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Choosing the Right Pet: A Greyhound for Obama?

10-30-08chair2.jpgOne of our own AT:Chicago bloggers, Sarah, adopted Otto, a retired racing greyhound, this year. Otto is part of the family and from what we hear, a lovely addition to the household. It seems that there is some strong lobbying going on for the Obamas to consider adopting one of these guys as the new White House pet....

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...we just read this piece at Huffington Post that offers up all kinds of reasons why a greyhound would be a good choice.

According to the writer of the piece, Kira Craft:

  • they are sweet companions
  • they are low-key family pets
  • her greyhound has never aggravated her allergies (as opposed to our new dog, Beatrix, who caused a family friend to have a total allergic meltdown - obviously she is NOT hypoallergenic)

    And, our personal favorite reason...

  • you are supposed to get a dog that "looks like you"...case in point:

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    By Gary Varvel - 2007

    Check out the entire piece right here at Huffington Post.

    Just in case you are also considering adopting a pet, here are some of Sarah's posts about life with Otto:
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    Comments (34)

    Kudos to Sarah on her choice of Otto as a furry friend! We've had five greyhounds (never more than two at a time) and they have all been sweet, funny, affectionate, beautiful and laid back. Otto looks like a lovebug. I would love to see a greyhound running around the White House lawn but I'm just happy to see greyhounds getting some press.

    posted by SaraInAustin on December 8th 2008 at 10:11pm
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    Ok, a blogger got a greyhound. We can see how this automatically relates Apartment Therapy to the president elect. ??? What is this blog about again?

    posted by K T G on December 8th 2008 at 10:41pm
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    KTG, if you don't want to read a post, skip it.

    It's their blog, they can post what they like in it. It's not like this is some high and mighty magazine you're paying for every bloody month.

    There, now that that's said.

    I work with a greyhound rescue from time to time called League of Extraordinary Greyhounds. They're Canada-based but work with greyhound rescues in New England fairly often.

    From what I've seen of the greyhounds, they make wonderful pets and are very loving, very gentle dogs. While I'm a sheltie girl at heart, greyhounds are definitely up there on the list of favoured breeds.

    posted by SputnikSpak on December 8th 2008 at 10:48pm
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    free expression?

    posted by Vicadin on December 9th 2008 at 12:20am
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    Greyhounds are wonderful family members and wouldn't stir up allergies. In the early 70s I adopted a former rading greyound and her six days-old litter. Blossom and her lurchers (Brit's name for greyhound mixes) remaine with me all their lives.

    My only objection to the Obamas adopting a greyhound or any identifiable dog is that it would inevitably lead to a demand and breeders would quickly start churning them out. While shelters still kill the "surplus" of homeless animals, any breeding just adds to the death toll.

    I truly hope the Obamas get a shelter mutt -- like Barack so charmingly compared to himself -- and one whose heritage is so foggy there won't be an attempt to breed replica First Dogs.

    posted by holland on December 9th 2008 at 12:45am
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    racing

    not rading

    posted by holland on December 9th 2008 at 12:46am
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    Greyhounds are just amazing sweet wonderful couch potatoes*
    *except for like, 30 minutes a day!

    posted by chelc on December 9th 2008 at 12:46am
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    Ok I love greyhounds, and I want to adopt one one when we finally buy a house ( since my landlords wont let us get one :(
    BUT, four 2 little kids (and this dog appears to be intended for them) I think they would be sourly disappointed with a greyhound. These people need something the kids can run and tackle and play with. A mutt with some terrier and some lab in it would be perfect, not a greyhound

    posted by Hollie on December 9th 2008 at 2:06am
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    I agree with Holland, if Obama chooses a pedigree, breeders will be churning them out and every fad follower will be buying one ----to keep for a while.....

    I hope they go to a shelter, too.

    posted by sassydo on December 9th 2008 at 7:45am
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    My Pit Bull did not vote for mccain

    posted by dtland on December 9th 2008 at 8:09am
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    I agree its a wonderful choice. I am a Obama supporter and also a dog rescuer, so as both I would love to see the president home a homeless pet - shelters are full of dogs that are allergy free, if people would just walk thru and give them a chance. People who also have allergies build a higher tolerance eventually for dogs more so then people who are straight up allergic to cats. ADOPT A DOG OBAMA!!

    posted by lyla on December 9th 2008 at 8:17am
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    I would encourage anyone to rescue a greyhound. They are lovely dogs, but they may not be rambunctious enough for the kiddies.

    posted by Henrietta the Terrible on December 9th 2008 at 8:29am
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    Is it only a matter of time before adoption agencies start maligning people for having biological children?

    posted by Seaside on December 9th 2008 at 8:47am
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    I almost feel bad for the Obamas, that they can't pick a family pet without the rest of the country chiming in....although I guess you sacrifice your personal life when you run for president!

    That said, adopting a greyhound is a good idea. I myself adopted a great dane a couple years ago....there's nothing better than giving a good home to a pup that needs one!

    posted by highsociety on December 9th 2008 at 9:16am
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    N-thing the sentiment: I hope they rescue a dog from a shelter.

    posted by Splomo on December 9th 2008 at 10:17am
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    Gosh, nice chair! Anyone knows where it's from?

    posted by kine on December 9th 2008 at 10:33am
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    I would hope if they rescued a greyhound and made a point of letting people know its a rescue that the 'followers' would do the same, not go to a breeder...

