It's not always a dog's life at the White House

updated 11:33 a.m. ET Dec. 12, 2008

WASHINGTON - It's not always a dog's life being a White House pet.

Sure, you get to cruise around in the presidential limo, but seldom can you stick your nose out to sniff the breeze. One chewing spree in the wrong room and you're in the doghouse for wrecking a national treasure.

The way everyone wants your attention, you'd think they elected you, too. You're supposed to act with decorum, no matter how pushy people are or what kind of mood you're in. Go a little loopy and you might get exiled to the ranch, like one of Ronald and Nancy Reagan's dogs. Get a little nippy like President George W. Bush's Barney and the meltdown footage is sure to hit the Internet.

Still, experts say President-elect Barack Obama and his family can find a pooch well-suited to the White House. The important thing is to realize there's no perfect dog — only the perfect dog for them. That means casting aside worry about offending anyone and searching for a dog that fits the job requirements.

"It's not the breed, and it's not even so much where it's from," said Patricia McConnell, an animal behaviorist and host of Wisconsin Public Radio's "Calling All Pets." What's important, she said, is that the Obamas set a good example by "picking a dog based on its behavioral as well as its physical health, from a credible, responsible place."

The search can take weeks or even months. McConnell and other experts advise a deliberate approach, avoiding impulsive decisions. A cuddly puppy with a red bow around its neck makes a cute Christmas gift, but soon the baby fat disappears and the new owners realize a dog is a lot of work, especially one ill-suited to their lifestyle.

Debate about the ideal Obama dog has become a hot topic for canine enthusiasts.

Allergies, energy levels, and training
The search is complicated by daughter Malia's allergies. Depending on their severity, the family may need to consider only dogs with little or no shedding — or give up the idea of a dog altogether.

Allergies are just one consideration, said Cesar Millan, host of the National Geographic Channel program "The Dog Whisperer" and co-founder with his wife of a nonprofit foundation to help abused and abandoned dogs.

Another key question is how energetic a dog the Obamas want. Millan suggests a medium-energy dog would be just right. As a busy family, the Obamas may not have time to give a high-energy dog enough exercise, yet they also need a pet they can play with, ruling out a

Slideshow   All the presidents’ pets Harry Truman said, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.” Plenty of presidents did, and other pets besides. more photos

couch potato, he said.

Also, medium-energy dogs tend to be natural followers rather than pack leaders, making them easier for inexperienced dog owners like the Obamas to handle, Millan said. Such dogs tend to be more easygoing and less affected by rookie training mistakes.

"Since this is a brand new family raising a dog or rescuing a dog, the dog definitely is going to pick up on that," said Millan, who hopes to do an episode with the Obamas. "The dog doesn't know or is not going to know that he's going to live in the White House, that Mr. Obama is now the president of the United States. What he's going to know is how much common sense this family has" about dogs.

It's also important for a White House dog to be highly trainable, robust enough not to get trampled in all the hustle and bustle, and once at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., to get regular exercise, thorough socialization and proper training.

"You have to socialize the dog," said dog expert Stanley Coren, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and author of "The Modern Dog." "But the dog also has to have his own place to go." It would be wise to set up several crates to which the dog can retreat when it needs a quiet place, he said.

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