First Pooch welcomed to White House

Washington

-- TThe First Dog has officially taken up residence at the White House, as the Obama family welcomed "Bo," a 6-month-old Portuguese Water Dog over Easter weekend.

Bo was bred by Art and Martha Stern, long-time breeders who reside near Dallas, and is a littermate of Sen. Ted Kennedy's puppy, Cappy, according to a statement to the press.

"This breed possesses a lot of energy, so without training or a job to do, the dog may entertain itself by running full-speed down the West Wing or barking at Republicans," said Mary Burch, PhD, American Kennel Club S.T.A.R. Puppy and CGC director.

As a purebred, the Portuguese Water Dog has a predictable temperament, activity level and coat type, according to the AKC. They are loyal and loving companions. However, the breed was developed to be a working animal and requires daily vigorous exercise.

Historically, the breed spent most of the day swimming, assisting fisherman by retrieving broken nets, diving for fish and delivering messages between ships, the AKC states.

The AKC ranks the Portuguese Water Dog as the 64th most popular breed in the United States, but says its popularity is likely to rise because of the First Pup.