Ending months of intense speculation and secrecy over the type of family dog that the Obamas would get for the White House, they have settled on a six-month-old Portuguese water dog provided by Senator Ted Kennedy.

The dog – which the Obama's two young daughters have named Bo – charmed the family at a secret meeting at the White House a few weeks ago, according to the Washington Post.

The shaggy breed was always a strong contender as Malia Obama, 10, suffers from allergies.

Portuguese water dogs, which do not shed so much hair, are said to be less aggravating to people with allergies.

Mr Kennedy is a big fan of Portuguese water dogs and owns three himself. His wife, Victoria, chatted about their virtues in frequent phone calls with Michelle Obama, said White House sources.

According to some reports, Bo was originally named Charlie and comes from the same stock as the Kennedy dogs.

The puppy had been living with another family but it didn't work out and the Kennedys got him for the Obamas.

Throughout the day on Saturday, celebrity websites and bloggers were abuzz with rumors of the first family's selection of a Portuguese water dog; one site even claimed it had pictures of the future first pet.

The president had embraced the frenzy: "Oh, man, now, that's top secret," Obama joked on Friday to reporters.

President Obama said he promised a puppy to his two children during the election campaign.

Officials would not say when the dog would actually take up residence at the White House.

The children chose the name because their cousins have a cat called Bo and because their mother's father was nicknamed Diddley.