Presidential pooches?

It seems like everyone has one question on their mind when it comes to the White House these days.

What dog are the Obamas going to get?

OK, maybe that’s not the only burning question facing the Obama family, but it is high on the list of priorities for at least one local family.

For months, President Barack Obama and his family have discussed getting a family dog, and it appears they’ve settled on a breed: the Portuguese Water Dog.

Nancy Wilson-Sedlacek, of Beatrice, is breeder of Portuguese Water Dogs and Chinese Shar Peis.

They don’t come cheap.

“They’re $1,500 to $1,800 for just pet puppies,” Sedlacek said.

They cost much more for show-quality puppies, she said.

But why would anyone spend such a large amount for a pet?

Five years ago, Sedlacek and her son, Trevor, fell in love with a friend’s Water Dogs.

“They’re more fun and flashier,” she said of showing the dog.

Wilson-Sedlacek’s son, Trevor has been showing dogs since he was 4-years-old. His dog of choice is the Water Dog.

“He beat me,” Nancy said of Trevor’s first dog show. “But that’s OK.”

Trevor looks back at a cage full of Chinese Shar-Peis and shakes his head. He prefers to show his curly-haired water dogs.

“They actually have a personality, unlike Shar Peis,” he laughs.

Nancy loves the dogs’ personalities.

“They’re very personable. They’re a real people dog. They are a very well-kept secret,” she said.

So well-kept of a secret, in fact, that the breed is listed at No. 62 on the American Kennel Club’s breed rankings, out of 160 total.

How did the Obamas find out about such a well-kept secret?

“Ted Kennedy has three Portuguese Water Dogs, and actually, a neighbor of theirs in Chicago has two of them,” Sedlacek said.

“They’re very versatile and can do multiple jobs,” she said.

Portuguese Water Dogs were originally bred to help fishermen in Portugal, she said.

They had multiple jobs in those days, ranging from retrieving, to carrying messages to other boats, to herding fish into nets.

“They’re more active than some dogs,” she said.

The dog will fare quite well on the White House South Lawn.

“A big yard is optimal. They need a place to run. They’re not an apartment dog,” she said.

The activity of the young Obama family is also a plus for these dogs.

“They like to stay busy. They like to be worked, they love to walk. You can’t leave them to their own accord for exercise,” she said.

If they don’t want the dog swimming in the White House pool, Sedlacek said they better make regular trips to the ocean or a lake, because water dogs, as their name hints, love to be in the water. They love to swim.

For Malia Obama, 10, it’s important to have a hypoallergenic dog, because she has bad allergies.

Portuguese Water Dogs are one of the very few medium to large-sized breeds that are hypoallergenic. Most hypoallergenic dogs are small or miniature breeds.

Due to this trait, it takes a lot more grooming than a normal dog.

“Some people might find this possibly negative,” she said.

Though they are easy to bathe, the curly-coat water dogs need hand-scissoring. The wavy coats are slightly more simple and require less grooming.

If the Obamas don’t want a show clip, Sedlacek said it can be a lot easier by just shaving the coat down very short, requiring less grooming.

“Most people prefer the curly,” she said. “It looks like a Bischon on steroids. They look so cute.”

The coat, though very curly, is not wiry at all. It’s very soft to the touch.

These dogs are also very intelligent and easy to train, Sedlacek said.

This means that, like all dogs, obedience training is a must.

“I think (the dog) would be fine (as the Obama family dog),” she said. “Especially if Michelle works with a trainer with the girls, and if the girls do the chores and help with the training and do all of the responsibilities,” she said.

Sedlacek uses them regularly as therapy dogs. She and the dogs visit residents at the Beatrice State Developmental Center, hospitals and nursing homes.

Anyone who wants to pet or play with the dog, or even walk it, are welcome to, she said.

When picking out a Portuguese Water Dog, either as a puppy or a rescue dog, there are important things to check out before deciding.

“You want a puppy that isn’t shy. It should be friendly and come to you, wanting to play,” she said.

Other traits should be that it’s not scared or shaking.

“Meet the parents, too. See their personalities and check for health clearances,” she said.

As with any new dog, ask lots of questions, Sedlacek suggests.

These can be any questions that pop in mind, like vaccinations and house-training.

So far, Sedlacek has bred three litters of Portuguese Water Dogs — one per year for the past three years.

As a breeder, she worries what it might mean if this “best kept secret” gets out.

“We’re just waiting for the fallout. The best kept secret is now going to be out. This really worries breeders,” she said.

Breeding Portuguese Water Dogs is a careful process.

Breeders wait until they reach two years of age, or in Sedlacek’s case, once they’re championed.

“There are many healthy tests we have to put them through prior to breeding,” she said.

These tests make sure that the breed stays high quality and that poor traits won’t be passed onto new puppies.

“We’re afraid (new breeders) aren’t going to do this,” she said.

The longevity of a water dog is significant. If these health tests are done prior to breeding, Sedlacek said they can live a full life up to 13 to 15 years.

But above all, Sedlacek hopes the Obamas decide on their dog soon.

“The girls have waited this long. They deserve to get the dog that they want,” she said.