Bo Obama: Comic Book Super Hero

First he's a Beanie Baby and now this! What a lucky dog!

The nation's First Portuguese Water Dog (who is second only to Zeke, Billy's Portie) is staring in issue number four of the Marvel Comics series Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers. The issue will be available August 12, 2009.

When Bo is returns to the White House after saving the universe, perhaps he can give the President a few tips on saving the economy or, at least, the auto industry.

Welcome Bo!

The cat is out of the bag, so to speak. Someone leaked a photo of the Obama's new dog. At Happy Dog Land, we are thrilled that the new First Pooch is a Portuguese Water Dog. After all, Billy is a Portie expert and has loved and cared for many, many Porties over the years including Zeke, Billy's special guy.

Over the next few days, we'll be talking about Porties. In the meantime, check out our recent entry about why we love Portuguese Water Dogs.

The Perils of being the "IT" Dog

One of the unfortunate side-issues involving the new First Dog (and we should be hearing news on that front any minute now) is that whatever breed the Obamas choose, it will likely lead to puppy mill copycat breeding. Puppy mills seize upon every high-profile dog in popular culture and seek to meet consumer demand by rapidly and randomly breeding dogs en masse in horrific conditions.

Paris Hilton's Chihuahua, while enormously cute, inspired the mass breeding of Chihuahuas in puppy mills. That's not so cute. Of course, this is hardly the fault of the celebrities -- in fact, we love the fact that they are so attached to their pooches. What it does demonstrate, however, is the need for regulation of puppy mills. Animal cruelty is animal cruelty, and no matter how much you may want a specific dog, we strongly encourage you to get your dog from a shelter or a rescue or a reputable breeder. Indeed, almost every breed club has a rescue or a network to help place a dogs in need. So you can rescue a purebred, you just need to know where to look.

A reputable breeder and a puppy mill are two completely different things. A reputable breeder is working to improve the breed and cares deeply about each and every dog. A puppy mill is a large scale commercial operation that is in business to make money--period. This means that the puppy mill makes more money if its expenses are low. As you can imagine, spending money on adequate food, shelter and vet care means lower profits. The puppy mill is trying to maximize output (puppies) per dog and this has nothing whatsoever to do with the health or welfare of the dogs.

If the Obamas choose a Portuguese Water Dog and you want to get one too, then contact the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America. Billy's good friend Rolli Grayson is a wonderful breeder and, like all good breeders, she is extremely strict about where her dogs go. You may even find it easier to adopt a child than a dog from some breeders--and this is a good thing. A reputable breeder wants all her dogs to have a happy life with a responsible owner. That means, no reputable breeder sells dogs to a pet shop or in a mall parking lot. In fact, a good breeder remains in touch with her dogs and their new families and accepts returns if things don't work out.

So, please do your research and enjoy your new pup.

We Love Portuguese Water Dogs!

Stop the presses! The Obamas are adopting a Portuguese Water Dog in April. Here at Happy Dog Land, we couldn't be more excited about the news!!

We certainly know a lot about Porties here in Happy Dog Land.  Billy has shared his life with two: Gabriel and now Zeke.  Billy rescued Zeke in a non-traditional manner.  Zeke did not come from a shelter, although we highly recommend shelters and rescues whenever possible! Zeke was re-homed from a breeder. Zeke is a carrier of the gene for a hereditary disease common to Porties and, therefore, he couldn't be used as a stud or a show dog. To Billy, all this was irrelevant -- all that mattered was that it was love at first sight! So, Billy brought Zeke home and, along with Arthur (Billy's Cocker Spaniel), made Zeke one of the family.  Zeke went from kennel to bed without batting and eye.

Billy has cared for hundreds of Porties over the last 15 years, has won many grooming competitions with Porties and often lectures about grooming Porties. Every week, about a dozen Porties visit Billy's shop.

Although we'll have to wait until April to meet the First Portie, here are some examples of this beautiful breed. These pooches are Billy's clients.

From the left: A plethera of Porties (front row) Moby Dick, Jesse, Chewbacca (middle row) Daisy, Zeke,and K.B. Back row: Keela.; Moby Dick in a Lion Cut, wavy-whirley coated Chewbacca, Moby Dick doing an early Beatles impression.

From the left: Jesse showing off his wavy with texture coat, curly coated Zeke and wavy coated Keela.

All photographs by: Michael Vistia, Vistia Designs

Who will be the First Dog? A variety of rescue options.

President-elect Obama announced this weekend that the choice for First Dog is now between a Labradoodle and a Portuguese Water Dog. Here at Happy Dog Land, we're rooting for the Portie in honor of Billy's dog Zeke and his previous Portie pooch Gabriel.

Regardless of the Obama family's choice, we hope that they rescue their new pooch and set an example for the rest of the world. After all, the eyes of the world are upon our new President, and his doggy decisions will mean a lot to millions of dogs across the country and around the world.

If you want to rescue a dog, you're not limited to traditional animal shelters and rescues, although they're a good place to start. Nowadays, many shelters (even city pounds) have purebred and designer dogs waiting for a new home as a result of the economic crisis.

If, like the Obamas, you want a specific breed, start with Petfinder which is a clearinghouse for over 12,000 shelters, rescues, veterinarians and private people helping dogs in need. Jill adopted Shadow, her purebred Miniature Poodle, from Small Dog Adoption in Plantation, FL after finding him through a breed specific search on Petfinder.

In addition, there are loads of breed specific rescues, that can help direct you to reputable breeders who have retired show dogs and other dogs that are not up to show dog snuff. Although not in a shelter, these breeder rejects are in need of good homes too and, of course, make wonderful pets. Billy rescued Arthur from a breeder who had retired him from the show ring. Before Billy, Arthur spent the first 15 months of his life in a cage with his hair wrapped in plastic and slathered with gobs of coat conditioner. Once he earned his championship, Arthur was retired. He's much happier now that he sleeps in Billy's bed and is a full-fledged member of the family. Billy also rescued Zeke from a breeder. Zeke is a carrier for a congenital disease that breeders are trying to remove from the Portie gene pool, so he was of no use as as stud or show dog. Lucky for Zeke, Billy didn't care about Zeke's genes and it was love at first sight.

Many good Samaritans, animal hospitals and doggy businesses take in strays and help them find homes too. The possibilities for rescue and adoption are endless.

If you are buying your dog, it's buyer beware. Never buy a dog from a puppy mill or pet store. Last year the Oprah Winfrey Show publicized the horrors of puppy mills. Just because a pet store is "fancy," the owners are "nice," or the little tiny puppies are cute, doesn't mean that they're not supporting the deplorable puppy mill industry. Some breeders are merely puppy mills in disguise. Learn how to avoid supporting puppy mills and recognize responsible breeders.

Photos by Michael Vistia, Vistia Designs