Who let the First Dog story out? Obama girls have met their Portie

Last update: April 12, 2009 - 12:27 AM

Print this story

Follow local news on Twitter

More from Local + Metro

WASHINGTON -- The identity of the First Puppy leaked out Saturday. This despite White House efforts to delay the news until the big debut planned for Tuesday afternoon.

The little guy is a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog given to the Obama girls as a gift by that Portuguese water dog-lovin' senator himself, Edward Kennedy. Malia and Sasha named it Bo.

Bo's a handsome little guy. Well suited for formal occasions at the White House, he's got tuxedo-black fur, with a white chest, white paws and a rakish white goatee.

Clearly, the identity of the dog was information too big to contain.

A mysterious website called FirstDogCharlie.com published a puppy picture Saturday morning, complete with a Q and A with the dog, which it said was originally named Charlie. The celebrity gossip website TMZ.com linked to the picture. So much for the big White House unveiling.

Bo charmed the First Family, a source who was there said. He sat when the girls sat, stood when the girls stood. He made no toileting errors and did not gnaw on the furniture.

Bo has, after all, been receiving lessons in good behavior from the Kennedys' dog trainers. These lessons have been taking place at a secret, undisclosed location outside Washington.

WASHINGTON POST