White House Pets

Barney (birth name Bernard), born September 30, 2000 in New Jersey, United States, who was often referred to as the "First Dog", is a Scottish Terrier owned by former U.S. President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. Barney had his own official web page which redirected to an extension of the White House website.

Family

Barney's mother, Coors, is owned by former Environmental Protection Agency Director and former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman. The dog's father is known as Kelly. Miss Beazley, the Bushes' other Scottish terrier, is Barney's niece through his half-brother, Clinton.

Interests

Barney is said to enjoy playing with volley and golf balls, and enjoyed observing games of horseshoes. There are various web sites across the Internet devoted to Barney. Most notably, he was the main star of the White House's annual Christmas videos during the Bush administration.

Barney was featured in several films that go by the name of Barneycam and are made by the White House Staff, and star both Barney himself and Miss Beazley, the other presidential canine. These movies can be found on the White House web site.

Media attention

Bob Woodward quotes Bush about Barney

Barney was evoked in a famous Bush quote cited by Bob Woodward about the Iraq War in State of Denial: Bush at War, Part III (ISBN 0743272234) and repeated during a 60 Minutes interview:

Criticism by Karl Rove and Vladimir Putin

White House official Karl Rove remarked shortly after his resignation that Barney was "a lump." Barney has also been criticized by Russian President Vladimir Putin who feels a world leader should own large robust dogs, not smaller breeds such as the Scottish Terrier. At a later date, when Putin introduced Bush to Koni, his black labrador, Putin is reported to have remarked that Koni is "(b)igger, tougher, stronger, faster, meaner, than Barney."

Satires

On November 27, 2006 Barney was featured in an article in satirical newspaper The Onion titled "Troop Morale Boosted By Surprise Visit From First Dog". The article described a fictitious visit by Barney to troops in Iraq.

On December 14, 2006 the Daily Show satirized Barney's Holiday Extravaganza.

Barney was, at one point, satirized in "The Bugle".

Bites

On November 6, 2008, Barney bit Reuters news reporter Jon Decker's finger. Barney had bitten Boston Celtics public relations director Heather Walker on the wrist on September 19, 2008 breaking the skin and drawing blood, but the incident was not reported until after the November 6 bite. Laura Bush's spokesperson joked afterwards that "I think it was his way of saying he was done with the papparazi."

Filmography

Barney has starred in 11 government film productions. His latest, Barney Cam VII: A Red, White and Blue Christmas , is 2008 Christmas video featuring George W. Bush and members of his immediate family, and many American Olympians. In it he dreams of winning several honors for the United States before being woken up by President Bush, who needs Barney's help in preparing for the holidays.

Barney's feature videos:

• Barney Cam VII: A Red, White and Blue Christmas (2008)
• Barney Cam VI: Holiday in the National Parks (2007)
• My Barney Valentine (2007)
• Barney's Holiday Extravaganza (2006)
• A Very Beazley Christmas (2005)
• Barney and Miss Beazley's Spring Garden Tour (2005)
• Barney has found Miss Beazley (2005)
• Where in the White House is Miss Beazley? (2004)
• Barney Reloaded (2003)
• Barney and Spot's Winter Wonderland (2003)
• Barney Cam (2002)

See also

• India – President George W. Bush's cat
• United States presidential pets

References

1. ^ Barneys Biography
2. ^ Welcome to PET
3. ^ Bob Woodward: Bush Misleads On Iraq - CBS 60 Minutes - October 1, 2006
4. ^ "A doggone race", UK Guardian - January 6 2008.
5. ^ http://www.theonion.com/content/node/55694
6. ^ Barney's Holiday Extravaganza from The Daily Show
7. ^ Feller, Ben. Dog bites reporter: Is that news? FOXNews.com
8. ^ Rodrique Ngowi, AP Writer Celtics PR Director Says White House Dog Bit Her
9. ^ "Barneys Home Page". The White House . http://www.whitehouse.gov/barney/barneycam2008.wm.v.html . Retrieved December 31, 2008 .  

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