No Girls Allowed
Or at least no girly dogs allowed. On Friday, November 29th Barbara Walters’ hosted a special featuring an interview with the Obamas’.
Barbara Walters’ was talking about dogs, she has a non-allergenic terrier, a Havanese named Cha Cha. She showed a picture of her dog and then asked Obama the question everyone wants to know, what kind will he be getting, and he responded he didn’t want a “girly dog”. Clearly referring to Walters’ dog.
“It’s like a little yappy dog?” Obama asked Walters, foolishly ignoring his wife’s advice not to criticize.
“It, like, sits in your lap and things?” queried the skeptical president-elect.
Michelle, still trying to save her husband from himself, pronounced the dog “cute.”
Barack wasn’t buying it. “It sounds kind of like a…a girly dog,” he said, at which point his wife pointed out, “We’re girls. We have a house full of girls.”
Except for the, well, Top Dog, who forthwith issued an executive order. “We’re gonna have a big, rambunctious dog.”
First Obama starts wavering on getting a shelter dog and now he’s insulted little dogs, not the best move. Despite what he feels, some things are better left unsaid. Ruth Marcus, from the washingtonpost.com, has some funny commentary regarding the “no girly dog” comment.
As for you, Mr. President-elect, you might want to be careful. Remember, Hell hath no fury like a girl, or girly dog, scorned. Our bite can be even worse than our yappy little bark.
Give me a bark and let me know how you feel about Obama’s comment.
* Picture courtesy George Burns for ABC news.
It is really insecurity in one’s own sexuality that causes someone to identify anything as “girly”. And as far as toughness, well, my 12 pound rat terrier has claimed alpha dog status over many a larger “manly” dog.
who cares? he was probably just joking around. so what if he wants a bigger dog
as a secure woman with 3 “manly” dogs, I agree with the president-elect. Some people, including myself, just do not enjoy yappy dogs.
Give the guy a break! At least he is keeping his promise to his girls and they will get their dog. Lets hope they find a rescue dog from one of the breeds his daughters allergies aren’t affected.
Who cares if he thinks a dog is “girly”?! I agree, lets just be happy that he is getting a dog and hope he sticks with a shelter dog. I personally can’t blame him. I wouldn’t want to one of the most powerful men in the world and have a “yappy” dog as my companion.
Poor Barbara…she must have felt a bit like her child was being criticized! As the pawrent of both giant breed and small breed dogs, I say that as long as the family is happy with the dog (and the dog is happy with them!) and it’s the right dog for them, they have the right dog! Whatever the choice, their lives will be more complete with four paws and a wagging tail
I have 2 dogs one yappy & one i did not know could even bark till he was almost 2 years old & they are the same breed …. LOL all dogs are different like people are different , i just hope they get the right dog for their family
I’m sure what Obama meant was he wanted a big, noble German Shepherd, like me. Too bad I shed so badly. I guess that’s the price mommy pays for all my nobility. BOL
With Hearth
) and Cooper 
Personally I don’t think his comment is offensive at all. I think it’s actually kind of funny, and I agree with “The Pack’s” Mom. I think some people (like me!) simply prefer more hardy dogs.
It’s not like the man said “Dogs are horrible creatures”………Give him a break! He wants a big dog. Sorry Obama, these two are taken. Besides White House staff probably wouldn’t like Roxy’s trash can raids!
my chi harley didn’t bark until she was one years old.
girly dogs are great !!! : )
Attitudes like his make me cringe. I’ve definately lost some respect to think he can be as little as others with the same opinions.
I thought they were getting a dog for the girls and not for him. What if his daughters want girly dogs? Do they have a say in this?
Huh?
Kenyon: I was a girly dog. I was an arfy dog. I couldn’t yap
Cinnamon: I’m not a girly dog at all. I’m a big rambunctious girl (albeit with short legs), but I yap. Alot.
Hope: I’m not girly at all. I like to sleep right out in the elements like in the freezing rain. If I WOOF once a month, I’ve had a busy month.
KM: All dogs are wonderful in their own right. So what’s the prob? All this fuss because a man put his big foot in his mouth? Ummm…yeah. So what’s the prob?
Wow. No wonder the guy hasn’t held a press conference since early September. Anytime he opens his mouth he shoves his foot in it.
Even if you prefer a larger dog or different breed he should know not to insult a persons furkid.
Biden has been rubbing off on him.
