NEW YORK — It’s nothing against the Obamas. But some Portuguese water dog owners aren’t thrilled the breed is a front-runner for the first family.

The choice could mean a spike in the dogs’ popularity — and that could mean a rise in shady breeders and fickle owners who don’t understand the dogs and eventually abandon them, owners of Portuguese water dogs say.

“There’s always the danger of something like that,” said Stu Freeman, president of the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America. “It’s ’101 Dalmatians’ syndrome.”

After that movie came out, “everyone thought, ’aren’t they cute,”’ ran out and bought the dogs and found out they were not quite as adorable as the ones in the movie, Freeman said.

First lady Michelle Obama told People magazine that the family is looking to rescue a Portuguese water dog in April, though her press secretary said Thursday that the decision isn’t final. President Barack Obama had also mentioned a Labradoodle as an appealing choice.

“Obviously they have their favorites that the president and first lady have outlined before — with of course the Portuguese water dog being a top contender — but there hasn’t been a selection yet,” Katie McCormick Lelyveld said.

Portuguese water dogs were bred centuries ago to help fishermen along the Portugal coast, working as couriers, retrieving nets and diving for fish.

Even before the Obamas, the dogs’ star was rising — Sen. Ted Kennedy has two.

In 1998, the breed ranked 82nd in popularity, according to American Kennel Club registration statistics. Ten years later, they were ranked 62nd.

Elena Gretch, a dog trainer and owner of two Portuguese water dogs, attributes some of that to the fact that the dog is good for allergy sufferers. Malia Obama, 10, has allergies.

Michelle Obama also praised the dogs’ personality and size in the People magazine interview.

“Temperamentally they’re supposed to be pretty good,” Mrs. Obama said. “From the size perspective, they’re sort of middle of the road — it’s not small, but it’s not a huge dog. And the folks that we know who own them have raved about them. So that’s where we’re leaning.”

Gretch worries that if the Obamas choose the breed, puppy mills will sprout up. The dogs cost $1,800 to $2,500 and aren’t as common as other popular breeds. They’re prone to hip dysplasia, so finding a good breeder is important, she said, and the dogs don’t often end up in shelters for adoption.

The dogs also require a lot of attention, grooming and outdoor exercise. “It’s agile, it’s a great swimmer, it loves to be outdoors,” said Gretch, founder of the pet care and training service It’s A Dog’s Life in New York City.

But Portuguese water dogs are usually not great for first time dog owners, said Freeman, because it takes experience to train them.

“These are dogs that if you don’t keep them busy, they will be busy and do something you don’t want them to do,” he said.

Steve Brooks, a dog trainer who works with celebrities, said he’s already training more Labradors, which may be the result of Marley & Me.

After 101 Dalmatians, the shelter where Daphna Nachminovitch worked was flooded with Dalmatians. Parents broke down and bought the puppies, she said. As the puppies got older and harder to manage, the kids lost interest and the dogs ended up in shelters.

The Obamas have said they plan to adopt from a shelter, something Nachminovitch, now vice president of cruelty investigations for PETA, hopes others will keep in mind.

“With the way the economy is now, animal shelters are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of abandoned animals. It’s certainly not a time to make more dogs,” she said. “We have plenty of dogs in animal shelters who need a home.”

The Obama family is nearing a decision on the breed for the first dog.

Before President-elect Barack Obama began his interview on the ABC program This Week, which was broadcast Sunday, his daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, asked the host, George Stephanopoulos, to slip in this question: “What kind of a dog are we getting, and when are we getting it?”

When asked, Obama laughed, “They seem to have narrowed it down to a Labradoodle or a Portuguese water hound,” he said, adding that the next step is to canvass shelters.

“We’re closing in on it,” he said. “This has been tougher than finding a commerce secretary,” a reference to the recent withdrawal by Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico as his original selection for that post.

Both breeds, chosen to reduce Malia’s allergy to dogs, have powerful Democratic backers. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts owns two Portuguese water dogs, Sunny and Splash, which frequently flank him as he walks through the halls of the Capitol. Vice President-elect Joe Biden meanwhile, has a Labradoodle (part Labrador retriever, part poodle) named Brother.

Fulfilling his promise to get a dog is just one of the personal decisions that Obama and his family face as they settle into Washington.

