First-dog finalists - what will the Obama girls get?

Portuguese Water Dog - AKC photo

First it was getting over the election hurdle.

Done.

Then, it was getting moved in to the new city and schools.

Nearly finished...by the 22nd of this month or so, that job will be done, too.

Next it will be fulfillment of the biggest promise of two little girls' lives: their new dog.

Sunday, when President-Elect Barack Obama appeared on "This Week," he didn't know his daughters Malia and Sasha had slipped a question to interviewer George Stephanoplulos.

They wanted to know what kind of a dog they were getting and when they were getting it. Mr. Obama laughed and reported that the decision has been narrowed down to two choices: a Labradoodle or a Portuguese Water Dog.

Malia, who is 10, suffers from allergies and the Obamas have said that would be a point of consideration in their choice of dog. The mixed-breed Labradoodle promoters point to their Poodle component and claim that the coat is non-allergenic. But there is no evidence to support that claim, and there are many components of a dog to which a person can be allergic, and coat is just one consideration.

Of course, the American Kennel Club has thrown it's support behind the Portuguese Water Dog, endorsing that as the first family's best choice. And it's not uncommon to see a couple of them on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, since Senator Edward M. Kennedy often brings his two, Sunny and Splash, to work with him.

There could be pressure from the soon-to-be second in command, as Vice President Elect Joseph Biden has a Labradoodle named Brother.

No matter whether it's a Portuguese Water Dog or a Labradoodle, the future First Dog is sure to be spoiled.

After all, what dog wouldn't want that whole White House lawn to romp on?

Allergic to dogs? Here are a few things to try:

1) People who are allergic to dogs are usually allergic to other things in the house. If allergies are giving you a big problem, before getting rid of the dog, get rid of all of the house-plants. They are a source of mold and mildew spores, a major allergen.

2) Hard floors (tile, hardwood, linoleum, etc.) are much easier to keep clean than carpets, and are less likely to be a hiding place for allergens. Use a new bag each time you vacuum, and throw the bag away outside of your living space. Vacuum at least twice a week, and don't forget to clean the upholstered furniture weekly with the vacuum.

3) Stuffed toys, whether for children or the dog, harbor a host of allergens. Either banish them or run them through the washer and drier weekly.