Americans Elect Poodle as Obama's Top Dog

American Kennel Club News Article
Americans Elect Poodle as Obama's Top Dog


Date of Article: August 28, 2008


Now that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has chosen his vice president, it's time for him to concentrate on another important selection: family dog. The American Kennel Club® (AKC) announced today that the public has elected a Poodle as their breed of choice for the Obama family.

The AKC launched its poll to find a breed for Obama (www.presidentialpup.com) after reports that - win or lose - the Obamas promised their two daughters a dog after the presidential election. More than 42,000 people cast their vote over the seven week campaign. The Poodle clinched the nomination after the breed battled it out with the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier in a race almost as tight as Clinton and Obama's run for the Democratic nomination for president. The Poodle won by a (dog) hair, with just a few hundred votes separating the top two contenders.

The Miniature Schnauzer, Bichon Frise, and Chinese Crested were also nominated, due to their distinct characteristics that made them uniquely suited for the Obama family - hypoallergenic coat, child friendly, moderate energy level, and stable and social temperament.

"Most of our Presidents kept purebreds in the White House," said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "When times get tough - during a bad economy or when presidential pressures are at their peak - these dogs serve as personal companions and give much relaxation and laughter to our leaders during difficult times."

If the Obamas follow America's advice and choose a Poodle, the AKC will assist them in responsibly acquiring a puppy or adult rescue dog. The AKC's puppy buyer resource page at www.puppybuyerinfo.com offers links to responsible breeders who are members of AKC clubs as well as to affiliated breed rescue groups that have dogs for adoption. For instance, the Poodle National Breed Club web site can be located at .
The Obama family may be adding a dog to their household for the first time, but Republican nominee John McCain is ahead of the pack with 24 pets, including four dogs. Therefore, animal lovers may be ready to help him "fetch" the election. According to a recent Associated Press survey,"pet owners favor McCain over Obama 42 percent to 37 percent, with dog owners particularly in McCain's corner."

"It's no surprise the American public choose a Poodle for Obama," said Peterson. "Poodles are currently the eighth most popular breed in the U.S., according to 2007 AKC registrations statistics, and it spent more than two decades in the top spot - a true testament to its suitability as a family pet. And while Poodles require frequent grooming, their consistent and predictable coat is crucial for their daughter and all who suffer from allergies."

Poodles, often considered high-maintenance show dogs, can also be kept in a simple one-length clip. They are exceptionally smart and athletic, excel in obedience training and are great hunting companions. They are one of the breeds that come in three sizes, so it can easily accommodate living in the White House or at Camp David. The Standard variety is the largest size, measuring over 15 inches. It is the oldest of the three varieties and developed for water retrieving. The Miniature variety measures over 10 inches but less than 15 inches. It is speculated that the Miniature variety may have been used for truffle hunting. The Toy Poodle measures 10 inches and under and was often used in performances and traveling entertainment groups. Learn more about the Poodle and if it's a good fit for your family at http://www.poodleclubofamerica.org/usamap.htm

What Kind of Dog Should Malia

First Dog

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Go take a hike

Post-hike smiles all around.
One great way to combat this winter's "dark-by-five" depression is to go on a nature adventure with your pooch. Dogs and walks can be great mood elevators: they both force you to get out of your head and participate in the wonders of the world around you.



Here is a brief list of dog-friendly hikes in the Bay Area:

San Francisco

Sunset Trail, Fort Funston
Land's End Trail, S.F. Headlands
Coastal Trail, Presidio, S.F. Headlands
Marin

Carson Falls Loop
Kent Lake Pump Trail
Laurel Dell Loop
Lagunitas Lake
Yellow Bluff
Peninsula

Sweeney Ridge Trail
San Pedro Mountain Trail, McNee Ranch
Pillar Point Head
Arastradero Preserve
East Bay

Point Isabel Regional Shoreline
Franklin Ridge Loop, Carquinez Regional Shoreline
Grass Valley Loop, Chabot Regional Park
Little Yosemite to Cerro Este, Sunol Regional Wilderness
Bay View Loop, Point Pinole Regional Shoreline
Briones Crest Loop, Briones Regional Park
Bob Walker Ridge Loop, Morgan Territory
Round Valley Loop, Round Valley Regional Preserve

Dogs dig Obama!

Dog for Obama!

