I see that Ted Kennedy gifted Barack Obama with a Portuguese water dog. The
Obamas *had* intended to adopt a dog from a local rescue shelter, but they
ended up with a purebred dog instead! Here are some characteristics which
make them attractive to the First Family:

1. The breed doesn't shed, and people with dog allergies are often
unaffected by this breed. (Malia Obama suffers from allergies.)

2. They typically bond to one alpha family member; I'm not sure where this
dog will end up giving its devotion, we'll just have to wait and see.

3. They're highly intelligent, so you can teach them to roll over, or even
to bow to a foreign head of state.

Bob