A Mutt for America

D. Harris: Finding the Right Dog

“With respect to the dog, this is a major issue…we have two criteria that have to be reconciled. One is that Malia is allergic, so it has to be hypo-allergenic….On the other hand, our preference would be to get a shelter dog. But obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts, like me.”
– President-elect Barack Obama

HOW FITTING if the president of the United States of America, the great melting pot, brought a mixed-breed shelter dog to the White House this January. It would signal that there is no longer a purebred America and a mongrel America. There is simply the United States of America ready to treat all of its canine citizens with care and respect.

Of course, if the Obamas do bring a mutt to the White House, they won’t be the first presidential family to do so. Lyndon Johnson had his dog Yuki, a mongrel found at a gas station. She was a hit with visiting dignitaries until she peed on the Oval Office rug during the Shah’s visit. But the Johnsons continued to love Yuki.

Many shelter dogs are not so lucky. They often have trouble finding homes because they are well past puppyhood. The Obamas should consider the advantages of an older dog. An older dog will not metamorphose from Baby Cakes the adorable little fur ball into Tank the monster dog. Not only is an older dog already full-sized, it has an adult coat and its allergy-provoking potential is already on full display. Its personality is fully developed. If the Obamas get an older dog, they will have a good idea of whether it will be submissive or bold, clingy or independent, easygoing or restless.

But no matter how much many of us would like to see a wonderful dog elevated from shelter animal to First Pet, there is the question of Malia’s allergies. Finding a hypoallergenic dog among the shelter mutts, with their mysterious origins, could be difficult. It might be safer to go with a purebred dog; a dog with an undercoat that doesn’t hold a lot of loose hair or dander, such as a Bichon Frise, or a dog with only a single coat, such as a poodle or a Portuguese Water Dog, which is less likely to trigger allergies because of its limited shedding.

Still even if the Obamas decide they want a purebred companion, they need not abandon their goal of taking in a homeless dog. There are breed rescue organizations, which specialize in finding homes for displaced purebreds. These organizations are, understandably, very selective about the homes they choose for their dogs. They want to do the right thing for the animals in their care, which have already been bounced from one home to another. Some rescue organizations investigate and evaluate potential owners as carefully as they would a Vice Presidential candidate.

These organizations look for stable, caring owners with time and resources. They prefer houses with yards to condos or apartment buildings. And they often require a fenced property. They’ll no doubt approve of the wrought iron fence that surrounds the White House. Not only is it ten feet high, it’s embedded in cement. Even the most determined terrier couldn’t dig his way underneath that.

As the Obamas will soon discover, the real fun begins when the dog comes home. They will have a living, breathing, barking, slobbering little darling who is soon hiding saliva-soaked tennis balls under the furniture in the Lincoln bedroom. Socializing and training will be essential. As the most important ambassador for its species, the Obamas’ dog should be exposed to a wide variety of places and situations early on so that it can build confidence and present a friendly, calm personality to the world. After all, it will be part of an administration committed to starting over and undoing the harsh legacy of the last eight years.

Deborah Harris teaches and competes in the sport of dog agility. She is currently writing her first novel. Photo: President Johnson with Yuki (Yoichi R. Okamoto / LBJ Library)