At long last the Obama girls are getting their puppy—a Portuguese water dog named Bo. You can "Meet Bo" on the White House Web site and he's to be officially introduced tomorrow.
Porties, as enthusiasts call them, can be a rambunctious breed, according to Billy Rafferty, a dog expert who held a live chat today on the Washington Post's Web site. "What's most important is that they receive a lot of exercise to channel their energy," Rafferty said.
A puppy's antics can be amusing but pups are prone to getting into piles of trouble. And while we can imagine that there will be no shortage of people to look out for the little fellow, there are some things that can be done to puppy-proof the White House and keep Bo safe.
Electrical cords. Puppies like to chew on things and electrical cords are no exception. Chewing on cords can be fatal. Conceal or cover them whenever possible.
Houseplants. Some houseplants, such as azalea, lilies, ivy and begonias, can be toxic to dogs. The White House florist may want to do a little research on which plants are safe and also place any plants or flower arrangement out of Bo's reach.
Small toys and objects. Swallowing a Lego block or one of Barbie's accessories can cause a dog to choke or result in an intestinal blockage. To get a dog's-eye view of the room, a handler can get down on hands and knees and remove any small items she sees.
Supervision. If a puppy has to be left alone, it's best to put him in an enclosed area with a few safe toys. Pet or baby gates can be used to corral the critter. And to keep the curious canine from wandering off, close off stairwells, porches and balconies.
Visitors. The White House gets a lot of them. When company is coming, keep the dog in a quiet place, away from the action. Dogs can become frightened or agitated by the unaccustomed sights and sounds of strangers. (Remember that Bo's predecessor, Barney, bit a reporter on the White House lawn last November.)
Dog bites. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the rate of dog bite-related injuries is highest for children ages 5 to 9 years, and children are more likely than adults to receive medical attention for dog bites. The first family should take care when introducing Bo to Sasha's and Malia's pals.
Doggie ID. We haven't learned yet whether the Secret Service will give Bo his own secret moniker but it's always a good idea for a dog to wear proper identification. If for any reason Bo escapes and becomes lost—say in Chicago, Hawaii or Camp David—a collar and tags and/or a microchip can increase the chances that he will be found.
Thanks for the article on puppy-proofing, but I think you left out something that might be even more important in keeping dogs alive and well. "BARk" magazine, often called "The New Yorker of Dog Magazines," recently ran an article about dangerous toys for dogs--one that turned out to be quite timely for our two Irish Water Spaniels. Below is the letter my husband wrote to
the magazine, having read about poisonous dyes used in some plush dog toys, especially the ones with bright colors. We are trying to find someone who can test the toys we still have (very much beyond the reach of our dogs), and our neighbor has nagged me to contact CU (we did subscribe to CU for many years, and if you'll take this problem on we promise to do so again--we just don't buy much stuff, besides things like vet care!)
Here's the letter:
Shiela Pell's "Playing it Safe" in BARk #54 came at what might be just the right moment. Our two Irish Water Spaniels recently suffered through some gum/mouth inflammation and pain that neither the staff at Angell Memorial Hospital (the largest and best vet hospital in Boston) nor our competent local vet nor other knowledgable people we've consulted can explain.
The consensus seems to be some kind of toxin. Trying to figure out what that might have been and where, we realized that the dogs were strangely reluctant to demolish the two most recent plush toys we bought them. Then we read Pell's article.
Can you put us in touch with her, so we can find out more about the sources for her article, in hopes of tracking down whether these particular toys were the culprits?
Fortunately, the dogs are now nearly all recovered. But we'd dearly love to track down the cause, in hopes of saving other dogs the experience and other owners the anxiety.
Thanks, and thanks for BARk.
This publication is not the place to advertise the presidents dog. Ofcourse,if you are going to become a lapdog of his as are most other publications,please let your subscribers know so we can get our information from a reputable source.
I like the Blog on the President's New Dog and the information on Puppy -Proofing the White House or your house, as for the comment by Mr. John Collins, that belongs elsewhere(GOP web site or on Rush L's Show or site) not here in CR .org,another tip: Keep Certain Foods out of the Puppy's reach like Chocolate and other foods as they can be toxic or deadly to dogs especially a Puppy who would more vulnerable than an adult dog would.
They should also stock up piddle pads until the Pup is house broken and a pet carrier is also a must have for when the dog is being transported along with the First Family to Camp David until the dog gets used to flying in Marine 1 , I doubt he will travel in Air Force 1( but who knows maybe he will if they all go to Ill.for a vacation.)
My dog which is a Great Pyrenees did not have a lot of problems when she was a puppy(we called her the small white dog and still do), she is now approaching her 9th Birthday and is around 110 pounds in weight and stands around 24 inches at the shoulder she is a good dog and a love,I hope that the First Family has good luck with their puppy and that it has a good life with them.
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