerncomfortdoodles.com
    Goldendoodles make great family pups and we have lots of “character”…good reasons to choose goldens for the First Family.

  7. Katherine says:

    It seems there are two golden doodles available in Colorado Springs rescue. These would make great first dogs. The girls could each have one and they would be hypo-allergenic. I have two golden mixes and they are the best dogs in the world. So lets hope Stella and Susie find a new home in the whitehouse.

  8. Debbie Stephens says:

    We have a goldendoodle(mercedes) and a labradoodle(Beemer). Beemer is a resuce dog.I can’t say how much I love my doodles. They are the best. We have a business and I have people stop to play with the doodles all the time.

  9. Lori says:

    Loved the letter Daisy. My Molly and Lily
    both miniature GOLDEN doodles agree w/you–President Obama’s children would enjoy this type of dog in the White House.

  10. Mary says:

    I love my golden doodle Morgan. Once we got past the first 12 months of naughty behavior, she calmed right down. We bought her because we were told she wouldn’t shed much and she was great for people with allergies. Not true with mine. I do have problems if we play together, but I love her dearly. She is the sweetest girl and very smart. Kinda smelly. VERY friendly. If I were buying one for the White House I would buy an older one, who is well trained.

  11. Annette Jensen says:

    My goldendoodle Cooper just turned 3 in December. He is a joy to have around. No shedding — no smelling — and he was housetrained in 1 week. I have been a dog lover all my life and I can say in all truthfulness this is the best (and cutest and smartest) dog I have ever seen.Daisy is absolutely right about the breed being First Dog.

  12. Judy Hopkins says:

    Doogie, our Goldendoodle, is almost 4 years old. He is a certified therapy dog. Every week he visits the residents at the Spring Valley Nursing Home. He also goes to Putnam County Junior High where he listens to the students read. He is loved by everybody he meets from young to old. He is the best, most handsome, smartest and most caring dog I know. Wouldn’t a Goldendoodle like him be perfect for the White House?

  13. Bobbi says:

    cute article but I really would be surprised if link at bottom actually get you to bonafide rescue groups. I looked at it and the one goldendoodle I can find on there it looked more like a breeder and absolutely no information on rescue.

  14. Some of the questions that will be raised about the First Dog are serious. The ways in which the Obamas deal with the following issues are sure to send important messages about responsible care to those homes that already contain America’s 60 million dogs.

    * Considering the pet food debacle, what will the First Dog eat? Organic pet food? Wheat and corn-free? Vegetarian? What brands?

    * Will the snow and ice-melting products used on the White House sidewalks be pet-safe?

    * Does everybody know not to use cocoa mulch on the Rose Garden?

    * Who is in charge of patrolling the premises so plants and foods that are toxic to dogs – grapes, raisons, chocolate, onions, artificially sweetened products — aren’t at drooling-mouth level?

    * Where will the Obama dog sleep at night? In the bedroom with the children or in a crate somewhere else? Will it be the right size crate?

    * Are the Obamas using biodegradable poop bags? It might sound like a funny question but savvy environmentalists will want to know.

    Then, there will be fodder for comedians and national news segments:

    * Who will train the most famous dog in the world not to bite reporters or will that lesson be discreetly skipped?

    * Will the dog have a Secret Service code name? What should it be?

    * Will the dog sport a diamond-studded collar and sleep on a $500 dollar doggie bed as befits its celebrity status?

    * When the Obama children have sleepovers, will friends bring their canines for doggie night out?

    * What famous person or figure from history will the dog dress as for Halloween?

    * Who will be the official White House doggie photographer?

    * Which dog toys will grace the gleaming and carpeted floors and new playground?

    * Does the dog’s name have ethnic or historical origins? Does it more creatively top previous First Dog names such as Spot, Buddy, Millie, Lucky, Grits, Liberty, Checkers, Him and Her, Feller, Heidi, Duke, Pushinka, and King Tut?

  15. Great post! I love that you are taking the time to write about pet care. This is something near and dear to my heart. Take care.

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