Sunny, Barack Obama's Portuguese water dog at the White House, dies at 13
Former US President Barack Obama announced on Wednesday that Sunny, the family's 13-year-old Portuguese water dog who lived in the White House during his second term, died on Tuesday.
Sunny's arrival and life at the White House
Former US President Barack Obama announced on social media on Wednesday that the family dog Sunny died on Tuesday at the age of 13. The black Portuguese water dog entered the executive mansion in August 2013 at the start of Obama's second term, when she was approximately one year old. She was introduced to provide company for Bo, the family's first Portuguese water dog, who had lived with the Obamas since 2009. Obama had previously promised his daughters, Sasha and Malia, a puppy following his election victory, and Sunny quickly settled into life across the residence with Barack, Michelle, and the children. In a 2013 interview, Obama joked that the family needed an addition who would always celebrate whenever someone walked through the door.
We got Sunny at the start of our second term in the White House, and all of us - including our first dog, Bo - immediately fell in love.
Character, quirks and South Lawn antics
Obama described Sunny as an athletic pet and a force of nature who possessed virtually inexhaustible energy. On the South Lawn of the White House, she routinely cleared garden hedges and chased birds and squirrels across the perimeter. She bonded closely with Malia and Sasha, tolerating their interruptions during her naps, and often followed staff around the West Wing during their daily duties. Sunny was fiercely protective of Bo, having sensed that her older companion was not always as alert or observant. Despite her Portuguese water dog lineage, she hated getting wet, drank water noisily and messily, and preferred humans to other dogs. Former photos released by the family showed Sunny greeting visitors, including Pope Francis, during formal White House engagements.
- Bo joins the Obama family during their first year in the White House.
- Sunny arrives at the White House as a companion for Bo.
- Sunny and Bo depart the White House and continue living with the Obamas.
- Bo dies at the age of 12 after living with the family for over a decade.
- Sunny dies at the age of 13.
Presidential pet lineage in Washington
Sunny lived with the Obama family for 13 years, continuing her life with them after they vacated the White House in January 2017. Her passing comes five years after the loss of Bo, who died in 2021 at the age of 12. Both animals formed part of a long-standing tradition of White House pets, in line with Harry S. Truman's advice to acquire a dog if one wanted a friend in Washington. George H.W. Bush owned an English springer spaniel named Millie, who was credited as the author of a bestselling book. Bill Clinton kept a chocolate Labrador retriever named Buddy, while George W. Bush's Scottish terrier Barney had a dedicated website and recorded South Lawn footage via a collar camera. Lyndon B. Johnson drew public outrage after lifting his beagle Him by the ears before photographers, whereas Donald Trump kept no pets in office and Joe Biden later lived with two dogs and a cat.
We will miss her terribly, and imagine she's with her big brother now, making sure he's okay.
