White House Christmas: First Dog Bo Through the Years

Explore White House Christmases past as the home's designers integrate a variety of Bo and now, Sunny! decor into each year's holiday themes.

By: Kayla Kitts

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Photo By: Joshua Roberts ©HGTV/Scripps Networks

Photo By: Joshua Roberts

Photo By: Marty Katz

Holiday 2013

This year's 300-pound gingerbread White House replica features a miniature Bo (left) and Sunny (right) sitting on the front steps of the home.

Holiday 2013

A miniature Bo can always be found gracing the gingerbread house's front lawn. This year, newly-adopted Portuguese water dog Sunny makes her debut.

Holiday 2013

The east wall of the East Garden Room features ribbon topiaries of first dogs Bo and Sunny surrounded by stacks of books and fresh greenery.

Holiday 2013

First Lady Michelle Obama holds Bo (left) and Sunny (right) in the State Dining Room during the holiday preview.

Holiday 2012

Miniature Bo enjoys his last Christmas as the only pup on the traditional White House gingerbread house.

Holiday 2012

A life-sized Bo replica made of 20,000 black and white pom-poms is the centerpiece of the East Garden Room. Handmade "Bo-flake" ornaments adorn surrounding trees to surprise young visitors.

Holiday 2012

This handmade snow globe featuring first dog Bo is just one of the surprises visitors can find throughout the White House Christmas tour.

Holiday 2012

The cameras start flashing as soon as Bo enters the room at first lady Michelle Obama's holiday home preview.

Holiday 2011

Each year, Bo is on hand to welcome the arrival of the Blue Room Christmas tree.

Holiday 2011

Weighing in at 400 pounds, the gingerbread replica features transparent windows so visitors can peek inside state floor rooms, plus a sitting Bo near the front steps.

Holiday 2011

Designers placed five Bo replicas throughout the White House in 2011. This Bo in the Red Room is made entirely of 318 black and white buttons.

Holiday 2011

This larger Bo replica in the Library is crafted out of trash bags.

Holiday 2011

Black and white pom-poms are used to create a soft, faux Bo at the East Entrance.

Holiday 2010

The 450-pound gingerbread house reveals viewable replicas of the State Dining Room and East Room. Bo sits by the steps near the kitchen garden and beehive.

Holiday 2010

Designer Genevieve Gorder playfully pets Bo's crafty life-sized replica in the East Garden Room prior to its big reveal.

Holiday 2010

Nothing says Christmas quite like gingerbread cookies, especially ones shaped like first dog Bo.

Holiday 2009

The Obamas celebrate their first Christmas in the White House by continuing the gingerbread house tradition started in the 1960s. One special addition started in 2009: a miniature Bo is added to the home's lawn.

White House Christmas 2014

White House Christmas: First Dog Bo Through the Years

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