Portuguese Water Dog Personality: Why Bo Should Be with Pres. Obama Often

From the Presidents Who Resemble Their Dogs File: Bo is as Intellectually Curious as Our President

Even though Bo the Portuguese Water Dog was chosen by Ted Kennedy as the official First Dog for the hypoallergenic-challenged Sasha and Malia Obama, our President may ultimately learn one thing: Perhaps Bo should be spending more time with the President than the kids. It's probably no secret that Obama decided to pick the Portuguese Water Dog because those types dogs are one of the most intelligent on the planet. I'll even go so far as to say that Presidents frequently pick dogs that look like the President--or at least share certain traits. Because President Obama is inarguably the most intellectually curious President since Bill Clinton, having a Portuguese Water Dog in Obama's midst seems more than appropriate when matching up the proper dog for the White House.

Yet it's also likely that both Obama and Bo would go stark raving mad if not having that intellectual stimulation. The jury is out on Obama, but it's well-documented that if the Portuguese Water Dog doesn't keep intellectually and physically engaged, they're prone to do things worse than Barney the Dog's snarl and bite at a reporter this last year during George W. Bush's final months in office. This is one dog you see who gets downright cranky when they have to do what most other dogs do: Sleeping too much and being stuck between four walls.

The Obamas should have been told that when this is a dog mainly for Sasha and Malia who will be away at school most of the time. Follow that up with President Obama always on the move and Michelle Obama doing about the same, it may leave Bo in a situation that means not enough intellectual and physical engagement. Of course, someone else in the White House staff will take care of those duties. But that means Bo would ultimately bond with a staff member rather than with the people (or person) who really matters.