Goldendoodle talked up as first dog

Breed reportedly in running for Obama family

Kathryn and Paul Yamartino walked their goldendoodles, Zuri (from left), Tino, and Kaya, outside their Acton home. There has been talk that 10-year-old Malia Obama put in a bid for a goldendoodle after her father promised a puppy for the White House. (Wendy Maeda/Globe Staff)

It's a key decision for the Obama administration. One misstep can result in seriously bad press. Look what happened this week to Barney, the Bush family's Scottish terrier who's in the doghouse for chomping a reporter's index finger.

Yet as President-elect Barack Obama makes his transition to the White House and fills top positions such as chief of staff, he's been quiet about his inclination in another critical matter: Who will become chief dog of staff, the puppy he promised his daughters in his acceptance speech.

There's been talk that 10-year-old Malia Obama has put in a bid for a goldendoodle, a cute, fluffy crossbreed between a golden retriever and poodle. At his news conference yesterday, Obama dropped a couple of other hints. An Obama dog has to be hypoallergenic, he said, since Malia has allergies. Ever the populist, he said the family was leaning toward a shelter dog, and "a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me."

Goldendoodles became popular in New England about four or five years ago, and in some circles - the purebred ones - they're still considered underdogs.

"The goldendoodle is not a recognized breed," said Patty Bullock vice president of the American Dog Breeders Association, which registers dog breeds with a "verifiable three generation pedigree," according to its website. "A lot of people think they are taking the best traits of each breed. This is an absolute fallacy. . . . They take dogs of two different breeds and breed them together, and it's just a mutt."

Oops.

While the presidential dog slot may not be filled until Christmas at the earliest, the possibility of a goldendoodle in the White House is energizing members of the New England goldendoodle community.

"I think it would be a fabulous dog for the White House," said Judith Peabody, a breeder with Morningshine Doodles of Vermont. "I have come very close to e-mailing the Obama website and offering them one."

Labradors and Portuguese water dogs have also been mentioned as possible first dogs, and lobbying and politicking have begun in earnest. The American Kennel Club, a purebred dog registry, is pushing for a poodle that has "a consistent and predictable coat, [which] is crucial for Obama's daughter and all who suffer from allergies," according to a news release.

In an echo of the presidential campaign, Bullock went after Obama's lack of experience in light of rumors he's considering a goldendoodle. "He's a novice," she said. "He knows nothing about dogs."

One goldendoodle advocate was aghast at the rumor that Portuguese water dogs were in the running.

"They'd be nuts to go with a Portuguese water dog - they're very high strung," said Kathryn Lee, who breeds goldendoodles in southern Rhode Island. Lee, who wrote a book about the dogs called "Goldendoodle," manages a goldendoodle website at www.makewayfordoodles.com, an homage to her late uncle Robert McCloskey, who wrote the children's book "Make Way for Ducklings."

Lee and other goldendoodle owners say it's a perfect dog for Obama. "It has all the lovability and loyalty of a golden retriever and brains and stability of a poodle," said Kathryn Yamartino of Acton, who has three of them.

Goldendoodles are also photogenic. "They seem to smile," said Thom Kidrin of Brookline, who has a goldendoodle named Bella. "Mine does at least, and I've seen others at the [dog] park who have a grin, and the president-elect has a wonderful grin, so it would be consistent."

Owners say goldendoodles are friendly and less likely to bite than the disgraced terrier Barney.

"She's really friendly," Nancy Gondor of Wellesley said of her 17-week-old goldendoodle, Lucy. But can she do tricks? Yes, she can! "We taught her to ring a bell."

But with dogs, as with politics, nothing is forever. Mike Mayo, director of research and development at WGBH, just got an e-mail from his friend Max McConkey in Tucson suggesting he was ready to ship his beloved goldendoodle to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

"Suggested cute doggie for Obama daughters would be goldendoodle," he wrote. "We may offer ours. . . . She chewed up one of Emely's good New Balance sneakers this morning . . . Repair bill for new drip system (Koko pulled out all the underground plastic pipes) was $400. We love her, but this is trying."