Portia, a Portugese Water Dog (just like the President's dog,, lives with Marcie Kindinger and her husband Jerry and is six years old.

The Kindingers got Portia in Abbotsford B.C.

"We have some friends who have two dogs from her breeder, so I was familiar with the breeder and she was going to be their show dog but for financial reasons they had to let her go," Kindinger explained.

"She's my very best friend ever," she said and described Portia's personality as,"Mischevious. She's always thinking of something to do like stealing socks, unpacking your luggage when you're trying to pack, stealing everything that she can possible steal."

Her diet is very simple kibble but does enjoy pumpkin treats for a snack.

She loves the water, "but she can't swim very well. In fact she's kind of allergic to the beach. We live on the beach which is why we got a water dog. She gets hives."

Portia is a people dog, preferring the company of her owners over other dogs by far. "She never leaves my side," said Kindinger.

One of the things she does, is when I'm gardening, she will lie near me and as I'm planting I will turn around and she will have ripped out everything I've planted and shaken all the dirt off it. So she can't be outside with me when I garden because she has her own way of gardening."

Portia has been to obedience school and is normally very obedient. "She will jump over anything," Kindinger said, "and when we're walking on Alki they have all those bulkheads, she will just jump up on every single one of them, by herself and then wait for me to give her a hug."

She can wave, with both paws, sit, stay but does not roll over. "We have a game we play where I will hide something in the house and then she has to go find it. She waits until I come back and she goes to get it."

Her toy preference runs to the unusual (though she has many toys),"She has a wig she stole from my husband. He got it as a Halloween costume and she's decided it's hers. She carries it around and she looks like she has a giant beard."

These dogs look their best when they are well groomed and Kindinger takes Portia to Temple of Groom on California Ave. s.w. and their favorite pet store is Pet Pros in Westwood Town Center.

How to nominate your pet for Pet of the Week:

Want to nominate your pet for Pet of the Week? Stop by the VCA West Seattle Animal Hospital at 5261 California Ave. S.W. and just ask for a form. A nomination is not a guarantee of appearance and your name and photo may appear in our newspaper and online.

Photos may or may not be used and our "Pet Reporter" may be in touch with you to arrange to take a photo. Pets nominated will be chosen on the basis of uniqueness of the pet and the quality of the story and information submitted.