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Poll: Americans prefer a mutt for Obamas

Associated Press

Published January 14, 2009 at 9:21 a.m.
Updated January 14, 2009 at 9:21 a.m.

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WASHINGTON — Mr. President-elect, the votes are in: American pet owners prefer a mutt in the White House.

By more than a 2-1 margin, pet owners say the Obamas should choose a mutt for their first dog over a purebred, according to an Associated Press-Petside.com poll released today. People who don't have pets mostly don't care either way.

"Let's get philosophical about it: We're kind of a country of mutts," said Steve Minor, 54, of Knightdale, N.C. "I think he'd set an example if he got a dog from a shelter that needed a home."

Obama said over the weekend that the family is choosing between two breeds: a Labradoodle (a cross between a poodle and a Labrador) and a Portuguese water dog, the kind owned by Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.

Obama has indicated the family likes the idea of rescuing a shelter dog, but 10-year-old Malia is allergic and most shelter dogs are, as the president-elect put it, "mutts like me."

Both the Labradoodle and the Portuguese water dog are low-shedding breeds.

The survey, conducted by GfK, also found more than half of pet owners and 43 percent of all Americans said it was important to them that the Obamas adopt their dog from an animal shelter.

Michelle Zabrucki, of Tampa, Fla., considers buying a purebred dog akin to wearing $200 jeans or carrying the latest designer bag.

"The purebred dogs, it's become like a status symbol and it's ridiculous, especially with all the dogs they destroy every year," she said. "The strays are just as wonderful and just as loving and they don't cost $800 apiece."

Pet owners showed a stronger preference for mutts than did all adults, 33 percent of whom said they'd prefer a mutt. Twenty-three percent of all adults preferred a purebred and 38 percent said it didn't matter. About six in 10 Americans own pets.

Robert DeNoyelles of Cortes Lakes, Ariz., adopted two kittens himself and feels that a shelter is the way to go.

"I feel strongly about adopting pets to prevent them from being killed and dying out here in the wilderness," said DeNoyelles, 63. "They're animals, they're almost like humans."

The preference for a mutt cut across party lines, though Democrats feel more strongly about it than Republicans. Among all Democrats, 38 percent say the dog should be a mutt, compared with 32 percent of all Republicans.

Republicans are more likely to say they don't care about the question, 42 percent, than Democrats, 33 percent.

Past presidential pooches have included many purebreds, including incumbent Scottish terriers Barney and Miss Beazley.

But Obama's hero, Abraham Lincoln, had a mixed-breed dog named Fido who didn't make the trip to the White House. Lyndon B. Johnson also had a mutt, Yuki, named for the Japanese word for snow.

"Johnson's daughter Luci found the dog at a gas station in Texas on Thanksgiving Day in 1966. Yuki became Johnson's favorite pet," said Cathy Trost, exhibits chief at the Newseum, which has an exhibit on first dogs.

Of course, purebreds have their backers, and not just because knowing the breed makes it easier to predict how the dogs will affect Malia's allergies.

"If it was me, I would get a purebred. I think they're just better dogs," said Anthony Madrigal, 19, of Schererville, Ind. "I would love to get a Husky, but I can't afford it."

But many Americans figure there are bigger issues for Obama to worry about. Pat Schoff, 55, of Baltimore, has a miniature pinscher herself but says different choices work for different people.

"I guess in all reality, a dog's a dog," she said.

Barbara Hamilton of Franklin, Ind., says she likes the idea of the Obamas taking in a shelter dog. But the lifelong Republican who voted for Obama says she would forgive him if he didn't.

"Of all the decisions that he has to make, maybe it's better to let the girls make that decision," said Hamilton, 76.

The AP-Petside.com poll was conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media from Dec. 3-8 and involved landline and cell phone interviews with 1,000 randomly chosen adults and an oversample of 1,129 pet owners.

The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points for all adults and plus or minus 2.9 percentage points for pet owners.

Petside.com is a Web site with information and advertisements about pets and pet products.

Comments

  • January 14, 2009

    9:41 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    leavemealone writes:

    How about a lap dog for the mother-in-law.

  • January 14, 2009

    9:57 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    davies writes:

    Just please don't let Congress have a role in selecting the dog; otherwise it will end up mutilated from all the earmarks they try to put on it.

  • January 14, 2009

    9:58 a.m.

    mt writes:

    (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

  • January 14, 2009

    10:07 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    conniesz writes:

    If you want a non-shedding dog - you need to get a purebred. If you want to know anything about the dog's medical history - you need to get a purebred. If you want a dog with a specific personality - you need to get a purebred. If you want to take part in any AKC dog events - you need to get a purebred.

    Mutts can be wonderful companions - this is true. But there are lots of things you cannot know about a mutt which may influence the dog's behaviour and health.

    A purebred from a reputable breeder (not a pet store or puppy mill) gives you the best chance of being able to get exactly the type of dog you want.

