Sharon Theimer, AP
April 2009
Trend-seekers beware: If you think it would be great to pick up a puppy like the Obama family's new Portuguese water dog (PWD), think again.
Bo
The dog's breeder, Martha Stern of Boyd, Texas, says they aren't for everyone. Stern says they tend to be high-energy "in-your-face" dogs. And, she says their curly coats require a lot of maintenance.
Stern worries that puppy mills will try to capitalize on the first family's dog choice and start churning out PWDs for an eager public. She told the AP in an interview Monday that it's the responsibility of good Portuguese water dog breeders to try to prevent that.