Posts tagged "BarackObama"

Dog Whisperer Chides Obama, Bush
"Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan" kicks off its seventh season tonight, but that's not the only reason Cesar Millan's been in the news lately. He recently criticized both President Obama and President Bush for their lack of discipline when it comes to their dogs, Bo and Barney. Go to USA Today to check out what Millan said about how these world leaders fail as pack leaders.

Pet Healthcare on a Budget
The Great Recession officially ended in June 2009, but that doesn't mean much when most of us are still pinching our pennies. One thing we don't want to sacrifice through the tight times is the health of ours pets, but when budgeting for veterinary care, cutting costs doesn't mean you have to cut corners. Zootoo has the scoop on how you can save your dollars without compromising your pet's health.

"Grey's Anatomy" Tot Is Best Pals With Family Dogs
Bringing a newborn home to a house with pet dogs may make some prospective parents a bit nervous, but it's not necessarily as complicated as the wary might worry. Ellen Pompeo of "Grey's Anatomy" fame had a baby girl a year ago, and it seems little Stella has taken quite a shine to her mom's poodles, Gigi and Valentino. People Pets has the story of the celeb toddler and pooches who are already BFF.

Pharaoh Hounds Quiz
The pharaoh hound is an eye-catching breed. Athletic and dignified, these noble dogs capture the attention and interest of any canine connoisseur. Our friends at Pet Sugar want to know, "How Much Do You Know About Pharaoh Hounds?" Take their quiz to find out! When you're done, check out Paw Nation's "Pharaoh Hounds 101" to learn even more about the breed.

"I just knew I'd end up doing this every day. The girls promised me that if I got them a dog that they would be responsible and take care of it, but just like every parent ever, here I am. Getting dragged by the dog. But that's OK; it's not like I don't have more important things to do. It's not like I'm the President of the United States."

Well, at least that's what we imagine he's thinking as Bo pulls him down the path. What we do know is that the President is not alone in having a dog take charge of the walk. Check out our video, Pet On The Street, where dog owners answer the question: Do you walk your dog or does your dog walk you?

They say that pets don't make good gifts, but in this case we think the Obama family came out on the winning end. According to the President's own financial disclosure forms, his "welcome to the White House" gift -- Bo the Portuguese water dog -- is valued at a whopping $1,600.

The world-famous "Portie" was a gift from the late Sen. Edward Kennedy and his wife Victoria last April, who also adopted one of Bo's litter mates. And even thought the President didn't actually have to shell out the cash himself, White House protocol dictates that he disclose all of his gifts and their financial value.

So is $1,600 a good price for a purebred Portie? While we don't know if the figure represents the actual price that the Kennedys paid for Bo, or rather an estimate by the President's accountant, that price tag isn't quite as high as it may seem. In fact, Bo was on the discount rack when the Kennedys scooped him up.

Although Bo's breeder was quoted as saying that she doesn't consider him a rescue dog, Bo had originally been placed with a family in Virginia and was later returned to the breeder.

After scouring the web for a Portuguese water dog puppy, it appears that $2,500 is the average going rate for a pup that comes from "champion lines." Of course, it's hard to determine if the Obama effect has driven prices up for these allergy-friendly dogs. Just like with the Labradoodle craze, Porties are a breed that skyrocketed from semi-obscurity to super fame in an extremely short period of time.

There's that old wives tale about owners looking like their dogs, but can you and your dog share more than just looks?

In the video above, one Kentucky woman tries to convince us that her dog Opie has an opinion on our current president. This got us wondering -- should pets become unsuspecting campaigners?

We have a feeling Bo Obama would have something to say about this.