Former US President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama are mourning the death of their beloved family dog, Sunny, who died at the age of 13.
The Obamas announced Sunny’s death on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, through a joint social media post featuring photographs of the Portuguese Water Dog from her years with the family.
Sunny died on Tuesday, September 15, after spending 13 years with the Obamas. She joined the family in August 2013, during Barack Obama’s second term as president, and quickly became a familiar presence at the White House alongside the family’s first dog, Bo.
“Yesterday, we lost a cherished member of our family,” the Obamas said in their tribute.
The couple recalled welcoming Sunny at the beginning of Obama’s second term and said the entire family, including Bo, immediately fell in love with her.
The Obamas described Sunny as energetic, athletic and full of personality. They remembered how difficult it was to keep up with her, particularly during her younger years at the White House.
“We also had trouble keeping up with her, for Sunny was a force of nature,” they wrote.
The family recalled Sunny racing around the White House grounds and leaping over the hedges on the South Lawn while chasing squirrels, birds and anything else that caught her attention.
The Obamas said Sunny preferred interaction and play, often wanting family members to run around with her, roll on the floor or rub her belly rather than simply giving her treats.
She also became familiar with members of the White House staff, frequently following them around as they worked.
Sunny also shared a close bond with the Obama daughters, Malia and Sasha, who were teenagers when the family welcomed her. The Obamas recalled that Sunny loved the girls, even when they disturbed her while she was sleeping.
Sunny also became part of the public side of the Obama presidency. She appeared at White House events, in family photographs and during holiday celebrations, giving Americans a glimpse of the presidential family away from politics.
One of the most important relationships in Sunny’s life was her bond with Bo. Bo joined the Obama family in 2009 after Barack Obama had promised his daughters they would get a dog following his election victory. The family chose a Portuguese Water Dog partly because of Malia’s allergies.
Four years later, Sunny joined the family as Bo’s companion. The Obamas said Sunny was unusually attached to Bo and became protective of her “big brother.” Bo died from cancer in May 2021 at the age of 12, leaving Sunny as the family’s remaining Portuguese Water Dog.
“We will miss her terribly, and imagine she’s with her big brother now, making sure he’s okay,” they said.
The Obamas also remembered Sunny for several amusing habits that made her personality distinctive.
Despite belonging to a breed known for its affinity for water, Sunny reportedly hated getting wet. The family also described her as a loud and sloppy drinker and said she generally preferred people to other dogs, with Bo being the notable exception.
The Obamas ultimately described Sunny as a loyal and loving companion who remained ready for adventure throughout her life. They said that after 13 years together, she had been “pretty much perfect” for their family.
Sunny’s years with the Obamas spanned a significant part of the family’s public life. She arrived while Barack Obama was still president, remained with the family after they left the White House in 2017 and continued to be part of their lives away from Washington.
