The White House has been mostly a dog house when it comes to presidential pets.

And President-elect Barack Obama intends to keep it that way.

During the presidential campaign, Mr Obama had promised his daughters a pet no matter the outcome of the election.

"I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House," Mr Obama told Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, during his victory speech in Chicago.

Mr Obama said they were hoping to a adopt a dog from a shelter but that might not be possible.

"We have two criteria that have to be reconciled. One is that Malia is allergic so it has to be hypoallergenic," Mr Obama said.

"But obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me. So whether we're going to be able to balance those two things, I think, is a pressing issue on the Obama household."

President George W Bush's two Scottish terriers, Barney and Miss Beazley, and cat, Willie, currently occupy the residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

The Clintons had Buddy, a chocolate Lab, and Sox, a cat. President Clinton once told reporters the dog curled up with him when his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, wasn't home.

President Richard Nixon's dog, Checkers, is credited with saving his political career.

In 1952, Nixon defended his candidacy for vice president when a story spread that he had a secret slush fund. In a nationally televised address, Nixon did admit to taking one "gift" - his dog.

"The kids love the dog, and we're going to keep it!" an emotional Nixon said in an outburst known to this day as the Checkers speech.

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