Bo Obama, Portuguese Water Dog, First Pup: his breeder tells his backstory

Bo Obama is a handsome, dignified little guy. With a rambunctious streak. (White House photo)

Now that everybody knows that the Obamas are officially getting, this Tuesday, a six-month old male Portuguese water dog they've named Bo, we want to know more about the First Pup's early life.

Recap: TMZ first broke the story that the Obamas had gotten a six-month old, male Portuguese Water Dog. He came from the same Texas kennel that bred Senator Ted Kennedy's three Portuguese Water dogs.

The puppy had been returned to the breeder by the family who had bought him. The lucky little guy is being "re-homed" to the Obamas via Senator Ted Kenndy, who will officially present the dog to the First Family.

(The puppy's name was originally Charlie, but Malia and Sasha Obama gave him the name "Bo".)

Martha and Art Stern of Amigo Portuguese Water Dog Kennels provided some interesting information about Bo's first days to The Obama Dog Blog:

• Bo and his litter mates were born on October 9, 2008. (This means Bo is a Libra.) 
• One of Bo's littermates (and hence, brother) is "Cappy", who is Senator Kennedy's third Portuguese Water Dog.
• Consistent with tradition, the kennel gave formal names to all the puppies. Bo's is "Amigo's New Hope." (Cappy's is "Amigo's Captain Courageous.")

Pet Connection interviewed breeder Martha Stern, who explained why Bo/Charlie was returned:

"The family had two older Portuguese Water Dogs, and when one of them died, they got a puppy to keep their remaining dog company."

"Usually that works out all right,” said Martha Stern [Bo's breeder]. “But not this time. This little puppy was quite rambunctious, and I think he kind of barreled in there and tried to nurse off the older dog when he first got there. And she said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding.’ She did not understand this at all, and just lay around growling at him.”

Around two months ago, the owners made the decision to let the older dog have her peace and quiet back. “Vicki Kennedy[Ted Kennedy's wife] found out about it, and she said, ‘This is a perfect situation, Martha.’ And after I thought about it, I had to agree.”

--Breeder Martha Stern in an interview with Pet Connection

Bo's breeder already has certain predictions about the handsome little devil.

"He’s going to be a little gentleman, believe me – until he sees that fountain. He’ll be splashing around and saying, ‘Where’s the fish? Where’s the fish?’” “We’re expecting great things of that little fellow.”  

--Martha Stern

 Check out Bo on the White House website.