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Canine Good Citizen Certification

How to Train for Canine Good Citizen Certification—and Why You Should
By Charlie Petrizzo on 11/01/2008
Filed in - Special Situations
More than busy work
As humans, we find fulfillment in our lives through our relationships, hobbies, and employment. Our canine companions need to find fulfillment and purpose in their lives, too. Providing a job for a dog is the responsibility of the dog owner. Owners who fail to provide their dogs with something to keep them mentally and physically stimulated soon learn that our canine friends open their own small businesses when left to their own devices.

I have heard of many canines that, instead of being involved in obedience training, were left to find suitable "work" around the house. Much to the chagrin of their owners, some of these entrepreneurial pooches established themselves in occupations from interior design to landscape architecture. Owners who have witnessed the results of these industrious canines at work should not blame the dog!

Provided the correct training, our canine companions can serve us in a multitude of ways. Consider the many wonderful jobs that our dogs have been taught to perform; there are drug detection dogs, seeing-eye dogs, seizure alert dogs, mobility dogs, and many others. The list of ways in which man's best friend can be trained to help us lead more productive and safe lives just keeps growing.

Canine Good Citizen certification and clicker training
Providing a job for a dog is the responsibility of the dog owner. Not all dog owners have the time, inclination, or experience to train a dog to perform specific functions like those listed above. However, for conscientious dog owners who want a dog that will behave at home as well as in public (and who want to become the envy of their dog-owning friends) there is the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) designation.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Good Citizenship Program started in 1989 as a certification program designed to encourage dog owners to teach their four-legged friends proper canine etiquette in the home as well as in public. Participants completing the program successfully earn a certificate from the AKC.

For some, working through the CGC process serves as a foundation, and spurs them on to other canine activities like agility or obedience. Many other dog owners possess a strong desire to serve others with their dogs. Earning the CGC designation is the first step in preparing to use a dog in a therapeutic capacity. Therapy dogs visit nursing homes, hospitals, and assisted living facilities. Leading therapy dog organizations such as Therapy Dogs International, Inc. (www.tdi-dog.org) use the AKC's Canine Good Citizenship test as a key component of their assessment for certification.

The CGC program consists of ten tests focusing on responsible pet ownership and good manners. Test challenges include accepting a friendly stranger, sitting politely for petting, appearance, and grooming, walking on a loose lead, walking through a crowd, sit and down on command, as well as stay in place, coming when called, reaction to another dog, reaction to a distraction, and supervised separation. Details for each of the tests can be found at www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm.

If you make the commitment to earn the Canine Good Citizenship certificate, the first step should be to find a local trainer to assist you in preparing for the test. Be sure to look for a trainer who uses positive techniques. I use clicker training with my obedience clients; clicker training allows you to communicate with your dog without using words.

Be sure to look for a trainer who uses positive techniques.With clicker training, when your dog performs a behavior that you desire, you "click" or mark the desirable behavior. Repeating this process several times teaches the dog that performing a certain behavior leads to a reward. I have found that dogs who are clicker trained get much more excited about the training process than do dogs trained with other methods.

Get some help
An abundance of information about clicker training, including articles, books, message board forums, and sources of training equipment, can be found here at www.clickertraining.com . To find professional trainers in your area who use clicker training, and who can help you earn the Canine Good Citizenship designation, visit the Find-a-Trainer page at the Karen Pryor Academy website. Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partners have completed an extensive educational program, and have scored high marks on a detailed assessment of their technical knowledge and hands-on skill.

Working toward earning the CGC designation enhances your relationship with your dog, teaches your dog good manners, and, through therapy dog programs, can involve you and your dog in a project to benefit society. As a responsible dog owner, what could be more worthy of your time and dedication?



About the author
Charlie Petrizzo, President and Founder of Circle of Life Professional Canine Services, is a former financial services executive and popular speaker. He received a diploma in canine training from the Animal Behavior College, and earned an advanced diploma with distinction in canine fitness and nutrition from the Companion Animal Sciences Institute. With more than 25 years experience working with dogs and horses, Charlie has been featured in several newspapers and on WBTV-Charlotte. Charlie can be contacted at ak9nose@earthlink.net.

I Love My Job!

All I can say is I love my job as a dog walker. Taking dogs to the beach everyday to do what they love is amazing. I love watching their day become better. Instead of being at home, some alone while their people are at work, they get to play off leash with other dogs. I think this makes the quality of their lives much better. While I have volunteered in shelters to help benefit dogs I feel my job is just as important as volunteering in a shelter simply because the health, training, and socialization of the dogs I walk are all improved each time we go out.