While campaigning to be president, Barack Obama made a serious, binding agreement with his young daughters, Sasha and Malia [1]: if he won the election, he'd buy them a dog. Luckily for them (and us [2]), it happened. During his victory speech in 2008, he conceded that they'd "earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House," and they were soon gifted with a Portuguese Water Dog by Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who owns several dogs of the same breed himself. They named him Bo and ended up adopting his nearly identical sister Sunny in 2013.
The playful dogs have popped up in plenty of photos with Barack, Michelle, Sasha, and Malia [3] over the years, whether tugging their owners across the lawn during walks or casually leading the president through a Petco. In honor of their last few days in the White House [4], we've rounded up the family's most touching moments with their beloved pets.
Six-month-old Bo took Malia, Barack, and Sasha for a jog around the South Lawn of the White House in 2009.
Call the NFL, because POTUS has a talented wide Retriever on his hands (haha, sorry).
Look at how little Sasha was! She, Barack, and Malia gave Bo (rocking a colorful lei, naturally) some love in 2009.
Michelle broke out her best touchdown dance with a bunch of pint-size Puppy Bowl coaches in 2014 [6] as Bo looked on.
The president squatted down with Bo outside of the Oval Office in 2012.
So spoiled! Bo got all of the attention while Sasha and Malia waited for their dad's return to the White House in 2009.
Bo made his grand entrance with the family during the Annual Easter Egg Roll in 2010.
Apparently dogs get just as scared of Santa as little kids do. While reading Christmas stories at the Children's National Medical Center in 2009, Bo would not stop barking at the man dressed as Santa, which resulted in this adorable photo of Michelle, Sasha, and Malia all trying to quiet him.
President Obama decided to treat Bo to an early Christmas present during their Petco trip in Alexandria, VA. The pair wasn't able to be as incognito as Michelle has in the past [7], but it looks like they got the VIP treatment from one of the store's employees.
Bo even made a friend!
Sunny went in for a celebratory lick while Michelle tried to film a birthday video.
White House photographer Pete Souza snapped this iconic image of Barack running down the hall with Bo in 2009.
Ready for your close-up, Bo? He greeted the press for the first time in 2009 outside of the White House.
Talk about a warm reception! After returning from a trip to Ohio and Pennsylvania, the president was greeted by Sasha, Malia, and a very eager Bo.
Bo made sure the first lady's lap was kept warm while she chatted with kids at the Children's National Medical Center in 2012.
Bo, clearly a fan of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, attempted to steal the mic away from Michelle as she read at the 2011 White House Easter Egg Roll.
Barack went for a quick jog with Bo around the South Lawn in 2009.
Bo and Sunny entertained little kids while FLOTUS spoke to them at a White House holiday event in 2015.
Bo looked overjoyed while playing with his new human in 2009.
Receiving the official White House Christmas tree is a big deal, so Bo and Sunny came along to supervise Michelle and her nephews, Austin and Aaron Robinson [8], in 2016.
Who needs sneakers? Bo had both Barack and Michelle trailing after him in their work clothes in 2010.
Cutest lunch break ever?
The Annual Easter Egg Roll wouldn't be nearly as fun without the dogs, who showed up to mingle with 30,000 attendees in 2014.
The family's 2015 portrait is adorable, for two very fluffy reasons.