With President Obama revealing that their new pet dog will be a Portuguese Water Dog, Sainsburys Bank predicts that there will be a surge in demand for this particular breed of dog .
"Celebrity" pet choices have a history of influencing people's decisions. The number of Chihuahuas insured by Sainsbury's Pet Insurance increased by a massive 417 per cent between 2006 and 2008 and the Bank believes this was greatly influenced by an increasing number of celebrities owning such dogs, including Cheryl Cole, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears .
As with any pedigree, potential owners should consider the financial implications of owning a Portuguese Water Dog and take out pet insurance as early as possible. Neal Devine, Sainsburys Pet Insurance Manager, said: "We advise against being guided by fashion trends when purchasing a dog and instead urge people to understand the physical, mental and financial needs of a particular breed first. Generally speaking, the cost of looking after a pedigree animal is more expensive than for a crossbreed."




