Puppy questions dog Obama

CHICAGO, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Questions asked President-elect Barack Obama weren't limited to weighty issues such as the U.S. economy -- he was also asked about the future first pooch.

"With respect to the dog, this is a major issue," Obama said Friday during a news conference in Chicago. "I think it's generated more interest on our Web site than just about anything."

During his victory Election Night speech Tuesday, Obama told his young daughters Sasha and Malia that he loved them and they "have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House."

The Obamas have two criteria when selecting their four-legged family member. One, the dog must be hypoallergenic because 10-year-old Malia is allergic.

Secondly, "our preference would be to get a shelter dog but, obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me," he said. "So, so whether we're going to be able to balance those two things I think is a pressing issue on the Obama household."