(Jan. 11) - The Obamas have whittled the field down to two dog breeds in their search for a dog for daughters Malia and Sasha, the president-elect revealed Sunday.
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"The seem to have narrowed it down to a labradoodle or a Portuguese water hound … [a] medium-sized dog, so we're now going to start looking at shelters to see when one of those dogs might come up," Barack Obama told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos on 'This Week.'
"We're closing in on it," Obama said, adding, "This has been tougher than finding a commerce secretary."
Obama nominated Bill Richardson for commerce secretary, but the New Mexico governor withdrew his name amid an investigation into a company that did business with his state.
Obama had promised his daughters they could get a dog after the grueling campaign. In his Election Night acceptance speech, Obama told the girls they had earned the puppy.
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White House Pets
The Obama family's new dog, Bo, made his public debut on April 14. The 6-month-old Portuguese water dog was a gift from Sen. Edward Kennedy, a fan of the breed. Here, Bo pulls Malia while Sasha and President Barack Obama follow. Click through for other presidential pets.
Ron Edmonds, AP
Ron Edmonds, AP
The president-elect has said the family would like to get a dog from a shelter, but the choice was complicated somewhat because Malia, 10, has allergies.
The Portuguese water dog was originally bred to work for fishermen retrieving broken nets, herding schools of fish, and carrying messages between boats and the shore, according to the American Kennel Club.
Obama's fellow Democrat, Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, owns two Portuguese water dogs, Sunny and Splash.
The labradoodle is not recognized as a breed by the AKC. It is a "designer dog" developed by crossing between the Labrador retriever and the poodle and is recognized by the American Hybrid Canine Club.
Obama also told Stephanopoulos that Malia and 7-year-old Sasha were adjusting well to life in Washington, where they just started classes at Sidwell Friends School, Chelsea Clinton's alma matter.
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White House Kids
Sasha Obama was just 7 years old when she and 10-year-old sister Malia became the new first daughters. Sasha is the youngest kid at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. since 1961, when young Caroline and John F. Kennedy Jr. moved in. The Obama girls are discovering that being a first kid has a lot of perks. But it can also bring a lot of unwanted attention.
David Banks, Getty Images
David Banks, Getty Images
"They seemed to thrive," the president-elect said. "I’m trying to figure out why it is that they don't seemed to be fazed by anything. People think -- you know, folks think I'm cool, they are a lot cooler than I am. They just don’t seem to be intimidated."
