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Sunny (dog)

Sunny
Sunny and Bo.jpg
Bo (left) and Sunny (right) in 2013
Other name(s) First Dog
Species Canis lupus familiaris
Breed Portuguese Water Dog
Sex Female
Born (2012-06-11) June 11, 2012 (age 5)
Lansing, Michigan, United States
Nation from United States
Known for Pet of the First Family of the United States (first dog)
Owner Obama family
Appearance Black
Named after Personality

Sunny (born June 11, 2012) is a pet dog of the Obama family, the former First Family of the United States. Sunny is a female Portuguese Water Dog, who has been called the younger sister of Bo, who held the title of First Dog of the United States. Sunny was introduced via First Lady Michelle Obama's Twitter account on August 19, 2013.

The Portuguese Water Dog is originally from the Algarve region of Portugal. Only 48 Portuguese Water Dogs were entered for Britain's Crufts competition in 2009 and the author of The New Complete Portuguese Water Dog, Kitty Braund, believes there are about 50,000 in North America. Due to its fleecy coat of non-shedding hair (instead of fur), the Portuguese Water Dog is considered a hypoallergenic dog breed.

Portuguese water dogs are super swimmers, or superior seafarers, because they have webbed toes. The breed was important to fishers along the coast of Portugal as a companion and guard dog.

Lisa Peterson, spokesperson for the American Kennel Club (AKC), stated, "The Portuguese water dog is historically a working dog, a fisherman's accompaniment. When you think of their history with fishermen, they were a team – that's the environment they thrive in."

The breed was almost pushed to extinction toward the end of the nineteenth century until , a wealthy Portuguese businessman, became interested in saving the breed in the 1930s.

Thirty years later the breed reached the United States, where they became classified in the Working Group. (recognized by the American Kennel Club)

According to American Kennel Club, the dogs do jobs such as guard dog, pulling sleds, and rescuing people and things from water – they are mostly family friendly.

"People who love Portuguese water dogs say they are like potato chips, you can't have just one. That bubbly, happy personality is the whole package. The beautiful coat, the trainability, the need for a job. They're just adorable", according to Lisa Peterson.


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