Former President Barack Obama took to social media Wednesday to grieve the loss of a notable White House alum: Sunny, his family’s female Portuguese Water Dog and First Dog of the United States.
“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 a social media post on X.
“We also had trouble keeping up with her, for Sunny was a force of nature. Athletic and full of boundless energy, she leapt over the hedges on the South Lawn like they weren’t even there, chasing squirrels, birds and anything else that moved.”
Bo, also a Portuguese Water Dog, joined the Obama White House in spring of 2009 after the former president promised his daughters a dog, regardless of whether he won his first presidential bid. Bo passed away in 2021. Sunny joined the White House as the second First Dog of the United States in August of 2013.
Obama's canine obituary also included a few gentle jibes at his departed friend.
"She was a loud and sloppy drinker," he wrote, "and despite being a Portuguese Water Dog, she hated getting wet."
These issues aside, the president said the Obamas had no complaints.
“As far as our family was concerned, she was pretty much perfect, and for thirteen years, she would be by our side — always loyal, always sweet, always ready for adventure, still fiery and gorgeous till the very end of her days,” Obama continued.
“We will miss her terribly, and imagine she’s with her big brother now, making sure he’s okay.”
Yesterday, we lost a cherished member of our family.
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. We also had trouble keeping up with her, for Sunny was a force of nature. Athletic and… pic.twitter.com/UBHQILb4BG
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 16, 2026