Bo (dog) facts for kids
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Official White House portrait of the First Dog
(May 2009) |
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| Other name(s) | First Dog of the United States Charlie (by previous owner) |
|---|---|
| Species | Canis lupus familiaris |
| Breed | Portuguese Water Dog |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | Amigo's New Hope October 9, 2008 Chicago, Illinois, US |
| Died | May 8, 2021 (aged 12) |
| Cause of death | Cancer |
| Nation from | United States |
| Known for | Pet of the Obama family |
| Training | Dawn Sylvia (Hume, Virginia) Can sit, present paw/shake, lie down, roll over, get off, wait |
| Title | First Dog of the United States |
| Term | April 14, 2009 – January 20, 2017 |
| Predecessor | Barney |
| Successor | Champ and Major |
| Owner | Obama family |
| Parent(s) | Dam: Penny (Amigo's Phor What Its Worth) (Boyd, Texas) Sire: Watson (Valkyrie's Dr. Watson Is Here) (Ambridge, Pennsylvania) Breeder: Julie Parker |
| Appearance | tuxedo/black and white |
| Named after | Obama girls' cousins' pet cat and also Bo Diddley |
Bo (born October 9, 2008 – died May 8, 2021) was a special pet dog. He belonged to the Obama family, who were the First Family of the United States. Bo was a male Portuguese Water Dog. President Barack Obama and his family received Bo as a gift. People had wondered for months what kind of dog they would get.
They chose a Portuguese Water Dog because their oldest daughter, Malia, had allergies. This breed is known to be hypoallergenic, meaning it's less likely to cause allergic reactions. Bo was sometimes called the "First Dog" of the United States. In August 2013, Bo got a friend named Sunny, who was a female dog of the same breed.
Malia and Sasha, the Obama sisters, named Bo. They named him after their cousins' cat. The name also honored First Lady Michelle Obama's father, who had a nickname related to the R&B musician Bo Diddley. Bo was the First Dog of the United States from April 14, 2009, to January 20, 2017.
Contents
What Kind of Dog Was Bo?
About Portuguese Water Dogs
The Portuguese Water Dog comes from the Algarve region of Portugal. This breed is quite rare. In 2009, only 48 Portuguese Water Dogs competed in Britain's Crufts dog show. An expert named Kitty Braund thinks there are about 50,000 of them in North America.
Portuguese Water Dogs have a fleecy coat that sheds very little hair. Because of this, they are considered a hypoallergenic dog breed. This means they are a good choice for people with allergies.
Bo's Early Life and Family
Bo was bred by Martha and Art Stern. Their company was called Amigo Portuguese Water Dogs in Boyd, Texas. Bo's father was named "Watson" and his mother was "Penny."
Bo had nine brothers and sisters. One of his litter mates was named "Cappy." Cappy belonged to Senator Ted Kennedy. Bo's litter was named "Hope and Change." This honored President Obama's victory in the 2008 election.
Bo's first owner is not known. However, they returned him to the Stern family. When someone bought Bo, they had to sign a contract. This contract said Bo would be returned if things did not work out. Bo then went to an obedience trainer named Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz. This was in Hume, Virginia, on January 5, 2009.
Bo also had a brother named Rico. Rico lives with a couple in Houston, Texas.
How the Obamas Chose Bo
The Search for a First Dog
When he was President-elect, Obama was asked about the family's dog search. He explained that they had two main things to consider. First, Malia had allergies, so the dog needed to be hypoallergenic. Second, they wanted to get a shelter dog.
Obama said it was hard to find a hypoallergenic dog at a shelter. He joked that many shelter dogs were "mutts like me." He told reporters that balancing these two things was a "pressing issue" for his family.
Later, Obama said his daughters had narrowed their choice. They were looking at a labradoodle or a Portuguese Water Dog. He said they would start looking at shelters for a medium-sized dog. The public and news media were very interested in the family's search for a dog.
Bo Joins the First Family
On April 12, 2009, news broke that the Obamas would get a six-month-old Portuguese Water Dog puppy. The puppy was a gift from Senator Kennedy. Reports said the dog had met the family secretly weeks before. This meeting was to see if they were a good match. Staff members even called it "The Meeting."
The gift was officially accepted when Bo arrived at the White House. This happened on Tuesday, April 14, 2009. Right after he arrived, the family took pictures with Bo. They were on the South Lawn of the White House.
At the photo event, Obama was asked if Bo could go into the Oval Office. He replied, "of course." He also mentioned a famous quote by President Harry S. Truman. Truman said, "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog." The White House website soon added official pictures and details about Bo.
Facts About Bo
Bo was registered with the American Kennel Club as "Amigo's New Hope." His first owners called him "Charlie." President Obama's daughters, Malia and Sasha, gave him the name "Bo." They named him partly after their cousins' cat. The name also honored Michelle Obama's father, whose nickname was Diddley. So, the dog was a namesake of singer Bo Diddley.
In June 2009, the White House made a special baseball card for Bo. It had his official picture on one side. The other side had funny facts about him. For example, it said Bo's favorite food was tomatoes. It also said he did not know how to swim yet. You could get this card by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the White House.
In 2010, President Obama's financial forms showed that Bo was bought for $1,600. By August 2012, Bo was on a diet. The President announced this during a Kids' State Dinner. This event was for children who won a contest to design healthy meals.
Was Bo a Rescue Dog?
The Obamas had said they really wanted to adopt a shelter dog. In 2008, an animal welfare group collected 50,000 signatures. This was a petition asking the family to adopt a shelter animal.
Bo was a gift from a breeder, not from a shelter. However, dog expert César Millán said Bo could be seen as a "rescue dog." This is because Bo's first home did not work out. He was returned to his breeder. The Obamas also made a donation to the DC Humane Society. This showed their support for shelter dogs.
Some animal welfare groups still criticized the White House. They wished the Obamas had adopted a dog directly from a shelter. The Humane Society of the United States thanked the Obamas for taking in a "second-chance dog." But they also encouraged people to adopt from shelters instead of buying from breeders.
Bo in the Media
A reporter from The Washington Post got to see Bo first. He described the puppy as "a handsome little guy." He said Bo looked ready for formal events at the White House. Bo had "tuxedo-black fur, with a white chest, white paws and a rakish white goatee."
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) suggested that Bo should be neutered. However, Bo had already been neutered before the Obamas received him.
Because of Bo, many people became interested in Portuguese Water Dogs. The Portuguese Water Dog Club of America released a statement. They asked people to make sure this breed fit their lifestyle. They warned that these dogs need a lot of attention. They should not be left alone for long periods.
Soon after Bo joined the First Family, several children's books and plush toys about him were planned. Bo was also featured in the comic book Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers. He appeared on TV shows like Late Night with Seth Meyers and Ellen. On Seth Meyers' show, there was a funny parody. It showed Bo supposedly tricking White House staff for treats. Bo was sometimes nicknamed "Bobama."
Bo's Passing
Bo died from Cancer on May 8, 2021. He was 12 years old.
Images for kids
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Bo in March 2010
See also
In Spanish: Bo (perro) para niños
