PetStyle

Although the race for that special seat in the White House is on, some folks say that there has been one candidate missing from the platform -- our feline friend.

 

A spokesperson for the CFA-Iams Cat Championship had this to say:

 

Cat owners, such as Whoopi Goldberg and her Russian Blue cat, would be delighted if the President-elect would consider getting a cat.  After all, 11 American presidents including Lincoln (a big cat lover) and Clinton had cats.  So did our current president who lost his kitty India last week.

 

At the CFA Iams Cat Championship, held in early October in Madison Square Garden, thousands of visitors voted two-to-one for a real Bombay cat named Barack Obama (the father was Bombay cat Colin Powell but that's another story) over a British shorthair named Renegade that was representing John McCain.

 

If the daughters are allergic, then they should consider a Devon Rex or a Sphynx.

 

For the sake of Cat Karma, the White House needs a cat.

 

So, what do the experts think about the right dog for the Obamas?  Mychelle Blake, Communications Director for the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) (http://www.apdt.com/) and Editor-in-Chief of The APDT Chronicle of the Dog, had this to say, "I think that there's been too much focus on breed in the media discussions about the choice of dog for the President-Elect's family and not enough on temperament and exercise needs/activity level.

 

“For example, I've known some Labradoodles that are quite mellow and others that are really high-strung and incredibly energetic. Likewise PWDs are nice dogs, but they should keep in mind that this was a breed bred to work, and therefore requires a lot of exercise and stimulation. “

That said, Blake’s recommendations lies with the Labradoodle.  

 

"So, if I was given the choice to pick between the two for an active family with two young girls, and considering they want to adopt from a shelter or rescue group, my first choice would be an older dog, around two to three years of age, who has an observable, developed personality that is friendly, outgoing and whose energy level is moderate. I would suspect that they will have an easier time locating a Labradoodle up for adoption than a PWD so for that reason I would lean toward a Labradoodle."  

 

"I would also urge the Obamas to engage the girls, as well as the whole family, in training their new canine family member to develop a harmonious and happy relationship in The White House, and the APDT would be happy to help them with the transition of the "First Dog" into their lives." 

 

A surprising perspective was offered by Paul Owens (http://raisewithpraise.com/), author of "The Dog Whisperer" and "The Puppy Whisperer," as well as a PWD owner for 16 years.  "It's important to find the right dog rather than the breed. Both are very sweet breeds.  If I were to suggest a family dog that is easy to get along with, I would suggest the Labradoodle.  They are a softer dog." 

 

Mr. Owens said that the PWD is a rugged dog who will quickly become "self-employed" if it is not given a job.  So for an active family like the Obamas, a Labradoodle would be the best fit.  "And I hope against hope that they choose a trainer who uses positive training methods." 

 

So, which dog will the Obamas choose?  We'll just have to wait and see.