The former president and first lady described their pup as being “athletic,” “full of boundless energy,” and “pretty much perfect.”

Barack and Michelle Obama mourn death of ‘cherished’ family dog Sunny: ‘We will miss her terribly’

The former president and first lady described their pup as being “athletic,” “full of boundless energy,” and “pretty much perfect.”

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and NME.

EW's editorial guidelines

September 16, 2026 10:32 a.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Barack and Michelle Obama. Credit:

Hiroko Masuike - Pool/Getty; Barack Obama/Instagram

- Barack and Michelle Obama have announced their dog, Sunny, has died.

- The former president and first lady described their Portuguese Water Dog as “a cherished member of our family.”

- They added that their entire family “immediately fell in love” with the pup upon getting her.

Barack and Michelle Obama are mourning the loss of their adorable family dog, Sunny.

The former president and first lady of the United States paid tribute to their late Portuguese Water Dog in a poignant joint Instagram post published on Wednesday, sharing snapshots of the pup at the beach and receiving love from the pope.

“Yesterday, we lost a cherished member of our family,” they wrote. “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.”

Barack Obama’s family dog, Sunny.

JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty

The couple described Sunny as a “force of nature” who loved to go for a run.

“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,” they recalled. “And whereas the way to Bo’s heart usually involved a treat, Sunny was more interested in having us run around with her, roll on the floor with her, or have her belly rubbed for as long as we were willing.”

Stockard Channing recalls Bill Clinton and Barack Obama’s contrasting reactions to meeting her

Barack Obama blames Larry David for his infamous tan suit scandal in new sketch

Sunny also adored everyone she met. “She loved the girls, even if they were pestering her when she was napping,” the Obamas wrote, referring to their two daughters, Sasha and Malia. “She loved our team, and would often follow them around, helping them on the job. She was fiercely protective of Bo, who she rightly sensed wasn’t always as alert and attentive as she was.”

They added that the pup definitely “had her eccentricities too,” including that she “preferred people to dogs,” “was a loud and sloppy drinker,” and “despite being a Portuguese Water Dog, she hated getting wet.”

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

“But 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,” they continued. “We will miss her terribly, and imagine she’s with her big brother now, making sure he’s okay.”

The Obamas previously announced Bo’s passing in 2021. After sharing the announcement, fans took to the post’s comment section to send their love to the family. “So sorry for your loss. Pets make our days brighter and give us much to be grateful for,” one user wrote.

Another added, “So sorry for your loss. Losing a cherished member of your family is always so hard yet the profound grief we feel is the price we pay for love. May Sunny’s memory be a blessing today and always.”

- Celebrities & Creators

- Celebrity Friends and Family

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Celebrity”