News that a Portuguese Water Dog will become the First Canine of the United States is thrilling lovers of the breed in its native land, who say Barack Obama's family couldn't have picked better.

　　"It's been more than 500 years that these dogs have played a part in great moments of humanity," raved Hugo Oliveira of the Association for the Protection of Water Dogs, which champions the poodle-like breed in Portugal.

　　It could be one of ours. Why not?" Carla Peralta, a Water Dog breeder in the southern Algarve region, told the popular 24 Horas daily.

　　Peralta's ***** is expecting puppies at Easter time -- around the period that the Obamas hope to get their dog.

　　Speaking to People magazine this week, First Lady Michelle Obama confirmed that the family is looking to adopt an unwanted Portuguese Water Dog, whose hypoallergenic coat would suit allergy-prone older daughter Malia.

　　"Temperamentally they're supposed to be pretty good," she said. "From the size perspective, they're sort of middle of the road... And the folks that we know who own them have raved about them."

　　With a history going back to pre-Christian times, the Portuguese Water Dog travelled with world with 15th century Portuguese explorers, swimming between ships with its webbed feet.

　　Fishermen meanwhile used them to recover lost nets and guard boats.

　　The breed slipped out of favour during the 20th century until enthusiasts in Portugal and the United States launched a revival -- inspired by the dogs' gentle temperament, particularly with children.

　　日前，“葡萄牙水犬”將成美國第一犬的消息讓葡萄牙的愛犬人士興奮不已，喜愛水犬的葡萄牙人稱，這種狗是奧巴馬一家的最佳選擇。

　　葡萄牙水犬保護協會的雨果·奧利夫自豪地說：“五百多年來，葡萄牙水犬在人類社會的重大時刻都扮演了重要角色。”葡萄牙水犬外表酷似獅子狗。

　　位于葡萄牙南部阿爾加維地區的水犬飼養人卡拉?佩拉爾塔在接受《24小時》日報的采訪時說：“沒準我們的狗能被選中呢，何樂而不為？”

　　佩拉爾塔家的水犬在去年復活節期間懷上了狗崽，恰好這段時間奧巴馬全家表示希望找到一種合適的寵物犬。

　　第一夫人米歇爾?奧巴馬上周接受《人物》雜志采訪時說，他們希望收養一只被遺棄的葡萄牙水犬，因為這種犬的皮毛屬于低敏感性，比較適合容易過敏的大女兒瑪麗亞。

　　米歇爾說：“葡萄牙水犬性情溫順，從體型大小看也很適中，我們認識的養這種狗的朋友都對它們稱贊不已。”

　　葡萄牙水犬的歷史可以追溯到公元前，還曾在15世紀跟隨葡萄牙的探險家們周游世界，它們雙腳帶蹼，常在船只間游來游去。

　　此外，當地漁民還利用水犬尋回遺失的漁具和保衛船只。

　　葡萄牙水犬在二十世紀一度失寵，直到葡萄牙和美國的愛犬人士對它們再度推崇--這主要是因為水犬性情溫順，對小孩尤其如此。