A letter to Bo

Dear Bo:

We are so glad you have a new home. Of course, you are adorable and we think you will make Malia and Sasha very happy. You will be their companion, the furry ball of love that makes them laugh and the companion to whom we hope the girls can turn when life in the limelight gets a little tough.
That's a big job for such a young pup, but we are betting you are up to it. The Web site for the Portugese Water Dog Club of America says you are, "an animal of spirited disposition, self-willed, brave, and very resistant to fatigue. A dog of exceptional intelligence and a loyal companion, it obeys its master with facility and apparent pleasure. It is obedient with those who look after it or with those for whom it works."
Wow. Since you also will love to swim, maybe you will get a dip in the White House pool. We hope so and if we lived there, you most definitely would.
One thing we don't want you to worry about is any bad publicity you might get. Sure, you're not from a shelter, but that does not mean you should not hold your head up high. Purebred dogs need love too. It might make headlines if you have an accident in the house but, hey, accidents happen and you're still a pup.
The one thing we hope you will remember, amid all the fuss about being First Dog, however, is that your biggest job is to be a family dog, not a star.
That means padding in to check on the girls at bedtime and then heading down to the Oval Office to check on the dad if he is working late. He has a lot on his mind and your soft presence at his feet could be just the thing when the literal weight of the world is on his shoulders.
Malia and Sasha's mom also is pretty busy these days and we recommend you don't dig in her new garden.
We also recommend you be ready to greet the girls when they come home from school - nothing says 'we missed you' more than a cold nose and kiss just after you get off the bus.
But once you get the lay of the land, we think all these things will come naturally to you. You're a kid now, but you will grow up fast. You'll stay cute and smart, but we think you will know exactly what to do: Surround the Obamas with love.


Editor's note: For more on whether Bo might or might not know he is First Dog, check out the story: here