The New First Dog

Well, the Obama girls have their dog at last. It was sensible of the Obamas to take some time to settle in first (though I'm sure the girls found it hard to wait). And the tale of their new pup is a pretty karmic one.
He comes from a breeder in Texas, who uses a theme to name her litters, as a lot of breeders do. The litter that was born six months ago was named on a theme of Hope and Change. One of the puppies went to Senator Ted Kenneday (his third current Portuguese Water Dog). One of the puppies went to a home in Washington, DC where they had lost one of their two older Porties. They got the puppy as company for their remaining older dog, but it turned out that the two did not get along. So the puppy was returned to the breeder. Mrs. Ted Kennedy heard about the puppy being bounced back to the owner, through a friend. And knowing that the Obamas were considering a Portugues Water Dog, she mentioned it to her husband. And lo and behold, the puppy who needed a second chance has now become the new First Dog.
His paper name is Amigo's New Hope, and he indeed has some new hope.
The breeder said "Bo," as the girls named him, should be quite the gentleman at the White House. . . until he sees the fountains. They are water dogs born and bred, after all, and he may just find the water too irresistible.
I heard that the Obamas had been in touch with Ken Ramirez, head trainer at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, about choosing a dog, and I hope they will stay in touch with him about training for Bo. This is a breed that can do just about anything, and needs to be kept busy both mentally and physically.
Best wishes for a long and happy life together - it seems to be in the stars.