When Orrie Mariani walks his 3-year-old dog, Bruno, around the streets of Shadyside, it's not unusual for him to start fielding questions from those passing by.

"People stop me constantly," he said. "I'll be walking the dog and people in cars will stop me and say, 'What kind of dog is that?' "

If Michelle Obama gets her way, Bruno and other Portuguese water dogs will soon be getting even more attention.

In an interview with People Magazine posted Wednesday, Mrs. Obama said that the family was leaning toward a Portuguese water dog, ideally one to be adopted from a rescue group sometime in April.

"From the size perspective, they're sort of middle of the road -- it's not small, but it's not a huge dog," she said. "And the folks that we know who own them have raved about them. So that's where we're leaning."

The White House was quick to put out a statement yesterday saying no final decision had been made on the dog choice.

Portuguese water dogs were originally used as working dogs along the Algarve coast of Portugal, bred to herd fish into nets, dive to retrieve fishing gear or swim to deliver messages between ships.

The breed first came to the United States in 1968 and has grown slowly but steadily in popularity since then. According to statistics from the American Kennel Club, the dogs were ranked 82nd in popularity in 1998 and 62nd last year.

Though Mrs. Obama said that she hoped to adopt a rescue dog, such a feat might be easier said than done. There were only five rescue Portuguese water dogs available nationally last year, said Mary Harkins, of Coopersburg, Bucks County, who coordinates rescue and relocation for the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America.

Many are drawn to the breed for the same reason that the Obamas seem to be: They are medium-sized with a single-layered coat that reduces the risk of allergies. The family has said that 10-year-old Malia Obama is allergic to dogs.

But the possibility of an Obama-driven spike in interest worries some proponents of the breed. "I'm not real happy," said Joan Bendure, a Portuguese water dog breeder in Fairview, Erie County. "The breed is popular enough already."

While the dogs can make excellent pets, they are also fairly high-maintenance -- both in their need for regular grooming and their high energy levels. Ms. Bendure, who only breeds a litter every other year or so, fears that increased demand could lead to shady breeders diluting the breed or introducing health problems. From a reputable breeder, Portuguese water dogs cost about $1,800 to $2,500, she said.

One of Ms. Bendure's dogs actually sired two Portuguese water dogs owned by U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., who advocated the breed to the Obamas. Like the Obamas, Mr. Kennedy also originally came to the breed because of an allergy issue -- his son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, is asthmatic.

Mr. Mariani and his longtime girlfriend, Robin Lipscomb, bought a Portuguese water dog in part because Mr. Mariani doesn't "like dog fur all over the place" and Ms. Lipscomb is allergic to dog dander.

Bruno cuddled against Ms. Lipscomb's black suit yesterday, leaving not a single perceptible hair behind. He also let out some of his energy in their backyard, jumping and twisting in the air and enthusiastically greeting visitors in their front hallway.

Bruno has been perfect for them, said Ms. Lipscomb, but regular exercise is absolutely necessary in keeping him calm: he gets three half-hour walks per day, plus frequent trips to Frick Park in the summertime.

Even so, he's gotten into his share of dog mischief over the years, "counter-surfing" his way into a bag of flour and expertly dissecting and consuming an unopened tin of anchovies.

"They're working dogs," said Mr. Mariani. "They need to be doing something."

Amy Cavalier and her husband, Zack, both teachers living in Scottdale, had two Portuguese water dogs until recently, when their older dog passed away. They would often take their dogs canoeing and kayaking during the summer, letting them swim alongside them. Their younger dog, Pinky, is such a water-lover that she will swim in a backyard kiddie pool, or dive to fetch rocks out of the Youghiogheny River.

"It's a wonderful breed, but it's like having another child," said Ms. Bendure. "The good thing is, you don't have to send them to college and they don't ask for the keys to the car. They're wonderful, but only if you dedicate the time."