    I just rescued an Italian greyhound (basically a miniature greyhound) who is also very hypoallergenic. However not a great dog for children as they are somewhat fragile, although they dont seem to know that, plays harder than any dog I have ever had. On an 'apartment' note they are great little dogs for apartment life and had no problems litterbox training mine.

    posted by adamw on December 9th 2008 at 10:38am
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    Janel rocks my socks. I like her posts.

    posted by spiralcma on December 9th 2008 at 10:45am
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    Guess what Mr. Dangerous? Your vote doesn't count.

    posted by Aaron on December 9th 2008 at 10:47am
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    We have two 8 month old whippets (think 30 lb greyhounds). They are my 4 year old's favorite playmates. Most rescue whippets I have met have seemed a bit sensitive (not necessarily the best companions for children), but Pongo loves nothing more than rolling around with other dogs or kids. Penny is a bit of a princess and like a cat retreats when she has had enough.

    Congrats on the new family member.

    posted by 42rocky on December 9th 2008 at 11:08am
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    K T G,

    We know you don't like dogs or kids. But just yesterday you wrote six paragraphs about your cats on another post. If you don't like a topic, move on to the next one. You don't have to comment about everything!

    posted by madsarah on December 9th 2008 at 11:19am
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    "Mr. Dangerous"? You're very dangerous making bitchy, anonymous comments on design blogs, aren't you? You should use a more fitting name, like "Mr. Douche bag."

    posted by steves on December 9th 2008 at 11:34am
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    I like dogs and kids, but I think they're mostly irrelevant at this blog. How about that. I know doggie posts get the clicks.

    posted by K T G on December 9th 2008 at 12:30pm
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    But yet cats are relevant...?

    posted by madsarah on December 9th 2008 at 12:46pm
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    Ok, you got me, I'm a criminal. I posted once about my cat.

    This is a post about look I got a new doggie. Apartment Therapy? There are a lot of times a post is about something but it features a dog and all the comments are ooh lookie the dog. Pardon me. There is no bullshit here. We have a blog where posters are sort of impersonal! Gregory is perhaps the most personal, and Sarahrae. Someone, Janel, got a dog. Attention! Attention! I got a dog. To revert this back to some attractive topic, let's find articles on suggestions the Obamas get the same breed of dog. I'm still looking for the Apartment Therapy instead of the superfluous engagement of fluff politics. This appears to be a plug for clicks and a way for you to get something off your chest about me, madsarah.

    posted by K T G on December 9th 2008 at 1:15pm
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    Methinks some folks don't have enough to do...

    posted by outonalimb_2008 on December 9th 2008 at 1:33pm
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    The problem is that we are both feeding the clicks by responding, because people like to read posts that seem to attract interest. That was really my original point--that if you don't like a subject, just ignore it. I actually agree that there are plenty of pointless posts on this site (especially the "Look!" ones, which are often really dumb).

    Let's be done and move on to something else!

    posted by madsarah on December 9th 2008 at 1:54pm
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    Well, to be fair, it's not a candidate - it's the President-Elect. In the same vein, if AT wants to post about the Bushes using LED Christmas lights this year, that isn't covering "a Republican candidate," that's covering the President. As to whether dogs have a place on a design blog, I'm biased. I would rather read about dogs than ridiculously overpriced hanging lamps any day. Ow wall decals. But admittedly, dogs are somewhat peripheral to the topic at hand. Pets are home-related, if not deign-related, so I give a pass, maybe with a warning.

    posted by pyewacket on December 9th 2008 at 3:51pm
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    This site is about all things home. Pets are certainly a big part of that. The Obamas are moving into a new house and seek a dog that will fit. If readers can't see how this applies to Apartment Therapy, then I don't know what.

    Maybe someone sick of hearing about Obama. Get used to it folks!

    posted by quincyscott on December 9th 2008 at 10:07pm
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    Adopting is a great idea. But c'mon. Obama's not a bad guy, but would it be a sin for people to go a day, just one day, without having to hear about the next event in their lives.... "Headline: Obamas decide to replace old apples in bowl with new ones..." Michelle's newest fashion, Obamas inaguration tuxedo choices, White House decorating decisions, his children going to Sidwell Friends..... give it a rest.

    posted by Volvoguy on December 9th 2008 at 10:15pm
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    @Seaside -- You say:

    "Is it only a matter of time before adoption agencies start maligning people for having biological children?"

    I say: Not a good comparison. There are no homeless children being put to death in the USA.

    Breeding dogs and cats is irresponsible. There was no need to extrapolate that fact to humans, nor was there such an implication.

    posted by holland on December 9th 2008 at 10:15pm
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    K T G--

    At least get your facts straight. Janel is not the one who got the dog.

    And Mr. Dangerous, you just continue to be an ASS, as much as when you used to post as Weasel Dearest. And that name suited you better.

    Janel is actually one of my favorite writers on the blog.

    posted by patrick (the other one) on December 12th 2008 at 2:18pm
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    And to Seaside--

    I think there is merit to that question, actually.

    posted by patrick (the other one) on December 12th 2008 at 2:37pm
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    lol @ the pit bull not voting for mccain...

    mine didn't either. (or my 2 rotts).

    posted by puck on December 31st 2008 at 8:38pm
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