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.