While reading to an elementary school class in Arlington, VA yesterday, President Obama took some time to answer questions about the First Dog, Bo. He said he walks the dog on the White House South Lawn, but "Sometimes I have to scoop up his poop, because I don't want to just leave it in the lawn!...If you guys have a dog, you've got to walk your dog, too - and clean up after him." And even if it's not your dog, clean up after him. Seriously. more ›

The White House will once again have a pet come this Tuesday, as the Obamas will welcome their new, long-awaited dog. With TMZ's report yesterday about a Portuguese water dog heading to the White House, the White House has now granted the Washington Post the exclusive: "The girls named it Bo -- and let it be noted that you learned that here first. Malia and Sasha chose the name, because their cousins have a cat named Bo and because first lady Michelle Obama's father was nicknamed Diddley, a source said. (Get it? Bo... Diddley?)" more ›

A crowd-pleasing (or eye-rolling) line during President-elect Obama's victory speech was directed at his daughters, "Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us to the White House." But what kind of pup? Malia, 10, has allergies and reportedly likes the "goldendoodle"--a "hypoallergenic hybrid of a golden retriever and a standard poodle" (example). The American Kennel Club's poll finds that Americans want Obama to get a poodle. However, the Chicago Tribune learns that PETA head Ingrid Newkirk wrote a letter to Obama on the dog issue, "No one needs to tell you that this country is proud to be a melting pot and that there is something deeply wrong and elitist about wanting only a purebred dog. Millions of Great American Mutts -- the dog that should be our national dog -- are set to die in our nation's extremely overcrowded pounds and shelters for lack of good homes." And Malia and Sasha aren't the only ones promised a pet: Joe Biden now gets a dog, too! Update: The Caucus brings up a quote from September where the Obamas suggest they will adopt a rescue dog. Hoorah! more ›