    I hope the Obamas get the dog they want and not the dog some other people want them to get.

  • January 14, 2009

    10:12 a.m.

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    chickenlittle1234 writes:

    geez, mt, I'm not sure how you think Michelle Obama is a dog, but hey, different opinions of beauty, I suppose.

    davies - your post is going to be a hard one to beat - thanks for the laugh!

  • January 14, 2009

    10:13 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    INC writes:

    mt,
    that was uncalled for.

    or were you projecting your familial mistakes?

  • January 14, 2009

    12:28 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Motormouth writes:

    mt, you are an idiot and obiviously blind. I would love to see what you look like, chances are you're probably butt ugly! Any bets??

  • January 14, 2009

    12:29 p.m.

    T1anda writes:

    (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

  • January 14, 2009

    12:45 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Triumph writes:

    I think the Obama's should be able to buy any registered pure bred dog that their kids aren't allergic to no matter what it costs. It is their personal choice and money. Why should the feel obligated to go to an animal shelter to get a mutt just to please the people who work at these animal shelters.

    Most of the dogs in these shelters already have bad habits and other problems or as a rule they wouldn't be in there in the first place. Even if the previous owner couldn't afford to keep them for whatever reason, that is not the Obama's responsibility. Should the they decide to want to breed their pet they would be unable to since shelter dogs are either spayed or neutered.

    They should have a one owner pet they can raise from a puppy to adulthood.

  • January 14, 2009

    12:47 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    INC writes:

    T1anda,
    Just like me.

    I bet you have hip-displasia from your inbreeding...

  • January 14, 2009

    1:02 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    COLibertarian writes:

    Supercharger

    I have to disagree with your statement on Pound puppies and rescue dogs. We have had purebreds forever and Yes they are great great dogs. However the best dog we have is a Rescue dog from the pound. In the wrong hands I could see where she would be a nightmare, but with training, love and boundaries, she is by far the best dog I have ever had. We have another Pound puppy and he is currently a challenge but well on his way to being a great dog. Other than a rescue situation with a purebred, it will be Rescue dogs only for us. But To Each Their Own.

    Dont live in the past. Live in the moment with your pets. Everyone will be much happier moving forward.

  • January 14, 2009

    1:28 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Triumph writes:

    CoLib

    I understand what you are saying. That is a persons choice if they want to take the time to work with these dogs and break them of these bad habits and problems. I have found a couple dogs on the street when I was a kid that turned out to be better dogs than some of the pure breeds I have owned. Conniesz also pointed out the advantages of owning a pure bred.

    My argument is that the Obama's should be able to choose a pure bred dog and not to be pressured or made to feel guilty into adopting a shelter dog. Freedom and not public opinion or what is important to the animal shelters is what is important in this country.

  • January 14, 2009

    1:37 p.m.

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    Smitty writes:

    I understand when it is said that some dogs look like their owners but I doubt it has anything to do with whether the dog is purebred or not. I've always considered myself a Heinz person (57 Varieties) given my heritage and, I suppose, one could make a case for Obama choosing a pound puppy given he also is a Heinz. (He's not a purebred Black/African American. Go ask his dear mother.) I've had great success with both purebred and pound puppies. Let the man and his family make whatever choice they desire without judgement.

  • January 14, 2009

    1:44 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    COLibertarian writes:

    SuperCharger

    I agree on the choice and freedoms of. Hence the "But to each their own"

    I guess I took exception to the negative points to mutts that have been posted in the name of purebreds. Just wanting to throw out their benefits also.......not for the Obamas but for those reading that may be looking for a dog........... Yes the decision should be made by the individual or family so that the best pet / human relationship can be achieved........ Dammit Super....making me sound all mushy :-)

  • January 14, 2009

    1:46 p.m.

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    sweetater writes:

    They are not mutts !!! Designer Dogs people !!! Puppy Power !!
    I would like to see everyone rescue animals.
    Obama also said they were looking and speaking with The Laberdoodle Rescue

  • January 14, 2009

    2:15 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jersey writes:

    I really do wish the RMN would refrain from printing articles such as this because all it does is speed up the re-emergence of the SNAKES such as MT and T-Zero-lander. They never miss a chance to SLITHER towards each and every opportunity to expose their venom!

  • January 14, 2009

    2:28 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jjez writes:

    Why are they only now getting a pet? Is there some prerequisite that says there must be a first-dog (or cat)? If the kid is allergic, why put her through the misery? I found out I'm allergic to cats only after I already had 3 of them. I kept them. I didn't fob them off on someone else just because I had a problem. But I've had chronic sinus problems the entire time. Even had to have surgery because of it. BUT, I still have one cat because I took on the responsibility. My real point is that the kid is going to suffer from her allergies so why get the pet? Just because it's expected of the first family to have one? I'm sure there were plenty of them who haven't had pets.

  • January 14, 2009

    2:56 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Squatch writes:

    Crazy part is somebody actually funds these dumb polls.