Here is a funny picture from President Obama’s visit to Buckingham Palace. The president came to London with a huge convoy of cars to carry him and his advisers around – plenty of tyres for a dog to pee against, then…. But yesterday the presidential car was parked in the wrong spot at Buck house. It was blocking the route that the Queen’s Corgi use to for their afternoon walk. One of the courtiers, leading four of the Queen’s Corgis, called President Obama’s driver to move the reinforced Cadillac when he found it was blocking the garden entrance. Nice to know the dogs were not forgotten in all the fuss.

The Queen has always had Corgis as pets, but they are not such a popular breed now in the UK as they were some years ago. They are an example of dogs that have been bred with very short legs and a tendency to gain weight. I hope the new Kennel Club rules will help put an end to this practice: for the dogs already suffering, perhaps there will soon be a diet pill that works to make their lives more comfortable.

And what kind of dog will soon be frolicking on the South Lawn? Mrs. Obama says the family is looking for a rescue Portuguese water dog who is “old enough” and a “match” for the family dynamic. I suppose the first trick a Water dog should learn is how to turn on a tap, as long as it isn’t a shower faucet.

“Temperamentally they’re supposed to be pretty good,” she says of the breed that Sen. Ted Kennedy has also lobbied for (he has two Water dogs of his own). “From the size perspective, they’re sort of middle of the road – it’s not small, but it’s not a huge dog. And the folks that we know who own them have raved about them. So that’s where we’re leaning.”

The name is still the subject of family discussion, with some strong backing for personal choices. But they are not revealing very much – apparently Frank was one dog name that had some backing. Over here in the UK, naming your dog with a ‘human’ name is quite popular. Our dog, of course, was named Kevin, and my brother’s dog is called Charlie. Kevin had canine friends including Louis, Jack, Toby Gracie and Lola – obviously Lola’s family are fans of the Kinks! I hope the Obamas will choose a name they love: maybe Jumble, like the beloved pet of William Brown in the Just William books.

A dog breed that I have always found attractive and amiable is the Cocker Spaniel, My brother had a Cocker Spaniel crossbreed and this dog – Charlie – was a fantastic, energetic pet. There were problems with his socialisation, though: he was apt to snap at children, especially if they passed by his front gate.  I also met a Cocker Spaniel owner whose black Cocker puppy bit her in an unprovoked attack!  So I was surprised to see the breed described as follows:

• Conveniently sized and athletic
• Has a pretty feathered coat in a variety of colors
• Is lively and playful, with a tail-wagging nature
• Is usually polite with everyone
• Is peaceful with other pets

For me, the jury is out on their expected temperament. This is also a breed that sheds fur excessively, and I do not want to take on a dog that moults fur again. there is also a health insurance lead concern with this breed – they suffer from serious eye problems.

The Welsh Terrier is another breed of dog that I am considering for adoption. They are handsome black and tan dogs with a wiry coat, and a life expectancy of up to 12 years. The look of this breed is quite similar to the Wire Haired Fox Terrier, but the Welsh Terrier has a slightly more placid temperament. They are more easily trained to socialise well with other dogs, and can learn to refrain from chasing everything that moves! Welsh Terriers do not need excessive grooming, although clipping a few times a year will help keep their handsome lines. In appearance they are a kind of compact form of the Airedale Terrier, which is a breed that I would find too large.

There are no particular health problems associated with the Welsh Terrier breed. They are all round good performance parts, in fact. There are fewer Welsh Terriers available from the dog rescue charities around here but I remain hopeful.

Welsh Terrier Club Rescue
Mr T Spencer, Wakefield, Yorks. Tel: 01924 210517

One of the dog breeds that I might look at when the time is right is the Wire Haired Fox terrier. I have fond memories of children’s push-along toys that used this breed as the model! In real life, this is a breed of dog that is sturdy and tough in spite of its small size. The Wirehaired Fox Terrier does not shed a lot of hair, but the Smooth Haired Fox Terrier loses lots of fur.  To me the smooth coated Fox Terrier (pictured below) is much less attractive. Also, after experiencing Kev’s exuberant moulting all over the house I would prefer to find a dog that sheds a little less. That is easy to say in advance, but of course if you fall in love with a dog at first sight all those considerations fly out of the window!

One thing I need to check about this breed of dog is the famous terrier temperament. In common with other terriers the characteristics that can be challenging are:
- lively, bossy, stubborn, impulsive and keen to chase and bark.

These dogs need plenty of stimulation and exercise,needing regular opportunities to let off steam.  Recall can be a problem as they forget everything else when there is something to chase, so many Wire Haired Fox Terriers need to be kept on an extending lead when they go out.

With such an inquisitive and energetic breed, high fences are another must – but it is a bad idea to leave them – or any dog, in fact – unattended in the garden.

Thia is a fairly long lived breed, often reaching the age of 14 as long as they receive pet supplements and a good diet.  There are plenty of rescue centres here in the UK, specialising in rehoming Wire Haired Fox Terriers.

If the Obamas do decide to adopt a Portuguese Water dog this spring, the new pet has an exciting life to look forward to. There will always be someone willing to walk him – if Malia and Sasha are busy doing their homework there are dozens of staff on hand who will be only too pleased to take the First Dog for a walk.  This breed appears to be favourite after advice from Ted Kennedy, who has two Portuguese Water Dogs of his own and he thinks they sould be well adapted to life in the Oval Office.  these are not a breed of dog likely to climb on the stereo cabinet or misbehave in other ways, so they can be trusted when disinguished visitors are in the building.