American Humane Association Offers the First Family Tips on New Presidential Puppy

A Portuguese Water Dog Like 'Bo' Could Be the Pet for You, But Do Your Research First And Consider Adopting From a Shelter

DENVER, April 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bo Diddley, a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog, has arrived at the White House, and the American Humane Association offers some tips to the first family about what to expect and how to raise a well-behaved and happy "first dog." With the high number of dogs in animal shelters and breed rescue groups throughout the U.S. waiting for homes, American Humane hopes the addition of a dog to the first family will encourage others to consider adopting a dog of their own.

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Understanding the Breed

The best first step in raising any dog is to understand its breed(s). Whether a purebred or a mixed-breed dog, they each carry common traits specific to their breed(s).

The Obamas can expect a medium-sized dog that is smart, easy to train and good with children. They can also expect to go through a fair number of dog chews, as puppy Portuguese water dogs are known for chewing.

Referred to as the Cao de Agua (dog of water) in its native Portugal, they are water lovers, even divers, and have the ability to swim all day. The Obama daughters will have great fun with their new puppy if they give him the daily exercise and obedience training he needs.

Common Puppy Problems and Tips

Jumping Up and Pawing - Puppies jump up to seek your attention. If you allow your puppy to jump up, he will want to do the same thing when he is a larger, adult dog.

Tip: The best response is to turn and walk away without saying anything. This tells your dog, "when you jump up I will ignore you." When your pup next approaches you, make him sit before he has the opportunity to jump up, and then reward and praise him for sitting. By making him sit for attention, food and play time, you are telling your dog, "When all four of your paws are on the floor, you'll get what you want."

Problem: Playing Too Rough - When you play physical games with your puppy, such as "play fighting," you are teaching him that hands and arms are fun things to chew on - leading to bad behaviors when he is an adult dog.

Tip: Use toys as play objects and have your puppy learn to fetch them when thrown. Exercise your dog with games and walks, not wrestling. Dogs need to be taught to be gentle when their mouth and teeth come in contact with a human. If a puppy bites down on your hand a little too hard, you should "yelp" very loudly, turn and walk away. This will teach him that if he bites a human too hard, he will lose his playmate.

Problem: Destructive Behavior - A puppy is unable to use his paws to pick up items, so he resorts to chewing on them instead. Chewing is a natural behavior for a puppy, so it is important to direct him to chew on safe items which only you provide to him.

Tip: Until your puppy is older, and you can trust him not to be destructive, you should never leave him unattended or eventually he will destroy something important. Crate training can help keep your puppy out of trouble, meaning that you can head off destructive behavior before it even starts. Never scold your puppy after the fact if he chews on or damages an item when you leave him alone or unattended. You must catch him in the act of chewing to change his behavior. A good stern "No chew!" or "Leave it!" is an adequate punishment if you caught him in the act. Make him sit, praise the sit and then give him something that he is allowed to chew on. Providing a supply of safe items to chew on is the key to preventing destructive behavior.

Before Bringing Home a New Pup

Many "first dogs" have influenced the breed that Americans choose as pets. History indicates the popularity of the Obamas' dog will lead to an increase in Portuguese water dogs as pets. Unfortunately, many of them might soon be surrendered to shelters and breed rescue groups nationwide as some families find out this particular breed may not be the right fit for their lifestyle. Similar upticks in animal acquisitions were common after dog-centric movies such as Beethoven, 101 Dalmatians and Beverly Hills Chihuahua. American Humane urges prospective pet parents to research breeds and consult shelter and breed rescue groups, to find a dog that best suits their family's lifestyle. Many times, a mixed-breed dog will make a great choice.

SOURCE American Humane Association