Ruff Choice: Prez's Pet Pick Down To Two

The Obama family apparently has narrowed down its choice of a First Dog to either a Portuguese water hound or Labradoodle.

The new president promised daughters Sasha and Malia a puppy in the White House, a choice somewhat complicated by the fact Malia has allergies and would need to have a "hypoallergenic" pooch.

The water hound and Labradoodle could not be more different.

The Portuguese breed dates back to the 1200s and worked on boats with fishermen. Senator Ted Kennedy has helped make them famous and his two water dogs are constant companions of he and wife Victoria.

The Labradoodle, on the other hand, is a relatively new dog whose crossbreeding between a Labrador and a poodle goes back only to the 1980s.

Obama has said that finding a dog has been "tougher than finding a Commerce secretary."

While both breeds are not shedders, they are droolers.