Ever since election night, America has been abuzz over one of Barack Obama’s first major personnel decisions: Namely, who will be named as first dog?
During his post-election speech in Chicago, the president-elect promised his two young daughters a puppy for the White House.
You could practically see his Secret Service detail calculating which junior agent would be assigned the gold pooper-scooper with the presidential seal.
Naturally, folks are talking about what would make a good mutt for the Oval Office. So I went asking. Washington Park seemed a logical first stop, what with its name and dog-friendly paths.
Liz Shanker was walking in the park with her Weimaraner, Lucy, while pushing her baby boy in a stroller.
Shanker said she thought a dog in the White House was a great idea. But a Weimaraner, which is a good-sized hound?
“They’re good with kids, but I’d say a smaller dog would be better,” Shanker said. “Weimaraners are high maintenance. Obama’s pretty fit, and if he wants a dog to run with, a Weimaraner’s a good choice. But if it’ll just be in the house with the girls, not so much.”
Heather Nelson, a student at Metro State, sat beside the park’s Smith Lake, reading an economics book.
Nelson voted for a boxer like her dog, Chopper, which sat at her feet. “They’re very playful and love kids,” she said. “They’re the right size, and they’re very smart.”
Chopper’s ears perked up. “I think all little kids should have puppies,” Nelson said. “Dogs teach responsibility.”
Shane Amante was strolling with his black-and-tan Dobermans, Bella and Kobe.
“My personal preference is Dobermans, but I don’t know if that would make a good choice for two little girls in the White House,” he said. “Maybe a Jack Russell terrier.”
Of course, then he felt obligated to rattle off the virtues of Dobermans. “They’re such loving dogs and they’re really protective of their owners,” Amante said. “They’re probably misunderstood because of how they’re seen in movies.”
True. You never see an action hero fending off a beagle.
The White House has a long history of first dogs. George and Barbara Bush had Millie, a springer spaniel. The Clintons had Buddy, a chocolate Labrador. Lyndon Johnson owned beagles, Him and Her, that he famously hoisted by the ears. FDR had Fala. Teddy Roosevelt set up an entire kennel.
Whatever breed the Obamas choose, obedience school would probably be a good idea. “Welcome to Washington, D.C., President Sarkozy. I hope your flight from France was . . . Rex! Stop that! Down, down! Bad dog!”
At Denver’s off-leash dog park at 666 S. Jason St. just south of West Alameda Avenue, Brian Baines and Carrie Rogers walked their Australian heeler, Oz, along the banks of the South Platte River.
“Obama should go with an Aussie,” Baines said. “They’re smart and playful.”
Rogers weighed in with perhaps the best advice of all.
“Aussies are also good herders,” she said with a laugh. “And that might come in handy with the kids, especially when they become teens.”
For that matter, Obama might find that a useful trait come January, when he starts wrangling with Congress.
As Harry Truman once said, if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.
William Porter’s column runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at 303-954-1977 or wporter@denverpost.com.
