Could Obama Give Us a "First Schnauzer?"

I can think of many reasons to hope that Barack Obama wins the presidential election in November.

But here is maybe the best reason of all: If Obama wins, the country could have a "First Schnauzer" in the White House.

Obama has promised his two daughters that, once the campaign is over, they can get a dog. The Obama girls have allergies, so the American Kennel Club has offered to help by suggesting several hypoallergenic breeds. The AKC is even conducting a survey, at presidentialpup.com, where folks can vote on their favorite dog for the Obama family. You have until August 19 vote, and you can cast your ballot at this Web page.

The candidates are the bichon frise, Chinese crested, miniature schnauzer, poodle, and soft-coated Wheaten terrier.

Now, management here at Legal Schnauzer is fond of all of these dogs, not to mention most other breeds and, of course, the wonderful "Heinz 57" mixed breed. But you can probably guess which dog will get our vote.

We even know about the challenge of getting a pet when you have an allergy sufferer in the family. One reason we focused on a schnauzer is that my wife has allergies, and the schnauzer features limited shedding. (Actually, my wife's allergies must not be too bad when it comes to animals; she has no problems now with our Siamese cats.) Getting our miniature schnauzer Murphy (1993-2004) was the best decision we've ever made.

I can think of nothing better to signal that our nation is recovering from the disastrous Bush years than to have a schnauzer in the White House. Nothing can give a house a can-do spirit quite like the presence of a miniature schnauzer. And having a schnauzer show up regularly with the First Family on television would do wonders for our nation's battered psyche.

Here's how the AKC describes the schnauzer:

The Miniature Schnauzer
The Miniature Schnauzer — Schnauzers also come in three sizes (although unlike the Poodle, each size is considered a separate breed). The Miniature Schnauzer is the most popular of the three breeds and is an active, alert dog who loves to be the center of the household. This versatile breed makes a sturdy playmate for kids, is highly intelligent and an excellent watchdog (qualifying him for Secret Service duties perhaps?). Additional information for those considering a Miniature Schnauzer can be found online at http://www.akc.org/breeds/miniature_schnauzer/puppy.cfm

That part about being the center of the household is right on target. And talk about security. They would be perfect for Secret Service duty.

Please go to the AKC site and vote for the candidate of your choice.