Bo the Dog Biography

Known as the First Puppy or First Dog, Bo is the new family pet of President Barack Obama and his family. Bo is a Portuguese water dog who was six months old when he joined the First Family in April of 2009. After Barack Obama's election on 4 November 2008, he told his daughters Sasha and Malia in his acceptance speech, "You have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House." Bo was chosen months later, in part because Malia Obama has dog allergies and Portuguese water dogs are hypo-allergenic. Bo was a gift of Senator Ted Kennedy, who is a fan of the breed. According to The Washington Post, the pup "had been living with another family, but it wasn't a good fit, so the Kennedys acquired him for the Obamas." (His previous name was Charlie, the paper said.) Bo succeeds the previous First Dog, Barney, a Scottish terrier belonging to George W. Bush.