This girl belongs in the oval office!

[BasenjiDiva]

I love that portrait. There is something very compelling about it. The way she is holding her B looks protective and the dog is so alert and curious. The queen looks like she is thinking: "I'll take the time to sit for this portrait only because you are putting my beloved dog in it."

Pat

[Schouiffy]

What an excellent portrait!!!!

[zanybrave]

I sent and email congratulating Obama and suggested that they look at the BRAT website. I actually got a reply with 24 hrs and it wasn't the canned response stating that they were considering all breeds.:)

[sharronhurlbut]

Even tho this is a cute thread, I so hope we never have our basenji breed become a movie dog, or a celeb dog or a white house dog.
Its does the breed no service, as those who are in it for a profit come out of the woodwork.
Just a thought.

[hdolbow]

they definately do have the pet sitter that does all the walking and stuff.. because the presidents dog just bit a reporter while the pet sitter was walking it.. lol not doing such a good job i guess :p

[Rocky1]

I think it would be a mistake to put a basenji in the White House! Every Tom,Dick and Harry would want one!

Kathryn D. Ladick
Jaroufa Hounds

[wizard]

On the other (lighter) hand - a basenji being a basenji would more than likely tear up some stupid executive order before it could be implemented or maybe shred a bad piece of legislation waiting for a signature :). Can you imagine the look on a visiting head-of-state walking into the oval office only to see toilet paper all over the place

[Janneke]

@wizard:

Can you imagine the look on a visiting head-of-state walking into the oval office only to see toilet paper all over the place

[Ninabeana26]

@elena86:

While it would be interesting to have a B in the White House, I think that such exposure would be detrimental to the breed in general. Everybody will be going out to buy the same kind of dog that the Obamas have. The result being more puppy mills and poor breeding. Maybe the Obamas can get a basenji mix.

I agree 100%. My mom joked when she heard about the Obamas needing a hypoallergenic breed that they should get a basenji. Although it would certainly be cool to see a basenji running around with the Obamas, it would only increase popularity. When breeds become more popular they are more in demand & thus…more pups that end up coming from mills or getting left at shelters once people realize that they are crazy. Haha.

Plus, from my own personal experience, basenjis are not hypoallergenic. While they do produce less dander, I would never call them hypoallergenic. My ex was still very allergic to Dallas after getting him...that's why he's an ex now :p Nah, just kidding.

Although I will say, all those important documents, the beautiful antique wood furniture, the 3 Obama girls underwear...any basenji would certainly be in heaven! LOL. I could see it now...international guest walks into White House & sees first dog chewing up undies...HAHAHAH.

[Quercus]

@wizard:

On the other (lighter) hand - a basenji being a basenji would more than likely tear up some stupid executive order before it could be implemented or maybe shred a bad piece of legislation waiting for a signature :). Can you imagine the look on a visiting head-of-state walking into the oval office only to see toilet paper all over the place

Or having a head-of-state set his coffee on the coffee table, and having a B jump up and take a sip

Or having to remodel all of the room so that garbage cans can be safely tucked away

[etzbseder]

Or visitors seeing two little girls running through the halls after their baths being chased by a living towel; that would be so funny.

[Quercus]

Yeah…I don't know about how much additional interest we would get from a B being the first dog...I don't think Scotties' popularity skyrocketed with the Bushes (the second) or Brittany's with Bushes (the first). But I would worry that perhaps the Obamas might not really want a dog that takes as much 'work' as a Basenji. Seems like life will be busy enough for them. And honestly, I don't think most Basenjis would like the life of a presidential dog...ya know...be here for photos shoots, be kind to the dumb reporters, don't chew up the curtains or underwear...no running thru the house, especially during the tours It would make for an AWESOME comic strip, though

[PhocoenaGirl]

Although I am sure that the Obamas would take wonderful care of a basenji, I do agree that such an increase in popularity might not be a great thing for bs in general.

On the other hand…
I can picture the "Presidential petsitter" and maybe some secret service chasing the basenji all over the front lawn to try to get a pair of socks back. Meanwhile, the b is having the time of his/her life waiting until his pursuers get within arm's reach and then dashing off again his/her little curled tail wagging all the way..."Ha ha I've got visiting dignitary socks!"

[snorky998]

LOL…..I was thinking of chewed up crotchless panties under the bed in the Lincoln Bedroom and the logistics of policing 35 bathrooms for gnawed on feminine products:D

[wizard]

Just picture … visiting dignitaries are having a fancy dinner and here comes the basenji ... woohoo

And just think what could happen when the presidential basenji finds the white house christmas tree and the giant gingerbread house ... double woohoo

[Vicki]

The Queen of the Netherlands is elegant and her Basenji adds to her charm. I love the portrait.

I would not want to see Basenjis in the White House. I worry about the breed and would hate to see it exploited.

One of my pet sitting clients told me about a movie "Good-bye my Lady"
(1955) featuring a Basenji. He told me not to watch it because I'd cry my eyes out. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049271/

[Ninabeana26]

@snorky998:

LOL…..I was thinking of chewed up crotchless panties under the bed in the Lincoln Bedroom and the logistics of policing 35 bathrooms for gnawed on feminine products:D

Hahahaha. I can just see it all now…

[Buana]

@Janneke:

I thought exactly the same..

But.. I think I mentioned this before in another thread: Our former queen had a basenji

And there she is! Z'hara was she called i believe?
If I have to explain wich breed I own, I say often, like our queen did years ago..
But only the older people respont to that as "oooowww yes I know, a little not barking dog!"

A mix would be good for the white house, but no pure bred… just because there are so many people who buy a dog just for having the same as him...
And a basenji? thats not a dog for everyone....