Meet the Obamas' First Pup: Bo!

Say hello to Bo!

After months of speculation, the 6-month-old Portuguese Water Dog is the new first puppy, joining the Obama family in the White House.

The curly-haired pup with tuxedo coloring is a gift from Sen. Ted Kennedy, who picked up Bo from the same Texas breeder he's used for his own pets, Amigo Portuguese Water Dogs of Boyd, Texas.

According to the Washington Post, who first confirmed the news Sunday, Bo has already impressed the Obamas with his training, and eagerly followed the President around the room during a secret introduction last week at the White House, dubbed "The Meeting" by staffers.

As for the name the Post credits first daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, with the familiar moniker. Their cousins have a cat named Bo, and their grandfather - Michelle Obama's late dad - was nicknamed Diddley, as in guitarist Bo Diddley. The dog also passes the allergy test; Malia is allergic to most dogs.

Originally Bo is said to have lived with a family that decided not to keep him, but animal rescue advocates had hoped the Obamas would take in a stray. A CNN poll in December found that Americans favored the family getting a rescue dog by 2-1. However, the Post reports that the Obamas are making a donation to the District of Columbia Humane Society.

The breeders, Amigo owners Martha and Art Stern, did not return phone or email requests for an interview. Sue Wilcox-Hall, who blogs about Portuguese Water Dogs, says the Amigo kennel had a litter on Oct. 9, 2008, and all 10 pups were given Obama-friendly names, many starting with Hope. Obama Dog Blog says a pup formally named Change to Believe is rumored to have become Bo. Both parents were screened and cleared for eye and hip genetic disorders common to Portuguese Water Dogs.

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