Portuguese water dog "Bo" to be U.S. first pet

　　The first family has settled on a first pet — a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog that the Obama girls are naming Bo.

　　The selection was one of the White House's most tightly kept secrets.

　　U.S. President Barack Obama's daughters, 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha, picked a black and white pup, a White House official speaking on the condition of anonymity told The Associated Press Saturday night.

　　The dog is a gift from Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., who owns several Portuguese water dogs himself.

　　"We couldnt be happier to see the joy that Bo is bringing to Malia and Sasha," Kennedy said in a statement. "We love our Portuguese water dogs and know that the girls — and their parents — will love theirs, too."

　　The Washington Post reported in its online editions Saturday night that Obama's daughters chose the name Bo for the pup because first lady Michelle Obama's father was nicknamed Diddley. The name for the dog was an apparent reference to the singer "Bo" Diddley.

　　White House aides told the AP that the office of the first lady arranged an exclusive deal on the dog story with the Post. The officials, who demanded anonymity because of the deal with the Post on exclusive details, said the dog was not in the White House as of Saturday evening.

　　Throughout the day Saturday, celebrity Web sites and bloggers were abuzz with rumors of the first family's selection of a Portuguese water dog; one site even claimed it had pictures of the future first pet.

　　The president had embraced the frenzy: "Oh, man, now, that's top secret," Obama joked Friday to reporters.

　　Obama promised his daughters a puppy during the campaign.

　　"This is Washington. That was a campaign promise," Obama said when he appeared on Jay Leno's talk show last month, as the audience roared with laughter. "No, I'm teasing. The dog will be there shortly."

　　The president and first lady had said their choice was down to either a Portuguese water dog or a Labradoodle because they were considered good pets for children who have allergies, as Malia does.

　　美国第一家庭已经选定1只葡萄牙水犬作为家庭新成员，这样奥巴马总统就兑现了几个月前他对2个女儿的承诺。

　　据《华盛顿邮报》12日报道，这只葡萄牙水犬6个月大，身上大部分毛是黑色的，只有胸部、爪子和胡子是白色的。它是第一家庭的密友、民主党参议员爱德华·肯尼迪送给10岁的马莉娅和7岁的萨沙的。

　　报道说，马莉娅和萨沙已经给这只小狗取名叫“波”，而“波”深得第一家庭的喜爱，它有良好的卫生习惯，不随地大小便，不啃家具，因为它在肯尼迪家的驯狗师那里受到了良好的训练。报道说，白宫计划在14日下午让宠物狗正式亮相。奥巴马日前曾把宠物狗的亮相时间笑称为“高级机密”，并暗示它即将与大众见面。

　　美国第一家庭的宠物向来是美国公众关注的一个焦点。据报道，最早在白宫喂养宠物狗的总统是1923年当选的卡尔文·库利奇。此后，每位美国总统都会在白宫喂养至少1只宠物狗。