Obama said the family planned to visit a number of churches to choose one where they were comfortable. Several predominantly black churches are eager to lure the Obamas; they include, most notably, Metropolitan AME Church, which is six blocks from the White House and where Bill Clinton twice attended inaugural prayer services. One family matter that appears to be going well is the Obama girls’ transition to their new school, Sidwell Friends.

“They seemed to thrive,” Obama said in the interview of their first week at the private school. “I’m trying to figure out why it is that they don’t seem to be fazed by anything.

”People think — you know, folks think I’m cool. They are a lot cooler than I am. They just don’t seem to be intimidated.“

Dressed as Chi-Obama, Bonbon, a Chihuahua, is held up by his owner Ada Nieves of New York (unseen) as he poses for a photograph during the fourth annual Times Square Dog Day Masquerade on Sunday in New York’s Times Square. The canine costume contest, in which Bonbon was named “Miss Congeniality”, was held to raise awareness for Animal Haven’s Adopt-A-Pet program.(Photos by AP)

ST. PETERSBURG TIMES

This isn’t a political diatribe. It’s just our way of saying be original if you decide your dog needs to sport a Halloween costume.

Sure, you can buy a pre-made outfit at Target (we loved the purple monkey and K9 officer costumes there). And in fact, at least 7 percent of dog owners in a 2007 survey said they had bought a Halloween costume for their dogs, according to a pet retailer trade group.

But you don’t want to be one of the pack, do you? Here are ideas to help you be top dog at any pet costume contest you enter.

• Doggie Bowser, M.D. Go retro this year with a nod to the ’80s TV series that introduced us to Neil Patrick Harris. Get a play doctor’s kit, then create a doggie scrub suit with baby or toddler T-shirts that allow you to stencil or hand-letter the name of your hospital and doctor on the chest and back. Suggested name: General Horsepital.
• Amy Winehound. Create a nasty mop of hair with a piece of steel wool (or something similarly ludicrous), throw in a ’60s-inspired scarf to create the chanteuse’s throwback look, then add in a chain with a shot glass dangling from it and you’ve got yourself a doozy of a boozie.
• Pup Hogan. Let’s face it, brother, this costume is going to be wayyy out of style next year, so milk it now. Get yourself a tiny tie-dyed bandanna, add a heavy metal rock band or Ed Hardy T-shirt look and garnish with a gnarly mustache made out of yellow yarn . Bonus points if you can figure out a way to have a constantly present entourage and camera crew for the reality series that never ends.
• Tiger Woofs. The world’s top golfer is easy to emulate. Think red and black and intimidating for the ensemble. Then create a doggie wallet that features a Nike swoosh on the outside and contains an American Express card, a set of Buick keys and a Gatorade paycheck. Extra credit for a splint on any leg.
• Michael Yelps. Everyone’s favorite Olympic swimmer should really be reserved for the swimming breeds like Labs, golden (ha!) retrievers and the occasional water spaniel. Create some faux gold medals, add some Doggles and finish it off with a rubber cap that you create from a large black balloon (don’t forget the ear slits).
• Sarah Talin’. Let’s face it, her pit bull comment begged for a Pavlovian response of a costume. But why not turn the tables and make your Boo Bear look like her instead of, well, you know that phrase. Visit any craft store to buy doll supplies, then channel Tina Fey, and voila!
• Bararf Obama. The fairness dog-trine requires that we give you a Democratic response. This one’s easy, though. Just get a plain toddler T-shirt and print out one of those Obama logos that looks like a sun of some sort. Add the words: Dogs for chains! (Uh, change!)

Going the easy route? Okay, we get that you don’t have time, so here are the top pet costumes of 2008:

1. Pumpkin
2. Devil
3. Witch
4. Princess
5. Hot dog
6. Superman
7. Bee
8. Bow ties/fancy collars, etc.
9. Ghost
10. Black cat
11. Angel

David Mare displays a Turkish Angora at the Sixth Annual Iams Cat Championship on Saturday in New York. (AP Photo)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — Barack Obama and John McCain will attend a New York cat show this weekend — Obama the Bombay cat and McCain the American Shorthair, that is.

The two felines are vying for the title of “Purr-fect President” at the Cat Fanciers’ Association-IAMS 2008 championship that opens Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

More than 40 breeds are represented among the several hundred competing animals. The top title goes for “Best in Show.”

In addition, hundreds of other kittens and cats will be available for adoption.

This year’s show also features a rescued New Jersey shelter cat and member of the Iams Trained Cats that perform Olympic-style tricks.