"They seem to have narrowed it down to a Labradoodle or a Portuguese water hound," said President-elect Barack Obama during an interview ABC’s program This Week.

Since the result of the presidential elections, the Obamas have been trying to decide the breed of the first dog. Although a final decision hasn’t been made yet, Obama’s daughters - Sasha and Malia - asked the show’s host, George Stephanopoulos, to also ask their father what kind of a dog are they getting and when will that happen.

As the name suggests, the Labradoodle is a mix of Labrador retriever and a poodle. The breed, which is a designer breeder, is not recognized by the American Kennel Club and it’s considered almost heretical. On the other hand, the Portuguese water dog is pedigreed and, as the AKC put it, is known for centuries along Portugal's coast.

Obama said laughing that deciding what breed will be the first dog was tougher than finding a commerce secretary. He most likely referred to the withdrawal of his first pick, Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico.

Both the Labradoodle and the Portuguese water dog made into to the “final” because these breeds are hypoallergenic, which means it would reduce Malia Obama’s allergy to dogs, and also because they have big Democratic backers.

The Obama family is currently looking for a dog in the shelters in the Washington area. The American Kennel Club and the Humane Society of the United States offered the President-elect their support.

The initial list of breeds the Obamas were considering also included: Poodles, Bichon fries, Maltese, Schnauzers, Westies and Scottish terriers.