Since this is a dog blog, a couple of times a month our boy Bo (woof!) thought it would be nice to get the news through a dog’s eyes.

Bo invites everyone to read a chapter from his upcoming book BAD TO THE BONE due out early October. It’s a funny memoir about the crazy adventures we have shared together over the last 14 plus years, told through Bo’s eyes.

Okay Bo, take it from here….

I need to get something off my chest that’s been bothering me the past several months. To some it may sound immature and petty, but to me it’s taken the joy out of my afternoon naps.

What is the deal with President Obama naming his dog after me? Why my name? It ain’t cool Mr. President.

Let me set the record straight so everybody understands, there’s only room for three Bo’s in this world; Bo Diddley, Bo Jackson and Bo Hoefinger. That’s it. No others need apply.

If you want to be a Bo, you can’t be. Membership is closed. Oh sure, you can be a Beau or a Bow, but you can’t be a Bo.

Got it? Good.

Oh, and don’t even think about using an Executive Order to get your way.

I feel so much better now. So here’s a story from the Detroit Free Press about Beau, the presidential pooch (ahh that looks better already, doesn’t it?).

WASHINGTON – He has torn through magazines and stray socks, even sunk his teeth into the president’s gym shoes. Charm school taught him to sit, heel and shake a paw on command. He spent his first summer vacation on breezy Martha’s Vineyard.

That’s just a scoop of the poop on Bo’s[sic] first few months as First Dog of the United States.

… At least one dog trainer wishes the Obamas would use him to highlight such issues as animal overpopulation.

Another option, says celebrity pet trainer Andrea Arden, of New York’s Andrea Arden Dog Training, would be for the Obamas to become involved with programs that teach children to treat pets humanely, or to get Bo[sic] involved with work as a therapy dog.

“I like it better than Bo[sic] writing a book,” she said.

I hear you sister. There’s only room for one awesome book by a dog named Bo, and it’s called Bad to the Bone! Make sure to pre-order your copy today!

The funniest dog blog, written by a dog, on the internet. Commentary on the latest animal news stories of the day.

(L.A. Times) Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, wrote today that Kennedy was “a stalwart ally over the years on a wide range of legislation to protect companion animals, farm animals, animals in research and wildlife,” adding that the senator from Massachusetts was instrumental in the passage of animal welfare legislation including laws that cracked down on dogfighting and cockfighting, protected horses and other farm animals, and sent chimpanzees once used in medical research to sanctuaries.

The two pups closest to his heart were his own Portuguese water dogs, Sunny and Splash. His dogs were the impetus behind his book “My Senator and Me: A Dog’s Eye View of Washington, D.C.,” which introduces young kids to the political process. The book is told through Splash’s viewpoint, making it both a fun and informative read for children.

Even if Sen. Kennedy’s political viewpoint differed from your own, and you didn’t respect him as either a man or politician,  he diligently fought for the rights of animals.  For that, we should be grateful.

*Pic courtesy Steven Senne / Associated Press

The economy, bailouts, foreclosures – all need to take a back seat right now as did you witness as I did the trouble at the White House?

Obama Bo is pulling all the weight literally dragging our Commander-n-Chief and First Family across the lawn.

I heard Bo had been at puppy boot-camp, so what happened?

Alright, so the Obama family is a pup themselves when it comes to dog leadership. So we need to help the First Family get a grip on Bo while the President has the lead on the nation.

So let’s put the kids in charge! That’s what Oscar Winner Marcia Gay Harden did with her daughter, Eulala, for their dogs even though they have a tête-à-tête on whether she’s resentful.

The girls first command for Bo is to teach him sit, down, and off.

What would you like Bo to learn? Let me know as we’ll continue the sessions for Bo!

Sheryl Matthys, The Dog Expert, helps you learn what your relationship with your dog can teach you about yourself, and how that knowledge makes your human relationships more successful – in life, with friends, family, associates, and in love! As creator of Leashes and Lovers online social community, a certified dog trainer with a psychology degree and master’s in Radio/TV, Sheryl’s doled out advice to thousands of dog lovers.

If you can’t see the video, click here.

Yesterday I posted on the Obamas decision to get a Portuguese Water Dog rather than a rescue.  We received many comments with  varying viewpoints.

I do want to clear up one point, I agree the decision of what kind of dog a person gets and  where they get it is a personal one. However, when President, then Senator, Obama made the decision to announce at a public news conference that the family was looking at shelters it changes everything. Their private decision was no longer private, they invited the public in.

“We’re going to adopt a dog, I think,” Michelle Obama told Entertainment Tonight on September 30, 2008.

“A rescue dog,” said then-Sen. Obama.

That being said, it is great to have a dog in the White House.  Hopefully having a dog around will inspire President Obama to look into the important animal welfare issues that seem to have fallen by the wayside and put them back in the forefront.

The other issue to keep in mind is the concern the Portuguese Water Dog will go the way of the Labrador or the Dalmatian.  When a breed becomes popular due to  books, movies, or celebrities, people decide they want one too. Unfortunately it’s usually without much thought about what goes into taking care of the breed. Or even if the breed will fit their lifestyle.

So it’s a pretty good bet that more people will want to make the Obamas’ new pet their new family pet after all the hoopla and news coverage over Bo. You look at that cute black puffball in the rainbow lei and think, “I want one!” But hold up, wait a minute. What looks cute, awesome and placid in picture form, is actually a really energetic breed (although still cute and awesome).

So we asked an expert to give us a Portuguese water dog reality check, to talk us down from making any hasty decisions. Diane Keppen, a veteran Annapolis breeder of Portuguese Water Dogs, happily agreed to help us out.

“Many of my friends who are breeders are very concerned about the fact that this wonderful breed will go the way of the Dalmatian,” she says. “Like all the wonderful breeds that become popular, some people think ‘look at that cute little dog on TV’ … and don’t realize that this dog likes to greet you with a body slam.”

Keppen says that last part jokingly, but there is some truth to the quip.

“They are a working breed, very athletic, very high energy,” she says. “They need to work, and they need to have something to do, or they will find some thing to do, which may not be what you had in mind.”

Portuguese Water Dogs can be very expensive, more than $2000, they take a huge time commitment, daily grooming, a lot of training and need plenty of exercise. This is not the dog for everyone. Look at what happened eleven years ago with Dalmatians. A staggering number of Dalmatians were purchased and abandoned following the release of Disney’s 101 Dalmatians.

What about when Marley, everyone’s favorite lab, became famous. Labs were already America’s favorite dog, standing at the top of the AKC’s list of most popular dogs for 10 years, now even more people wanted one. As a result, there are many Labradors available for adoption. Adding to the problem are the puppy mill owners looking for a quick buck, flooding the market with cute lab pups who will carry the breed’s genetic problems.

Regardless of where you get a dog, it is a lifelong commitment.  It should be a decision that is thoroughly thought through and not a rash decision based on a picture you see of an adorable puppy.

* Pic of puppy River