Bo (dog)
Official White House portrait of the First Dog, 2009 | |
| Other name(s) | First Dog of the United States Charlie (by previous owner) |
|---|---|
| Species | Canis familiaris |
| Breed | Portuguese Water Dog |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | Amigo's New Hope October 9, 2008 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | May 8, 2021 (aged 12) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Cause of death | Cancer |
| Known for | Pet of the Obama family |
| Training | Dawn Sylvia (Hume, Virginia) Can sit, present paw/shake, lie down, roll over, get off, wait |
| Title | First Dog of the United States |
| Term | April 14, 2009 – January 20, 2017 |
| Predecessor | Barney and Miss Beazley |
| Successor | Champ and Major |
| Owner | Obama family |
| Parent(s) | Dam: Penny (Amigo's Phor What Its Worth) (Boyd, Texas) Sire: Watson (Valkyrie's Dr. Watson Is Here) (Ambridge, Pennsylvania) Breeder: Julie Parker |
| Appearance | Tuxedo/black and white |
| Named after | Obama girls' cousins' pet cat and Bo Diddley |
Bo (October 9, 2008 – May 8, 2021) was a pet dog of the Obama family, the first family of the United States from 2009 until 2017. President Barack Obama and his family were given the male Portuguese Water Dog as a gift after months of speculation about the breed and identity of their future pet. The final choice was made in part because elder daughter Malia's allergies dictated a need for a hypoallergenic breed. Bo was occasionally called "First Dog". In August 2013, Bo was joined by Sunny, a female dog of the same breed.
Bo was named by sisters Malia and Sasha after their cousins' cat, First Lady Michelle Obama's father, and as a reference to the R&B musician Bo Diddley. Bo's name was also Barack Obama's initials.