10 Things to Know About Bo: The Obama Family's First Puppy

"Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House," then President-Elect Obama promised in his victory speech on election night. After many months of anticipation, the First Family will soon receive the "First Puppy," a six-month-old Portuguese water dog they've named Bo.

Here are 10 things to know about Bo:

1. The new pooch is a gift to Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, from Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy, who has three "porties" of his own. "We love our Portuguese water dogs and know that the girls--and their parents--will love theirs, too," Kennedy said in a statement. His newest puppy is Bo's brother.

2. Portuguese water dogs once existed along Portugal's coast, where they were trained to herd fish into fishermen's nets.

3. Bo, an expensive pure-breed, is mostly black with tufts of white hair on its chest, a white goatee, and white paws.

4. Porties tend to be quiet dogs, but will warn their owners when the home is approached, and will communicate their desires vocally.

5. The name Bo comes from two places: The Obama girls have a cousin with a cat named Bo, and first lady Michelle Obama's father was nicknamed Diddley, after the famous singer.

6. Seems like Bo is already an obedient and loyal puppy: "When the president of the United States got up and walked across the room," says Washington Post reporter Manuel Roig Franzia, "the dog, clearly having a very good understanding of who rules in this town, got up and followed the president!"

7. Bo won't aggravate Malias's allergies; porties have a single-layered coat that does not shed.

8. The puppy has been trained in good behavior from the Kennedy's dog trainers at an undisclosed location outside Washington; Bo made no toilet errors and did not gnaw on the furniture. Porties are easily trained in obedience and agility skills.

9. Portuguese water dogs are known to be independent, intelligent, and loving. They enjoy being petted and are friendly to strangers.

10. Senator Kennedy said the breed is a "perfect fit for the Obama Family" as the dogs have a "can-do and hopeful spirit."