AID=/20090124/NEWS/901230221&tc=email_newsletter’, ‘Tuscaloosa Labradoodle campaigning to be ‘First Dog”, ‘NEWS’, ”, ”, ‘January 24, 2009′, $(’email_from’). Since Obama told George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “This Week” that the First Family had narrowed their choices for “First Dog” to a Labradoodle or a Portuguese water dog, the competition to provide the much-anticipated pet has been on. Labradoodles are typically expensive dogs, and it is rare for them to show up at shelters, said Betty Freeman, a board member of the West Alabama Humane Society. The Obamas have focused their search on Labradoodles and Portuguese water dogs because older daughter Malia is allergic and those breeds are considered more hypoallergenic than other dogs, said Freeman. While the Portuguese water dog is listed as one of 11 hypoallergenic dogs recognized by the American Kennel Club, Labradoodles are not reliably allergy-friendly, according to the organization’s Web site. De Nicolas said it would be great if Obama came to the organization seeking his new dog, and added that the Humane Society could bring dogs to the Obamas.

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