The solution is a small girly dogs for the girls and a male macho large dog for the man. Lets hope they will both be shelter dogs. Nothing gives love like a dog chosen from there. They know and will love you forever. Good luck Mr. President elect and learn to bite your tongue. We all love our little yappers.
who cares what kind or what sex he wants the dog.it might be for his girls but i dont blame him,he is the only male in the house i think i would not only not want a yappy little dog but a big manly dog too.were people insulted because they arent comfortable with they choice of yappy little girly dogs?
bad thing to say to the dog world !!! I have a bichon frise, and i still say they are the greatest all – around dog there is. they are full of energy, esp. as a pup, and they are very intelligent. mine is named SUNNY DELIGHT , she’s 8, and still plays like a puppy a lot. and I;m not the least allergic to her, and I am allergic to all animals and grass, etc. i’d love to see the 2 girls get a bichon.
So Jennifer, are YOU saying that Bichons are yappy, girly dogs?
(sorry, I couldn’t resist…i’m only teasing you)
Since when is it okay to define a dog “girly”. Just because a dog is small, doesn’t equal girly dog. I’ve had big dogs that are yappy and I’ve had small dogs that are yappy. What he did, make a generalization and it’s sad that a president elect would do that. It doesn’t matter what size a dog is, it doesn’t make it a girly dog.
A person must pick the dog that is right for them be it large or small. I didn’t pick my small dog, she picked me and I wouldn’t trade her for a big dog for all the money in the world. I’m sure we make for an interesting sight on our daily walks, a 6′3″ athletic guy with his little dog. What is dissapointing to me is his use of stereotypes, you would think that he would be extra sensitive to how damaging prejudices and stereotypes can be. I also had perceived him as more open minded and not into the whole BS machismo thing, but maybe he just needs to “posture” to be respected by other countries who still hold to archaic male/female roles and beliefs and aren’t as evolved as we are.
I found it cute and funny and not the slightest bit offensive. And it seemed to me that the whole “girly dog/big rambunctious dog” discussion must be a carryover from some teasing amongst the whole family. Since the dog is for the girls, and they, along with Mrs. Obama (and possibly the grandmother), will select and care for it, by definition, it WILL be a “girlydog” whatever the actual dog itself. I’m pretty sure that, as the only male in the female, Pres-Elect Obama has this kind of discussion about many things and is often the “loser”.
sorry I meant to type “as the only male in the family”.
He’ll end up with a yappy big dog labradoodle (a.k.a giant allergen). I had a boss who would bring her bichon to work and it NEVER barked or gave me allergies!
Geeeeeeeeeez, whats with guys and big dogs? My hubby looks hotter while he holds our 3.5 lb Chihuahua!!!!! Maybe its like guys and their cars and their cars as ” ego extensions”.
We also have a big dog, so dont take me wrong I love my Lab!
Jeez, Mr. President-Elect….my pawrents voted for you, and we all love you….but now I might have to bite your butt! *BOL*
I don’t get why he thinks some dogs are “Girly” No dog is particular girly, unless someone treats it like a pampared pooch. I am a chihuahua, I am not treated like a baby, I am treated like a member of the family.
Why was my comment removed? I left a valid comment regarding incorrect information in the article and it had since been removed, yet the inaccuracy remains. Once again, havanese do not belong to the terrier family. Please check your facts before publishing articles, and please do not remove comments that are valid.
Thanks.
I do not have a small dog, but this offends ME! It offends me because I am a dog lover! And it offends me because I am a GIRL! Great job stereotyping small dogs Obama!! Problem is… Obama lovers will not be offended, Now if John McCain had said this…. Stereotyping a small dog as yappy is just like stereotyping a pitbull as aggressive… it doesn’t work. The temperment of a dog is much determined by the way it is trained/treated/raised. While terriers are usually higher energy… some small dogs (french bulldog) are very low energy . What kind of example is Obama going to show the country when he skips on getting a shelter dog and goes straight to the nearest doodle breeder? Please Mr. Obama… if you don’t know enough about dogs to know not to make a comment like this… DON”T GET A DOG AT ALL!!
Thanks for sharing this story Horst!
Hi Christine…The piece in the article about the Havanese being part of the terrier family is from the original article, therefore it wasn’t checked. Thank you for letting me know terrier is incorrect.
people who think little dogs are ‘girly’ or ‘yappy’, just haven’t had the opportunity to get to know us.
we are all dog, regardless of our size.
mr. obama isn’t experienced with dogs; its obvious from all his remarks. if he’s lucky enough to spend some time with one of us small dogs, he’ll be charmed and enlightened.
i still love you mr. obama! bol!