Portuguese Water Dog Sunny Joined The Obamas In 2013 And Became A Beloved Companion To Bo
The Obama family is mourning the loss of Sunny, the energetic Portuguese Water Dog who spent 13 years with the former first family and became a familiar sight at the White House.
Former President Barack Obama announced Wednesday that Sunny died Tuesday, Sept. 15. She was 13.
Obama remembered Sunny not simply as a former presidential pet, but as “a cherished member of our family” whose personality and boundless energy made her unforgettable.
“We got Sunny at the start of our second term in the White House, and all of us – including our first dog, Bo – immediately fell in love,” Obama wrote in an Instagram tribute.
Sunny Became Part Of The Obama Family At The White House
Sunny joined the Obama family in August 2013 during Obama’s second term as president. She became a companion to Bo, the family’s first Portuguese Water Dog, and the pair were frequently seen around the White House grounds and at family events.
Obama recalled Sunny racing across the South Lawn, leaping over hedges and chasing squirrels and birds.
“She was a force of nature,” he wrote, remembering her as athletic and “full of boundless energy.”
Sunny was especially close to daughters Malia and Sasha and was protective of Bo. Obama said she also became attached to members of the White House team, sometimes following staff members while they worked.
For all her athleticism, Sunny also had a few quirks.
Despite being a Portuguese Water Dog, she reportedly hated getting wet. Obama also remembered her as a loud and messy drinker who generally preferred the company of people over other dogs — with Bo being the notable exception.
Obama Remembers Sunny And Bo
Sunny’s death comes more than five years after the Obama family lost Bo, who died in May 2021 at age 12 following a battle with cancer.
In announcing Sunny’s death, Obama reflected on the bond between the two dogs and imagined the longtime companions together again.
“We will miss her terribly, and imagine she’s with her big brother now, making sure he’s okay,” Obama wrote.
The family has not publicly disclosed a cause of death.
Sunny spent much of her life in the public eye, but Obama’s farewell centered on the quieter moments that made her part of the family — her affection, her energy and the routines that followed the Obamas from the White House into their post-presidential life.
After 13 years, Sunny leaves behind a long trail of family memories and a place alongside Bo in one of the most recognizable chapters of the Obama family’s life.
