Sainsbury's Bank has warned people interested in getting a pedigree dog to make sure they have adequate pet insurance.
The new White House pet, a Portuguese water dog, could spark an interest in the breed - but potential owners should ensure they have adequate pet insurance, according to Sainsbury's Bank.
Barack Obama famously promised his daughters a puppy if he won the election and he has now delivered in the form of the pedigree pooch. Sainsbury's expects an upturn in sales of the breed, similar to the huge increase in Chihuahuas being bought after they were seen with celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Jennifer Lopez.
However, with a pedigree animal comes greater responsibility according to Sainsbury's pet insurance manager Neal Devine. He warned people to "understand the physical, mental and financial needs of a particular breed first" before following the latest pet fashion.
"Taking out good quality pet insurance as early as possible, when the animal is still a puppy, is the best way of making sure that you don't end up facing large vet bills for fees and ongoing treatment costs," he added. "It's important to remember that any condition that arises before a policy is in place will generally be excluded under pre-existing conditions terms."
The issue of pedigree dogs has been the subject of controversy, following a BBC documentary which showed a number of animals which allegedly suffered serious illnesses as a result of their breeding. It led to a number of organisations, including the RSPCA and Pedigree pet foods, to withdraw their support for the world-famous dog show Crufts.
