Picking a Presidential pooch

A presidential Poodle?

Listen, I have nothing against Poodles. I know Poodles. Poodles have been friends of mine. But I just can't see one prancing on the White House lawn the next four years.

I guess I'm in the minority on this one.  The American Kennel Club ran a poll recently asking people to identify the perfect dog for Sen. Barack Obama and his family, and the Poodle beat out the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier by a nose. More than 42,000 online votes were cast.

Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, and his wife Michelle have promised their two daughters that they can have a dog once the campaign is over. But because their girls, Malia, 9, and Sasha, 7, have allergies, their choice is limited to hypoallergenic breeds.

I figured the Obamas to be Golden Retriever people, but they were restricted to five breeds least likely to cause their daughters sneezing fits: Poodle, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Bichon Frise, Miniature Schnauzer and Chinese Crested.

Now, those are some noble breeds. But if Obama wins in November, I'm thinking a Schnauzer has a more authoritative, head-of-state appearance (a Poodle seems more like royalty, a pet for a princess). The Bichon Frise has been a big winner in the show ring. And has anyone suggested a visit to a local animal shelter, just to see if a mixed breed might work?

Dogs, of course, have been White House residents for many years. President Franklin Roosevelt had Fala, a Scottish Terrier. President Kennedy owned several dogs, among them Clipper, a German Shepherd. George W. Bush, the current president, has Barney, a Scottish Terrier, who has his own page on the White House Web site.

Even Sen. John McCain, the Republican candidate, has four dogs. So no matter who wins, there's going to be a new pooch patrolling the White House grounds.

Given the nature of politics, the next president will certainly need the companionship. As President Truman famously once said, "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog."